How to Use Metashape for Infrastructure Inspection: Bridges, Towers, and Buildings

Infrastructure inspection is one of the most critical — and most dangerous — tasks in engineering. Accessing the underside of a bridge, the top of a telecommunications tower, or the facade of a twenty-story building carries significant risks for workers, high scaffolding costs, and lengthy intervention timelines.

Agisoft Metashape, combined with drones equipped with high-resolution cameras, is radically changing that reality. Today it is possible to inspect complex structures safely, quickly, and with a level of detail that traditional methods simply cannot match.

What Is Photogrammetric Infrastructure Inspection?

Photogrammetric inspection involves capturing systematic images of a structure from multiple angles and processing them in software like Metashape to obtain:

• High-resolution 3D models of the complete structure.
• Orthophotographs of each face or section at true scale.
• Dense point clouds that allow distance measurements, deformation detection, and comparison across surveys over time.
• Georeferenced visual records documenting the condition of the structure at a specific date.

The result is a digital twin of the structure that can be analyzed in detail from a screen, without any need to be physically present in hazardous areas.

Applications by Structure Type

Bridges and Viaducts

Bridges are structures subject to dynamic loads, vibrations, and environmental agents that cause progressive deterioration. Periodic inspection is mandatory in most countries, but accessing the lower beams, piers, and abutments typically requires special equipment and traffic stoppages.

With Metashape and drones it is possible to:

• Generate a complete 3D model of the bridge, including the underside of the beams.
• Detect cracks, efflorescence, concrete spalling, and corrosion on exposed reinforcement.
• Compare models taken on different dates to identify the progression of deterioration.
• Overlay the real model onto original drawings to verify structural deformations.

This approach is especially valuable for road agencies managing extensive bridge networks that need to prioritize interventions based on the actual condition of each structure.

Towers and Elevated Structures

Telecommunications towers, wind turbines, industrial chimneys, antennas, and high-voltage structures are assets where manual inspection involves high-risk work at height and very high costs for certified personnel.

The Metashape workflow allows:

• Capturing the complete structure in orbital or spiral flight from the base to the top.
• Obtaining centimeter-resolution images of each section, including welds, fixings, and corrosion points.
• Generating geolocated visual reports of each detected anomaly.
• Reducing inspection time from days to a few hours.

Buildings and Facades

Facade inspection is a legal requirement in many jurisdictions and a prerequisite for obtaining permits and insurance for public-use buildings. Metashape allows:

• Generating true-scale facade orthophotographs to detect cracks, moisture, spalling, and coating deterioration.
• Producing complete 3D models of the building for structural analysis or rehabilitation projects.
• Documenting the pre-renovation condition, protecting owners and contractors against potential disputes.

Inspection Workflow with Metashape

Step 1: Flight Planning

The quality of the final model depends heavily on the capture. For infrastructure inspection, the following is recommended:

• 80–85% front and side image overlap to ensure complete coverage.
• Orbital or grid flights adapted to the geometry of the structure.
• Constant flight distance relative to the surface to maintain uniform resolution.
• Use of inspection drones such as the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise or DJI Matrice 350, with zoom or thermal cameras depending on the objective.

Step 2: Capture and Transfer

Images are transferred to the processing workstation and organized by section or face of the structure to streamline work in Metashape.

Step 3: Alignment and Point Cloud Generation

In Metashape:

1. Images are imported and camera alignment is executed.
2. A dense point cloud is generated at high or ultra-high quality depending on the level of detail required.
3. The 3D mesh is built and photorealistic texture is applied.

Step 4: Analysis and Pathology Identification

With the model generated, the inspector can:

• Navigate the 3D model on screen and measure distances and areas using Metashape’s built-in tools.
• Export orthophotographs of each face for detailed analysis.
• Mark areas of interest with markers and associate notes or classifications.

Step 5: Export and Reporting

Final products are exported in formats compatible with the client’s workflow:

• PDF with annotated orthophotographs for inspection reports.
• LAS/LAZ for analysis in CloudCompare or other point cloud software.
• OBJ/FBX for visualization in BIM or virtual reality software.
• DXF for integration into CAD drawings.

Advantages Over Traditional Inspection

Aspect	Traditional inspection	Drone + Metashape inspection
Safety	High risk for inspectors	No exposure to hazardous areas
Survey time	Days or weeks	Hours
Access cost	Scaffolding, cranes, climbers	Cost of the flight
Coverage	Limited to accessible areas	Full structural coverage
Documentation	Spot photos and notes	Complete georeferenced 3D model
Historical comparison	Difficult to systematize	Direct comparison between models
Repeatability	Variable by inspector	Reproducible and standardizable

Pathology Detection: What Can Metashape Identify?

Metashape is not structural analysis software, but the model it generates allows the engineering inspector to visually identify:

• Cracks and fissures in concrete, masonry, or metal.
• Efflorescence and moisture on concrete surfaces.
• Corrosion and oxidation on metal structures.
• Geometric deformations by comparison with previous models or original drawings.
• Spalling of coatings, plaster, or protective layers.
• Deteriorated joints in bridges and segmented structures.

For greater detection accuracy, the use of thermal cameras during capture allows identification of infiltrations and delaminations not visible to the naked eye — and those images can also be processed in Metashape.

Metashape Standard or Professional for Inspection?

For infrastructure inspection, the choice depends on workload and the level of automation required:

• Standard (USD 179): suitable for independent inspectors or small firms carrying out occasional surveys. Includes all the 3D modeling and export functions needed.
• Professional (USD 3,499): recommended for companies managing infrastructure portfolios, needing to automate workflows with Python, or requiring network processing to handle multiple projects simultaneously.

You can explore both options at the Aufiero Informática store.

Integration with BIM and Asset Management Workflows

A growing trend in infrastructure management is integrating Metashape models into asset management platforms or BIM (Building Information Modeling) workflows. This allows:

• Associating 3D models with technical records, intervention histories, and maintenance schedules.
• Comparing the as-built model with the design model to verify construction tolerances.
• Feeding digital twin systems that simulate structural behavior over time.

Metashape’s export formats (OBJ, FBX, LAS) are compatible with leading BIM platforms including Autodesk Revit, Bentley iTwin, and Trimble Connect.

Conclusion

Infrastructure inspection with drones and Agisoft Metashape represents a qualitative leap in safety, efficiency, and the quality of information obtained. What once required weeks of work at height, costly access equipment, and fragmented documentation can today be resolved in hours with a complete, georeferenced 3D model that is comparable over time.

If your company or firm is evaluating the adoption of this technology, the team at Aufiero Informática can advise you on the right license for your operation.

👉 Contact us or visit our Metashape product page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)