WTD Drone Program
We Came, We Flew, We Mapped..
Peter Keum, GISP
Drone Program Lead/GIS Analyst
August 22, 2026
From Buzz to Business
- Quick History
- Where are We Now:
- Hardware/Software/Pilots
- Things We've Done and Doing:
- Integration of Drone with GIS
- Future View Drone & GIS - person al take
383
2,000,000
(2 Million)
15,000
178,000,000
(178 Million)
Guess??
383 Miles
of Pipe
2,000,000 (2 Million) People
15,000 Trucks
178,000,000 (178 Million) MGD (Million Gallons/Day)
King County Wastewater Treatment by Numbers
-
2 million residents
-
34 Agencies
-
424 square miles
-
383 miles sewer pipeline (2.5 inch to 14 ft)
-
74 facilities (PS & RS)
-
3 Treatment Plants: 180 MGD ~ Max. 460 MGD
Seattle, WA --> Medford, OR
Brightwater TP
-
10 GIS Specialists
-
4 FAA Certified Pilots
-
3 Studying to be Certified
-
Interns
-
Olivia
-
Supervisor
WTD GIS
Maintain Sewer GIS Data
-
FIRS (Facility Information Retrieval System) Data
- Maintenance Hole
- Pipes
- Pump Stations
- Regulator Stations
- Treatment Plants
- Outfalls
- Flow Monitors
- CP Stations
- Connection Points
- Site Plan Data
- 3D Models
- Drone Collected Data
- .... many many more
WTD
GIS
DATA
GIS Data:
The core of a GIS is its Database
Program Support
- CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow) Control Program
- Modeling Group
- CIFM (Conveyance, Inspection, and Flow Monitoring) Group
- Asset Management Program
- Capacity Charge
- ....many other sections
Program Support
- CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow) Control Program
WTD GIS
KC & SPU
CSO Real-Time Status Viewer
RainWise
Basin Address Look-Up App
CSO Report
Program Support
- Modeling Group & CIFM Group
Meter Installation Tool
Program Support
- 3D Modeling Rendering from Drone Program
BUT.....There are 17 county agencies support
King County GIS Data Library System
WTD
GIS Data:
The core of a GIS is its Database
So Let's Dive in!
RPAS - Remotely Piloted Aircraft System
FAA Definition: Unmanned Aircraft (UA) system that is operated by a pilot via ground control or on-board computer.
RPAS Categories
Small
- Size: 1 - 2 meters ( 3 ft - 6.5 ft), < 55 lbs.
- Control: Visual line of sight, Radio control
- DJI M3E, M400, ScanEagle
Medium
- Size: Equivalent to a car, ~ 1000 lbs.
Large
- Size: > 30,000 lbs.
RPAS as Platform
Multi-rotors
Fixed-wing & VTOL
- Shorter flight time (< 45 min)
- Cover smaller area
- Highly maneuverable
- Less expensive
- Access to confined spaces
- Long flight time (+ 40min)
- Covers very large area
(vertical take-off & land)
Sensors Payload
Multi-spectral
Thermal Infrared
High resolution digital camera (100 MP)
LiDAR Camera
Methane Gas Dector
1. Aircraft + Sensor (Data Collection)
2. Data Processing & Analyzing (GIS)
3. Information Products
=
+
1. Platform + Sensor (Data Collection)
2. Data Processing & Analyzing (GIS)
3. Information Products
Standard Drone Workflow
Drone
GIS
Great Combo?
&
Great combo !
GIS & DRONE
FAA Regulations - Where are we now?
Regulations
Commercial/Governmental
FAA Part 107 Rule, July 2016
-
Need FAA Remote Pilot Certification (Pilot license NOT needed)
-
~481,000 - Remote pilots certified. Aug. 2026)
-
~837,000 - Commercial Drones Registered (Aug. 2026)
- $175 to take the test
-
Fly under 400 feet above ground level
-
Not to fly < 5 nautical miles around airport
-
Aircraft < 55 lbs.
-
Fly during daytime or night time operation with appropriate lighting
-
Fly visual line of sight ( VLOS)
-
No flight over non-participating people
- ...and many, many more.....
FAA Part 107 Rule
-
Be at least 16 yrs old
-
Pass the initial aeronautical knowledge exam
-
Online recurring training every 24 month
-
Understand recreational flying requirements
-
Take TRUST
-
Online recurring training every 24 month
WTD GIS Drone Program
DJI Mavic 2 Pro (1)
Mavic 2 Ent. Adv. (1)
Mavic 3 Ent (2)
2021
2022
2023
Matrice 4 Ent. (1)
2025
Total: ~ $27,000 (2021 - 2025)
Matrice 400 Ent.
2026
Total - $41,000
Current Hardware
DJI Mavic 2 Pro < $1,800 (Retired)
DJI Mavic 2 Pro Ent. Adv $6,500
DJI Avata $1,300
Mavic 3 Ent (2x)
$3,800
20 MP/ 56x zoom
20 MP
12 MP/ 32x zoom
+ Thermal
Matrice 4 Ent
~ $5,300
Latest Hardware
$11,000
All WEather
L3 - lidar
~ $ 18,000
H30T - Thermal
~ $ 12,000
KC Wastewater Treatment Drone Program
People
+
Technology
+
Organization
=
Drone Program
Building Drone Program
E3 S3
-
Small
-
Share
-
Structure
Easy
Efficient
Effective
HOW?
WHY?
Why Use Drones?
1. Easy - Simple with little effort
Automatic
Repeatable
E3
1. Easy - Simple with little effort
Automatic Repeatable
Brightwater TP - Aeriation Basin Opt. Construction
Flight Control App
Automate Flight Planning - Fly Consistently for overlapping images
Can fly manually but it's like mowing with scissors
Why Use Drones?
2. Efficient - Results without waste
Safety of staffs & Save Time & $$
E3
Data Processing - Efficient
- Cloud Storage & Cloud Data Processing
- Flight Planning from Desktop - fly on Mobile (controller)
- Cloud storage/Cloud Processing
- Centralized System
- Project Deliverables
2. Efficient - Results without waste
Safety of staffs & Save Time & $$
West Point
Treatment
Plant
Discovery Park
Blvd
Dec 2024
E3
Why Use Drones?
3. Effective - Producing Results
E3
0.50 in/px
June 2025
6x time the resolution
(from KC Aerial Imagery - June 2025)
- Environmental Monitoring
Examples - Effective
August 2022
March 2022
April 2023
Construction Site Monitoring
3. Effective - Producing Results
E3
- Construction Site Monitoring
Examples - Effective
West Point Treatment Plant Raw Sewage Pump Building
Inspecting Inside Digester (2024)
Inspecting Inside Digester
Ship Canal Water Quality - TBM
3. Effective - Producing Results
E3
Why Use Drones?
3. Effective - Producing Results
- Update 2D aerial map
Examples - Effective
- 1172 Photos
- 0.57in/px
0.50 in/px
June 2025
6x time the resolution
(from KC Aerial Imagery - June 2025)
3. Effective - Producing Results
Sep 2023
Oct 2024
June 2025
Compost LOOP
pilot-project
- Construction Site Monitoring
3. Effective - Producing Results
Ship Canal Water Quality - TBM (2023)
3. Effective - Producing Results
Ship Canal Water Quality - TBM
3. Effective - Producing Results
Helping KC Parks
Helping KC Parks
Building Drone Program
E3S3
-
Small
-
Share
-
Structure
WHY
-
Easy
-
Efficient
-
Effective
HOW
WHY?
- Ensure Continous Operation
- Support Capital Delivery & Maintenance
DJI Mavic 2 Pro (1)
Mavic 2 Ent. Adv. (1)
Mavic 3 Ent (2)
2021
2022
2023
Matrice 4 Ent. (1)
2025
Total: < $22,000
-
Small
-
Share
-
Structure
S3: Small
$1,800 (Retired)
$6,500
$3,800
$5,300/
$8,500
Latest Hardware
$11,000
All WEather
RGB Camera
~ $10,500
Lidar Sensor
~ $ 17,500
S3: Share
WTD Examples: 2D Aerial
Brightwater Treatment Plant - Construction Aeriation BuildingExamples - Integrating with GIS
Examples - Integrating with GIS
Examples - Integrating with GIS
S3: Structure
Check List
Workflow Development
WTD Drone Dashboard
Proof Of Concept
Lidar SLAM (Simultenous Localization and Mapping) Handheld Unit
Proof Of Concept
Lidar SLAM Handheld Unit
Examples
Proof Of Concept (new)
(Lidar data + Camera photo ) x Gaussian Splatting = below
WHOA!
Just another tool in the toolbox
Future GIS & Success (personal view)
Post Graduate
GPT
General Purpose Technology
GPT
General Purpose Technology
- Steam Engine
- Electricity
- Internet
NOT
Generative Pre-Trained Transformer
"GPT always needs complements"
Urban Planning
Utilities/
Engineering
You
Social Justice/Equity
Environmental
Science
GIS/Drone
You
You
You
GIS/Drone
GIS/Drone
GIS/Drone
GIS
Companies are using maps not just as nice features but to drive revenue as core components of their offering. Maps are no longer just a good way to visualize content, they are core to competitive advantage.
+
=
YOU
Text
GIS
Building Self Brand
Just another tool in the toolbox
Famous Original Quote
They Both are RIGHT!
END
for now
Thank You
peter.keum@kingcounty.gov
peter.keum@kingcounty.gov