Peter Keum
GISP
WTD GIS Senior Specialist
Use of RPAS* for Wastewater Treatment Division
August 10, 2024
FAA Part 107 Certified Remote Pilot
Remotely Piloted Aircraft System*
So Let's Dive into the program
RPAS - Remotely Piloted Aircraft System
FAA Definition: Unmanned Aircraft (UA) system that is operated by a pilot via ground control or on-board computer.
-
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
FAA Part 107 Rule *
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. 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
credit: Esri
GIS Integration
Drone
GIS
Great Combo?
&
Great combo !
GIS & DRONE
Why Use Drones?
3 E's
-
Easy
-
Efficient
-
Effective
Why Use Drones?
Easy - Simple with little effort
Efficient - Results without waste
Effective - Producing Results
Why Use Drones?
1. Easy - Simple with little effort
Automatic
Repeatable
Flight Control App
- Automate Flight Planning - Fly Consistently for overlapping images
- Can fly manually but it's like mowing with scissors
Example: Auto flight plan
Result 3D Model
Why Use Drones?
2. Efficient - Results without waste
Safety of staffs
Save Time & $$
Why Use Drones?
South Treatment Plant
Primary Division Channel
2. Efficient - Results without waste
Why Use Drones?
2. Efficient - Results without waste
Data Processing - Efficient
- Cloud Storage & Cloud Data Processing
- Flight Planning from Desktop - fly on Mobile (controller)
- Cloud storage/Cloud Processing
- Centralized System
- Project Deliverables
Why Use Drones?
3. Effective - Producing Results
- Environmental Monitoring
Examples - Effective
August 2022
March 2022
April 2023
- Update 2D aerial map
Examples - Effective
- 1172 Photos
- 0.57in/px
- Update 2D aerial map
Examples - Effective
0.57 in/px
Sept 2023
3.0 in/px
2023 KC Aerial
- Construction Site Monitoring
Examples - Effective
Summary of KC Wastewater Treatment Division RPAS Program
People
+
Technology
+
Organization
=
RPAS Program
King County WTD
August, 2016 - Approved of using 3rd party drone operator (ORM & PA)
April, 2021 - "permissible to operate drones indoor or in confined spaces for specialized uses, like inspections." - Offie Of Risk Management (ORM)
June, 2021 - Approved to Started RPAS Pilot Program in WTD
November 2023
- 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
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
WTD RPAS Dashboard
2021
June - Dec.
2023
Jan. - Nov.
Number of Flights
2022
Jan. - Dec.
+ 480 %
Future Success (personal view)
Post Graduate
GPT
General Purpose Technology NOT ChatGPT
Steam Engine
Electricity
GPT
+
=
+
=
1. Aircraft + Sensor (Data Collection)
2. Data Processing & Analyzing (GIS)
3. Information Products
=
+
GPT?
GPT?
GPT?
Information Products
+
=
YOU
Four C's
Critical
Thinking
Communication
Creativity
Collaboration
Where are we now?
Where are we heading?
Let's go find solution
Washington GIS Association Drone Special Interest Group
- Email Sign-up
- Resources
- Every 3rd Thursday
- ZOOM Meeting
- 165 Members
peter.keum@kingcounty.gov
Evergreen College GIS/Drone Lecture Presentation Aug 10 ,2024
By Peter Keum
Evergreen College GIS/Drone Lecture Presentation Aug 10 ,2024
August 10 ,2024 - Slides for Evergreen College GIS/Drone program. Updated presentation from State of KC WTD Drone Program. Brief introduction of drone hardware and its workflow. Various use cases within WTD. Three main points of developing drone program within WTD 3 E's - Easy, Efficient, and Effective tools to do the work.
