Small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS)

Dot Collectors vs. Dot Connectors

December  2, 2019

Peter Keum - WTD GIS Specialist, GISP

peter.keum@kingcounty.gov   

Just another tool in the toolbox

pkgeo.com

WTD Mission:

​Protect Public Health

Enhance Environment by Treating & Reclaiming water, Recycling Solids & Generating Energy

• 1.5 million people

• 420 square miles

• 391 miles sewer pipe

Seattle --> Medford, OR

1. Introduction  - Hardware & Software

2. Regulations/Guideline - FAA & King County (WTD)

3. Applications & KC WTD Projects

4. What's Next?

small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (sUAV) "Drone"

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

Why Now?

Cell Phone Technology + Lower $$

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

Integrated gyroscopic/GPS Chip in 2000's = $10,000

In 2017 = $3

1981 $120,000

2013

$5 - $15

It's just a toy...past examples of what used to be

It's just a toy...

It's just a toy...

It's just a toy...

UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

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

1. Introduction

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

RPAS Categories

Small  

• Size: 1 - 2 meters ( 3 ft - 6.5 ft), < 55 lbs.
• Control: Visual line of sight, Radio control
• DJI Phamtom, Mavic,  ScanEagle

Medium

• Size: Equivalent to a car, ~ 1000 lbs.
• Control: Visual Line Of Sight (VLOS) & Beyond LOS, RC & Satellite
• General Atomics -MQ1 Predator

Large  

• Size: > 30,000 lbs.
• Control: Visual Line Of Sight (VLOS) & Beyond LOS, RC & Satellite
• Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk ~$222 Million

sUAV as Platform

Multi-rotors

Fixed wings

• Short flight time (< 20min)
• Cover small area
• Highly maneuverable
• Less expensive
• Access to confined spaces

• Long flight time (+ 30min)
• Covers large area
• Larger selection of sensors

 Sensors

Multi-spectral 

Thermal Infrared

Lidar Camera

High resolution digital camera

Thermal Sensor

Inspection Use

Inspection Use

Inspection Use

Multispectral

Agriculture Use

Agriculture Use

FAA Regulations - Where are we now?

2. Regulations

Commercial/Governmental

FAA Part 107 Rule, July 2016

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

• As of July of 2018 - 100,000+ active remote pilot certificates

• 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

King County WTD

"Subject: WTD Policies on Use of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones)

Managers/Supervisors: August, 2016

I’d like you to share the following policy guidance regarding the use of drones for work purposes with your staff as appropriate. The guidance specifically addresses the use of drones classified as small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), which weigh less than 55 lbs."

• No owning or operating drones by WTD
• Manager/Supervisor review and require Division Director approval
• 3rd Party to meet KC Risk Management requirements

Workflow Example 1

Whidbey Island, Langley Downtown example (Spring, 2014)

Aaron Racicot

3. Application Examples

Flight with Data Collection

• Collected 200 Images
• Using Agisoft PhotoScan to stich images
• Alt. Tool - Microsoft Image Composite Editor (ICE)

Information Product  - OpenStreetMap 

• Using imagery to digitize street, add features to OSM

• Add below url into OpenStreetMap iD Editor

Application Examples & WTD Projects

Proof-of-Concept

1. KC Brightwater Treatment Plant odor control building), 2014

2. Cedar River Revetment  (river bank protection), 2015

3.  West Point  Treatment Plant - Blue Pumps

Flying Brightwater TP Odor Control Units

Result

Cedar River Revetment (May, 2015)

Pumps (2014)

Workflow

1. Aircraft + Sensor        (Data Collection)

2. Data Processing & Analyzing (GIS)

3. Information Products

||

+

Benefits

• Temporal Resolution
  • Fly more often

Offer decision makers with appropriate analytic information products

• Spatial Resolution
  • Monitor continuous changes
  • High Spatial resolution than Satellite, Plane
• More Data > More Knowledge > Better Decision Making

WTD Projects

• West Point Treatment Plant Event

• West Point Treatment Aerial Photography

• Mitigation and Monitoring Program

WTD Projects

• West Point Treatment Plant Incident Feb, 2017

Seattle Times Headline

March 12, 2017

WTD Projects

• West Point Treatment Plant Incident Feb, 2017

Drone Flights (March, 2017) - Soil Run-off Real cause of plume, not overflow

WTD Projects

• West Point Treatment Plant Incident Feb, 2017

Drone Flights = Clarification

Photo from Seattle Times

KC WTD Drone Flight

March, 2017

WTD Projects

• Floating Willow Raft - Mitigation & Monitoring May 2017 - Present 

Purpose: Willow growth shade analysis (1.5 acres)

Flight from May 2017

WTD Projects

• West Point Treatment Plant Orthophoto

• October 2, 2017

• Over 600 images collected

• High Resolution 0.75 inch/piexel

Result

4. So Where is it going...

GPT

General Purpose Technology

The Second Machine Age - Erik Brynjolfsson, Andrew McAfee

General Purpose Technology

sUAV as Platform

Multi-rotors

Fixed wings

• Short flight time (< 20min)
• Cover small area
• Highly maneuverable
• Less expensive
• Access to confined spaces

• Long flight time (+ 30min)
• Covers large area
• Larger selection of sensors

General Purpose Technology

Dot Collector

Dot Connector

Dot Collector

Dot Connector

END

for now

Thank You

peter.keum@kingcounty.gov