WTD Drone Program
We Came, We Flew, We Mapped..
Peter Keum, GISP
Drone Program Lead/GIS Analyst
October 16, 2025
WTD Drone Program
We Came, We Flew, We Mapped..
Peter Keum, GISP
Drone Program Lead/GIS Analyst
October 16, 2025
From Buzz to Business
- Quick History
-
Where are We Now:
- Hardware/Software/Pilots
-
Things We've Done and Doing:
- Integration of Drone with GIS
So Let's Dive in!
WTD GIS Team
- 10 GIS Specialists
Supervisor
KC Wastewater Treatment Drone Program
People
+
Technology
+
Organization
=
Drone Program
WTD GIS Drone Program
October 2025
- Four FAA Part 107 Drone Certified Pilots - WTD GIS Specialists (Jim, Patrick, Joe, and Peter)
- Assisting other departments to stand up their own drone programs (WLRD/ SWD/ Local Service/ KCIA/ FMD)
Joe
DJI Mavic 2 Pro (1)
Mavic 2 Ent. Adv. (1)
Mavic 3 Ent (2x)
2021
2022
2023
Matrice 4 Ent. (1)
2025
Total: ~ $27,000
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/ $8,500
Wish List Hardware :-)
$11,000
All WEather
RGB Camera
~ $3,500
Lidar Sensor
~ $ 12,500
WTD Drone Dashboard
2021
June - Dec.
2023
Number of Flights
2022
2024
2025
Jan. - Oct.
Helping KC Parks
From Buzz to Business
Quick History-
Where are We Now:Hardware/Software/Pilots
-
Things We've Done and Doing:
- Integration of Drone with GIS
Why Use Drones?
3 E's
-
Easy
-
Efficient
-
Effective
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?
1. Easy - Simple with little effort
Automatic
Repeatable
1. Easy - Simple with little effort
Automatic Repeatable
West Point TP - RSP Building Construction
Why Use Drones?
2. Efficient - Results without waste
Safety of staffs & Save Time & $$
Inspecting Inside Digester (2024)
Inspecting Inside Digester
2. Efficient - Results without waste
Safety of staffs & Save Time & $$
West Point
Treatment
Plant
Discovery Park
Blvd
Dec 2024
Why Use Drones?
3. Effective - Producing Results
- Update 2D aerial map
0.57 in/px
Sept 2023
3.0 in/px
2023 KC Aerial
3. Effective - Producing Results
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
- Monitoring & Mitigation (ECSS)
March 2022
April 2024
August 2025
3. Effective - Producing Results
- Construction Site Monitoring
3. Effective - Producing Results
- Construction Site Monitoring
3. Effective - Producing Results
West Point Treatment Plant ISP Replacement (2023)
3. Effective - Producing Results
Ship Canal Water Quality - TBM (2023)
3. Effective - Producing Results
Ship Canal Water Quality - TBM
3. Effective - Producing Results
Heat Resource Recover - Energy District (Dexter Ave)
3. Effective - Producing Results
Examples - Integrating with GIS
Examples - Integrating with GIS
Examples - Integrating with GIS
Proof Of Concept
Lidar SLAM Handheld Unit
Proof Of Concept
Lidar SLAM Handheld Unit
WHOA!
Just another tool in the toolbox
Not Easy!
but....
1.1
A
B
L
C
Tobin Bradley, Mecklenburg County, NC
Let's do A. B. L. !
peter.keum@kingcounty.gov
peter.keum@kingcounty.gov