Workshop #1 : Developing a Drone Program and Uses in a Local Public Agency

WAGISA  Conference, Tacoma, WA.

June 16, 2025

Keisha Chinn: WSDOT - Enviro Info Program Manager

Peter Keum, GISP: KC Wastewater Treatment - Drone Program Lead

Schedule: Part 1 

Break (10 min)

Break (10 min)

( 8:30 AM - Noon) 

1.1

Schedule: Part 2

Break (10 min)

Break (10 min)

( 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM) 

1.1

Introduction

• Name

• Organization, if there's one

• Level of understanding

1.1

King County Wastewater Treatment by Numbers

• 2 million residents

• 424 square miles

• 383 miles sewer pipeline (2.5 inch to 14 ft)

• 74 facilities (PS & RS)

• 5 Treatment Plants: 180 MGD ~ Max. 900 MGD

Seattle, WA --> Medford, OR

1.2

1.2

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

Why Now?

1.2

Cell Phone Technology + Lower $$

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

1.2

UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

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

1.2

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

1.2

UAV Categories

 Small  - $

• Size: 1 - 2 meters ( 3 ft - 6.5 ft), < 55 lbs.
• Control: Radio control

Medium

• Size: Equivalent to a car, ~ 1000 lbs.
• Control: Visual Line Of Sight (VLOS) & Beyond LOS, RC & Satellite ~ $$$

Large  

• Size: > 30,000 lbs.
• Control: Visual Line Of Sight (VLOS) & Beyond LOS, RC & Satellite ~ $$$$

1.2

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)

1.2

 Payload Sensors

Multi-spectral 

Thermal Infrared

High resolution digital camera (100 MP)

Lidar Camera

Methane

Gas Detector

1.2

Two Spaces for Drone

Outdoor

Indoor

• No GPS signal
• Limits on speed and motion
• Manual flight control
• Tight spaces

1.2

Outdoor

Indoor

DJI Mavic 2 Pro < $1,800

Flybotix ASIO X ~ $23K

Eilos 2  ~$48K

DJI Matrice Enterprise ~

$5,300

DJI Mavic 2 Pro Ent. Adv ~ $6,500

Cleo Dronut

~ $12K

Mavic 3 Ent

~ $3,800

1.2

1.2

Why Use Drones?

Easy - Simple with little effort

Efficient - Results without waste

Effective - Producing Results

3 E's

1.2

Why Use Drones?

1. Easy - Simple with little effort

Automatic

Repeatable

1.2

Why Use Drones?

2. Efficient - Results without waste

Safety of staffs

Save Time & $$

1.2

Why Use Drones?

3. Effective - Producing Results

1.2

• Environmental Monitoring

Examples - Effective

Kenmore Twin Springs Mitigation Site

August 2022

March 2022

April 2023

1.2

1. Platform + Sensor (Data Collection)

2. Data Processing & Analyzing (GIS)

3. Information Products

1.2

1. Mission Planning Software (data collection) - Flight Control App  

• Fly Consistently for overlapping images
• Can fly manually but it's like mowing with scissors

1.2

1. Platform + Sensor (Data Collection)

2. Data Processing & Analyzing (GIS)

3. Information Products

1.2

Drone Photogrammetry

1.2

 2. Data Processing & Analyzing (GIS)

1.2

1. Platform + Sensor (Data Collection)

2. Data Processing & Analyzing (GIS)

3. Information Products

1.2

1.2

Airplane Orthophoto

Software processed Orthophoto from drone

1.2

1.2

Keisha 

FAA Regulations - Where are we now?

Regulations

1.4

Commercial/Governmental

FAA 14 CFR Part 107 Rule, August 2016

• Need FAA Remote Pilot Certification (General Aviation Pilot license NOT needed)

• 444,960 - Remote pilot certified (2025)

• Year 2017 - 60,000
• Year 2018 - 116,000
• Year 2024 - 350,000

• 420,825 - Commerical Drones Registered

1.4

FAA Part 107 Drone Certification

• Be at least 16 yrs old

• Pass the initial aeronautical knowledge exam

• Online recurring training every 24 month 

The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST)

• Understand recreational flying requirements

• Take TRUST

• Online recurring training every 24 month 

1.4

• 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

1.4

Hobby/Recreation

• Self register (over 13 yrs old)

• Fly under 400 feet above ground level

• Not to fly < 5 nautical miles around airport

• Aircraft < 55 lbs.

• Fly during daytime

• Fly a visual line of sight ( VLOS)

• 380,007 Recreational Flyer Registereations

• Less than 250 grams (0.55 lbs)   - No need to register with FAA
• More than 250 grams register with FAA $5.00

1.4

Schedule: Part 1 

Break (10 min)

Break (10 min)

( 8:30 AM - Noon) 

2.1

Summary of KC Wastewater Treatment Division RPAS Program

2.1

WTD GIS RPAS Program

2.1

KC WTD Management

KC ORM (Office of Risk Mgmt)

2.1

Check List

Pre-Flight

On-Site

Post-Flight

2.1

Example

2.1

June 2025

• Four  FAA Part 107 Drone Certified Pilots - WTD GIS Specialists (Jim, Patrick, Joe, and Peter)

• Helping other departments to stand up their own RPAS programs

Joe

2.1

Outdoor

Indoor

DJI Mavic 2 Pro < $1,800

DJI Mavic 2 Pro Ent. Adv ~ $6,500

DJI FPV w/ Modification ~ $1,300

Mavic 3 Ent

~ $3,800

20 MP/ 56x zoom

20 MP

12 MP/ 32x zoom

+ Thermal

Matrice 4 Ent

~ $5,300

2.1

2021

June - Dec.

2023

Jan. - Nov.

Number of Flights

2022

Jan. - Dec.

+ 480 %

2024

Jan. - Nov.

2.1

Where are we now?

Where are we heading?

2.1

Keisha 

Schedule: Part 1 

Break (10 min)

Break (10 min)

( 8:30 AM - Noon) 

3.1

KC WTD Data Mgmt Plan

3.1

KC WTD Data Mgmt Plan

3.1

Esri Workflow

3.1

3.1

• Public
• No AGO Account
• Group Sharing
• Share with everyone
• Security

• Internal Only
• No AGO Account (KC)
• Group Sharing
• Selected Data to share

3.1

Esri 3D AGO Scene Viewer App - South Treatment Plant

3D Model + Feature Layer

DroneDeploy Workflow

3.1

DroneDeploy Workflow

3.1

Examples

Environmental Monitoring

Facility/Construction Monitoring

NCI

Twin Springs

Brightwater Treatment Plant

Alki Wet Weather Treatment Plant

Keisha 

Let's get this drone program (party) started!

Washington GIS Association

Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)

Special Interest Group

• Monthly Meeting - Every 3rd Thursday over Zoom 
• Share resources online
• Help educate and introduce new users to the field of drone mapping and GIS

Washington GIS Association Drone Special Interest Group

• Email Sign-up
• Resources

• Every 3rd Thursday
• ZOOM Meeting
• 165 Members