A Master of Engineering student in Civil Engineering is helping showcase how emerging technologies can support the future of infrastructure inspection and maintenance.
This spring, Joseph Bernick, EIT, successfully defended his capstone project focused on the use of LiDAR technology for bridge inspection applications in the field. Bernick’s project explored how three-dimensional scanning tools can accurately capture existing conditions on bridge structures, creating detailed digital models that can support assessment, maintenance, and long-term infrastructure reliability.
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology uses laser-based scanning to generate highly accurate 3D representations of physical environments. In civil engineering, the technology is increasingly being used to improve the efficiency and precision of infrastructure inspections and documentation.
“My capstone project involved the application of LiDAR, a three-dimensional scanning technology, to accurately capture the existing field conditions on a bridge structure,” said Bernick. “What inspires me most is the opportunity to contribute to infrastructure that people rely on every day, helping to extend the reliability of structures that connect communities.”
Bernick successfully defended the project during the Spring 2026 semester and graduated with his Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering from UConn.
The project reflects the School’s continued emphasis on hands-on learning experiences and the integration of advanced technologies into engineering education and practice.
Students participating in projects like these gain valuable field experience while exploring innovative approaches to solving real-world infrastructure challenges.
