A trial delivered by ProDroneWorx for Thurrock Council is exploring how specialist drones can help overcome these challenges, capturing detailed imagery and 3D data to identify defects and support highway asset management.
The project, which was also reported by BBC News on 29 September 2026, highlights the potential for drone technology to support safer, more efficient inspections and help councils better understand the condition of their highway networks.
Supporting safer, smarter highway inspections
Using drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and laser scanning technology, ProDroneWorx surveyed structures in challenging locations along Dunstable Road and St Margaret’s Road in Thurrock, Essex.
The approach enables detailed condition data to be captured without requiring engineers to access hazardous locations directly. For enclosed structures, specialist collision-tolerant drones can also capture imagery and LiDAR data from inside culverts and chambers.
The resulting digital records can help engineers identify defects, prioritise maintenance and plan further investigations where required.
For local authorities managing ageing infrastructure and competing budget pressures, these technologies could offer an alternative approach to inspecting hard-to-reach assets while supporting more informed maintenance planning.
What could this mean for your network?
The approach demonstrated in Thurrock could have applications across a range of highway assets, including bridges, retaining walls, culverts, embankments and road corridors.
By capturing detailed condition data and creating records for future comparison, drone inspections can help authorities build a clearer picture of asset condition and target resources where they are most needed.
Read the full case study from ProDroneWorx to discover more about the Thurrock Council trial, the technology used and how a similar approach could be applied to your highway network.
(Image – ProDroneWorx)
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