U.S. Reps. Greg Stanton (D-AZ) and Garret Graves (R-LA) introduced legislation Wednesday that would authorize $200 million in grants to use drones in inspecting infrastructure.
The bill, the Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant Act, would provide $100 million in grants to allow state, local and tribal government to use drones to visually inspect infrastructure, and provide another $100 million for training employees on how to use drones properly.
“Drones are a common-sense tool to inspect some of the toughest to reach parts of our infrastructure,” Stanton said. “It’s safer, speedier and more sustainable. These grants will go a long way to help state, local and tribal governments invest in this cutting-edge technology and better care for aging infrastructure.”
Drones are able to conduct inspections in hard-to-reach places, such as underneath bridges, and when used properly could save local governments time and money, the Congressmen said. Many state departments of transportation, tribes and municipalities already use drone to augment human inspections when inspecting bridges, roads, dams and electric substations.
The Arizona Department of Transportation has used drones since 2018 to inspect bridges and perform surveying work along state highways. Drones are also useful in inspecting areas after natural disasters, like hurricanes and wildfires, in determining the extent of damage and whether or not areas are safe.
The bill would authorize grants through the Department on Transportation. Grants could be used to fund 80 percent of the purchase, service contract or program development for small-unmanned aircraft systems. Other grants would cover workforce training and education at higher education institutions, including community colleges. So far, 41 institutions have been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration as UAS-Collegiate Training Initiative Schools.
“Drone technology has the potential to save lives and help preserve essential infrastructure. This bill would provide much needed funding for drone infrastructure inspection equipment and education and training at the state and local levels. This will not only help states aviation agencies acquire drone technology to safely inspect critical infrastructure, but also bolster the workforce needed to manage it, and improve public safety,” Greg Pecoraro, president and CEO of the National Association of State Aviation Officials, said.
The bill is also supported by the National League of Cities, the Commercial Drone Alliance, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.