A substantial number of Critical infrastructure components, such as dams, bridges, tunnels, pipelines, etc., were built over 50 years ago; therefore, it is vital to monitor aging and deterioration to maintain the infrastructure´s reliability and performance.
In response to America´s aging infrastructure, the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security could leverage UAVs equipped with thermal imaging payloads to monitor and protect aging infrastructure stretching over a vast area. With proactive monitoring, personnel may discover issues such as leaks and cracks, which threaten the functionality of critical infrastructure. The continued decrease in sensor size and weight will enable wider integration with UAV technology.