The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in partnership with Japan International Cooperating Agency (JICA) inspected Thursday the Magapit Suspension Bridge in Lal-lo, Cagayan using drone cameras.
Hideo Nagao, team leader of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) specialist group, explained the status/condition of the Magapit Bridge will be based on the photos taken using the drone camera.
“Drone technology is really an advantage, aside from providing high resolution geo-tagged photos and videos, it reduces inspection time and risk to bridge inspectors, it will no longer require bridge inspection vehicles and traffic disturbances will be minimized.” The DPWH said.
Joel Cruz, president of SRDP company and drone controller, outlined detailed information regarding the use of drone technology. He said that rotary and fixed wing type drones provides in depth Aerial inspection, control point survey, area mapping and close up image acquisition. SRDP is the first company in the Philippines to be issued a certificate of authority to operate Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or drones.
Meanwhile, DPWH Region 2 Director Melanio Briosos stated the equipment will significantly improve planning and designing measures in the department.
“This will be functional essentially in identifying areas for infrastructure development and monitoring activities as well,” Briosos said.
Briosos informed the observers that the bridge inspection was in line with the DPWH’s quality management for highways and bridge construction and maintenance.
In another development, the DPWH said that works have started for the construction of 450-meter Pigalo Bridge located along Alicia-Angadanan-San Guillermo Road crossing Cagayan River in Barangay Pigalo, Angadanan, Isabela that was damaged by typhoons Pedring and Quiel in 2011.
Costing P482 million, the project involves construction of a 10-span bridge and approach spanning 450 lineal meters with carriageway width of 7.32 meters both abutments and 9 piers rest on bored piles.