Comprehensive structural inspection of bridges, overpasses, and culverts using aerial drones. Capture detailed imagery of decks, abutments, piers, bearings, and soffits – without lane closures, under-bridge units, or confined space entry.
Bridge inspection pricing from €800
Last updated: April 2026
Comprehensive bridge condition data for asset management, structural assessment, and maintenance planning.
Comprehensive condition assessment of all bridge elements with defect classification following industry standards.
High-resolution photographs of every identified defect – cracks, spalling, corrosion, water damage, and joint deterioration.
Infrared thermal imaging to detect delamination, moisture ingress, and subsurface defects not visible to the naked eye.
Photogrammetric 3D model of the bridge structure for measurement, documentation, and integration with asset management systems.
Where required, underwater ROV inspection of submerged piers, foundations, and scour protection below the waterline.
Prioritised maintenance and repair schedule based on defect severity, structural significance, and estimated deterioration rates.
Close-up defect detection, structural assessment, and condition surveys of Irish bridges.
Our drone inspections capture detailed structural data from every angle – above, below, and alongside the bridge – without disrupting traffic or requiring costly under-bridge inspection units.
Above the deck, below the waterline, and everywhere in between. No lane closures. No under-bridge units. No rope access.
We fly the DJI Matrice 300 RTK with the Zenmuse H20T – 40MP zoom camera, thermal imager, wide-angle, and laser rangefinder in a single payload. The inspection follows a systematic pattern: first a high pass to capture the full deck, parapets, and approaches. Then close-range passes along each elevation, under the deck soffit, around abutments, and at every bearing and expansion joint. The 200x zoom lets us read crack widths from 15 metres away.
For piers and submerged elements, we deploy the Deeptrekker DTG3 ROV. It dives to 100m with 4K video and high-output LED lighting. We inspect pier foundations, check for scour around the base, assess riverbed condition, and document any submerged cracking or erosion. The ROV captures footage in real time. No divers. No cofferdam. Just data.
Most bridges we inspect carry live traffic. We complete a full risk assessment before every job and coordinate with the local authority or TII area office where required. Our operations are planned to avoid lane closures entirely. The drone operates from the verge, adjacent land, or the riverbank. We carry full public liability insurance and operate under IAA/EASA regulations.
We bring both platforms to every bridge inspection. A single site visit captures the full picture – deck surface, elevations, soffit, abutments, piers above water, piers below water, and riverbed condition. Two mobilisations merged into one. That saves you time and money, and gives us a complete dataset to work from when writing the report.
A drone and ROV inspection gives you a lot. But it does not give you everything. Here is where the line falls.
Our inspection methodology aligns with TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) bridge inspection standards.
We have worked with enough engineers and local authority bridge teams to know that the report matters as much as the inspection itself. A structured defect catalogue with severity ratings and recommended actions – that is what gets budgets approved and repairs scheduled.
Under-bridge inspection units cost thousands per day and shut down traffic lanes. There is a better way to get the same data.
| Drone + ROV | Traditional (UBIU + Divers) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost per bridge | €800–€2,500 | €5,000–€15,000+ |
| On-site time | 2–4 hours | 1–2 full days |
| Lane closures required | No | Yes – traffic management plan required |
| Advance planning | 1–2 weeks | 4–8 weeks (permits, TM plans, crew) |
| Safety risk | Minimal – no working at height or in water | High – UBIU, rope access, diving ops |
| Thermal data included | Yes – standard | Rarely – additional specialist cost |
| Underwater pier inspection | Yes – ROV included | Yes – dive team (additional €3,000+) |
We are not saying traditional inspection is obsolete. If an engineer needs to physically hammer-test a concrete soffit or take core samples, someone has to get up there. But for visual condition assessment, crack mapping, and scour monitoring, a drone and ROV captures the same data faster, safer, and at a fraction of the cost.
Scour is the number one cause of bridge failure. Not overloading. Not material fatigue. Scour – the erosion of riverbed material around pier foundations.
We deploy the Deeptrekker DTG3 ROV on every river bridge inspection. It is rated to 100m depth with a 4K camera, adjustable LED lighting, and a tether that gives us real-time video on the surface. We inspect pier foundations, record scour depth against reference markers, document riverbed condition, and check submerged structural elements for cracking, erosion, or damage from debris impact.
The real value is combining aerial and underwater data in one report. Your engineer gets the full picture – deck, elevations, soffit, piers above water, piers below water, and riverbed – from a single site visit. No separate dive team. No second mobilisation.
We are upfront about this. A drone and ROV combination covers roughly 80% of a principal inspection at around 30% of the cost. That is a significant saving. But it does not replace everything.
If the inspection requires hammer testing of concrete, half-cell potential measurements, or physical core samples, you need people on the structure. There is no way around it. These tests require direct contact with the material, and no drone can replicate that.
Use drone data to prioritise which elements actually need physical investigation. Identify the defects, map their locations, classify severity. Then when the under-bridge unit arrives, the crew goes straight to the problem areas. The visit is targeted, shorter, and cheaper. You are not paying for a team to slowly inspect every element when 80% of them are fine.
Close-range drone imagery captures defects invisible from ground level – every finding documented with GPS coordinates, photography, and severity rating.
Local authorities, transport agencies, structural engineers, and infrastructure operators across Ireland.
Everything you need to know about our drone bridge inspection service.
Tell us about your project and we’ll respond within 24 hours with a detailed quote.
Get a fixed-price quote within 24 hours. No obligation, no hidden costs.