Small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS)

Dot Collectors vs. Dot Connectors

December 2, 2019

Peter Keum - WTD GIS Specialist, GISP

peter.keum@kingcounty.gov

Just another tool in the toolbox

pkgeo.com

WTD Mission:

Protect Public Health

Enhance Environment by Treating & Reclaiming water, Recycling Solids & Generating Energy

1.5 million people
420 square miles
391 miles sewer pipe

Seattle --> Medford, OR

Introduction - Hardware & Software
Regulations/Guideline - FAA & King County (WTD)
Applications & KC WTD Projects
What's Next?

small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (sUAV) "Drone"

Price /Performance
Easy to use
Quality data collection
Adopting Rule by FAA

Why Now?

Cell Phone Technology + Lower $$

Electronic Control System (ECS)
Accelerometer & Gyroscope Chip
GPS Chip
Lithium Polymer (LiPo) Battery
Motors

Integrated gyroscopic/GPS Chip in 2000's = $10,000

In 2017 = $3

1981 $120,000

2013

$5 - $15

It's just a toy...past examples of what used to be

It's just a toy...

2016

UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

FAA Definition: Unmanned Aircraft (UA) system that is operated by a pilot via ground control or on-board computer.

1. Introduction

What's in the name?

UAV = Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

UAS = Unmanned Aerial System

DRONE = Dynamic Remotely Operated Navigation Equipment

RPAS = Remotely Piloted Aircraft System

Policy Paper for Civilian Missions

RPAS Categories

Small

Size: 1 - 2 meters ( 3 ft - 6.5 ft), < 55 lbs.
Control: Visual line of sight, Radio control
DJI Phamtom, Mavic, ScanEagle

Medium

Size: Equivalent to a car, ~ 1000 lbs.
Control: Visual Line Of Sight (VLOS) & Beyond LOS, RC & Satellite
General Atomics -MQ1 Predator

Large

Size: > 30,000 lbs.
Control: Visual Line Of Sight (VLOS) & Beyond LOS, RC & Satellite
Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk ~$222 Million

sUAV as Platform

Multi-rotors

Fixed wings

Short flight time (< 20min)
Cover small area
Highly maneuverable
Less expensive
Access to confined spaces

Long flight time (+ 30min)
Covers large area
Larger selection of sensors

Sensors

Multi-spectral

Thermal Infrared

Lidar Camera

High resolution digital camera

Thermal Sensor

Inspection Use

Multispectral

Agriculture Use

FAA Regulations - Where are we now?

2. Regulations

Commercial/Governmental

FAA Part 107 Rule, July 2016

Need FAA Remote Pilot Certification (Pilot license NOT needed)
As of July of 2018 - 100,000+ active remote pilot certificates

Fly under 400 feet above ground level
Not to fly < 5 nautical miles around airport
Aircraft < 55 lbs.
Fly during daytime
Fly visual line of sight ( VLOS)
No flight over non-participating people

FAA Part 107 Rule

King County WTD

"Subject: WTD Policies on Use of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones)

Managers/Supervisors: August, 2016

I’d like you to share the following policy guidance regarding the use of drones for work purposes with your staff as appropriate. The guidance specifically addresses the use of drones classified as small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), which weigh less than 55 lbs."

No owning or operating drones by WTD
Manager/Supervisor review and require Division Director approval
3rd Party to meet KC Risk Management requirements

Workflow Example 1

Whidbey Island, Langley Downtown example (Spring, 2014)

Aaron Racicot

3. Application Examples

Flight with Data Collection

Collected 200 Images
Using Agisoft PhotoScan to stich images
Alt. Tool - Microsoft Image Composite Editor (ICE)

Information Product - OpenStreetMap

Using imagery to digitize street, add features to OSM

http://langleywa.github.io/gisdata/tiles/langley-2nd-street-2014-tms/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

Add below url into OpenStreetMap iD Editor

Application Examples & WTD Projects

Proof-of-Concept

1. KC Brightwater Treatment Plant odor control building), 2014

2. Cedar River Revetment (river bank protection), 2015

3. West Point Treatment Plant - Blue Pumps

Flying Brightwater TP Odor Control Units

Result

Cedar River Revetment (May, 2015)

Pumps (2014)

Workflow

1. Aircraft + Sensor (Data Collection)

2. Data Processing & Analyzing (GIS)

3. Information Products

Benefits

Temporal Resolution
- Fly more often

Offer decision makers with appropriate analytic information products

Spatial Resolution
- Monitor continuous changes
- High Spatial resolution than Satellite, Plane
More Data > More Knowledge > Better Decision Making

WTD Projects

West Point Treatment Plant Event
West Point Treatment Aerial Photography
Mitigation and Monitoring Program

WTD Projects

West Point Treatment Plant Incident Feb, 2017

Seattle Times Headline

March 12, 2017

WTD Projects

West Point Treatment Plant Incident Feb, 2017

Drone Flights (March, 2017) - Soil Run-off Real cause of plume, not overflow

WTD Projects

West Point Treatment Plant Incident Feb, 2017

Drone Flights = Clarification

Photo from Seattle Times

KC WTD Drone Flight

March, 2017

WTD Projects

Floating Willow Raft - Mitigation & Monitoring May 2017 - Present

Purpose: Willow growth shade analysis (1.5 acres)

Flight from May 2017

WTD Projects

West Point Treatment Plant Orthophoto

October 2, 2017

Over 600 images collected

High Resolution 0.75 inch/piexel

Result

4. So Where is it going...

Increase the use of Drone
- Using it because it does the job better
Successful technology is not thrilling but becomes essential and accepted

GPT

General Purpose Technology

The Second Machine Age - Erik Brynjolfsson, Andrew McAfee