Peter Keum

GISP

WTD Drone Program Lead/

GIS Analyst

Use of RPAS* for Wastewater Treatment Division

April 07, 2025

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

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+

1. Platform + Sensor (Data Collection)

2. Data Processing & Analyzing (GIS)

3. Information Products

credit: Esri

Esri Dashboard

GIS Integration

Web App

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 & $$

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

Kenmore Twin Springs Mitigation Site

August 2022

March 2022

April 2023

Update 2D aerial map

Examples - Effective

South Treatment Plant

1172 Photos
0.57in/px

Update 2D aerial map

Examples - Effective

South Treatment Plant

0.57 in/px

Sept 2023

3.0 in/px

2021 KC Aerial

Construction Site Monitoring

Examples - Effective

West Point Treatment Plant Power Upgrade Project

Examples - Integrating with GIS

South Treatment Plant

West Point Treatment Plant 3D Model

West Point TP 3D Scene in AGO

Brightwater Treatment Plant

Proof Of Concept

Lidar SLAM Handheld Unit

Video of Scan Path

Proof Of Concept

Lidar SLAM Handheld Unit

Examples

WHOA!

Proof Of Concept

Lidar SLAM Handheld Unit

Examples

Proof Of Concept

Lidar SLAM Handheld Unit

Examples

Summary of KC Wastewater Treatment Division RPAS Program

People

+

Technology

+

Organization

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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

April 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