Hazmat incidents are among the most dangerous and complex disasters any public service agency may face. The dynamic range of factors to consider involve the type of chemicals, cause of the dangers and environmental impact to people and first responders. 

First responders must wear highly protective suits that prevent exposure to the myriad of poisonous biochemicals while communication is oftentimes, at best, via radio as there’s seldom any first-person visuals available during one of these events.

Enter drones.  Very few would argue that drones aren’t a game-changer in these applications.  The speed at which drones can be put into play, providing remote hazmat monitoring or, assisting in the search and rescue of human lives - all while protecting the first responders from harm's way - makes the use of this technology an indispensable asset.  

The use of drones to capture aerial footage and monitor the progress of bridges under construction and/or repair is a growing segment of the US Transportation industry’s commitment to reface America’s transportation heritage.   

The ability to easily dispatch drones in lieu of a human rappelling crew is only one of the many elements that make the use of drones so attractive. Ultimately, it’s a combination of factors including the ease of dispatching as well as the safety elements and relatively low cost of operations that make drones the perfect resource for bridge surveillance and inspection applications across the globe.