Publications / CSCE/CRC 2025 - Montreal, Canada
Possessing the largest interstate highway system in the world, the United States relies on road transportation as the main propulsion of its economy. Highway infrastructure inspection is therefore critical for the federal and state governments during construction, operation, and investment decision-making. This study maps and evaluated the adoption of digital inspection technology by U.S. departments of transportation (DOTs) against five performance criteria - time savings, direct cost savings, measurement accuracy, inspector safety, and scalability/transferability. After compiling a comprehensive list of available technologies from the literature, we analyzed responses to a national survey of all 50 state DOTs. Five technology groups (i.e., geospatial, remote sensing and monitoring, mobile devices and software applications, non-destructive evaluation, and other emerging technologies) and their frequency of use were identified. The top digitally enabled inspection activities include earthwork inspection and quantities, verifying and documenting work completed, monitoring construction progress, tracking construction materials, and collecting as-built information. Primary selection drivers are improving efficiency, promoting e-construction, and enhancing inspectors safety, while compatibility, staff training, and procurement costs remain key barriers. Deliverables include (i) a nation-wide snapshot of technology adoption, (ii) a taxonomy of five technology groups, (iii) an empirically derived decision-support checklist for DOT managers, and (iv) a research agenda for cost-benefit analysis and training. These findings support practitioners in evidence-based investment decisions for highway inspection technologies.