The heritage masonry arch viaducts at Malmsbury River and Bakers Creek needed detailed structural condition assessments within an operational regional rail corridor, without disrupting normal services.
Broad coverage from the air
Sterling used UAVs to capture high-resolution imagery of arch soffits, spandrel walls, piers, abutments and parapets. Photogrammetric processing turned that imagery into 3D models, giving a measurable visual record to support desktop interpretation.
Close-up verification
Our team then completed touching-distance inspections from an elevated work platform to directly assess structural elements and supplement the UAV findings. Both methods were carried out during normal operating hours.
Combining both methods gave broad three-dimensional coverage together with direct, close-up assessment of the structures.
A baseline for the future
The resulting records established a condition baseline to support maintenance planning, targeted repairs and future comparison of these heritage assets.