Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)

What are they Good for?

March 22 , 2022

Peter Keum - KC WTD GIS Specialist, GISP

Just another tool in the toolbox

FAA Part 107 Certified Remote Pilot

• Introduction to Drone - What is it? How we use it?
• WTD RPAS Pilot Program - Work Flow
• Use Cases - Examples

It's just a toy...

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

Why Use Drones?

1. Increase Safety for Staff

2. Avoid hazardous condition

3. Precision Data Collection

4. Repeatable & Recordable & Searchable

   1. ​Enabling Temporal/Spatial trend analyses

5. Higher Efficiency of Data Collection improves product development & analytical capabilities

Airplane Orthophoto

Software processed Orthophoto from drone

Benefits

• High Temporal Resolution
• High Spatial Resolution

• Fly Same area many times

Benefits

• Higher Spatial Resolution
  • Monitor continuous changes
  • Higher Spatial resolution than Satellite, Airplane

WTD Projects

• Mitigation & Monitoring Group - 36 flights since 2017

• Denny Regulator Station Erosion Project - 3D Model

Few ways to Enhance Communication using Drone Data

• Better Story Telling Tools for Private & Public Meetings

• Communicate Traffic Flow Changes, Park Closures, or Construction Work

• Improve Website and Social Media Contents

  • Instagram or Tweets to generate interest of parks

• Ensures Accuracy with Clear/Readable Images

UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

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

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 ~ $$$$

UAV as Platform

Multi-rotors

Fixed-wing & VTOL

• Shorter flight time (< 30 min)
• Cover smaller area
• Highly maneuverable
• Less expensive
• Access to confined spaces

• Long flight time (+ 40min)
• Covers large area
• Larger selection of sensors

(vertical take-off & land)

Multi-rotors

• Shorter flight time (< 30 min)
• Cover smaller area
• Highly maneuverable
• Less expensive
• Access to confined spaces

~ $1,200 -- $14,000

 Sensors Payload

Multi-spectral  ~ $10 K

Thermal Infrared ~$8K

High resolution digital camera (100 MP) ~$40K

Lidar Camera

~ $15K

Methane Gas Detector ~$67K

New M30T

3/21/22

• 48MP zoom
• 12MP wide
• Laser Rangefinder
• Thermal camera
• IP55 water resistance
• 41 min flight
• ~ $14K

Standard Drone Workflow

1. Platform + Sensor (Data Collection)

2. Data Processing & Analyzing (GIS)

3. Information Products

credit: Esri

Two Spaces for Drone

Outdoor

Indoor

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

Outdoor

Indoor

DJI Mavic 2 Pro < $1,800

Aertos 120 ~ $25K

Eilos 2  ~$48K

DJI Matrice 300 ~ $12K

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

DJI FPV w/ Modification ~ $6,500

Outdoor

Indoor

DJI Mavic 2 Pro Ent. Adv ~ ~ $7,500

DJI FPV w/ Modification ~ $6,500

Dual Imaging

• Thermal Camera
• Zoom 32X  Visual Camera

Dual Imaging

• Thermal Camera
• Zoom 32X  Visual Camera

Indoor

DJI FPV w/ Modification ~ $6,500

Indoor - Lumicopter

 Sensors Payload

High resolution digital camera

Drone

GIS

Great Combo?

&

Great combo !

GIS & DRONE

FAA Regulations - Where are we now?

Regulations

Commercial/Governmental

FAA Part 107 Rule, July 2016

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

• 171,744 - Remote pilot certified (2020)

• 441,709 - Commerical Drones Registered

• 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

King County WTD

August, 2016 - WTD Policies on Use of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones) - Email to Managers/Supervisors:  

Approved of using 3rd party drone operator

April, 2019 - "A drone can be used at any WTD facility; however, staff wanting to use a drone must work with Peter Keum to ensure that the proposed use meets the FAA and local regulations because the regulations vary geographically.... permissible to operate drones indoor or in confined spaces for specialized uses, like inspections."

Update WTD Drone Use Procedure

King County WTD

June, 2021 - Approved to Started RPAS Pilot Program

• 3 FAA Part 107 Drone Certified Pilots - WTD GIS Specialists
• One DJI Mavic 2 Pro
• Since June 2021, flown ten plus missions to support Capital and Asset Management Program and Mitigation & Monitoring Program

King County WTD

June, 2021 - Approved to Started RPAS Pilot Program

• 3 FAA Part 107 Drone Certified Pilots - WTD GIS Specialists

August, 2016 -  Approved of using 3rd party drone operator

(WTD Managment & Office of Risk of Managment/PA Office)

April, 2019 - "... permissible to operate drones indoor or in confined spaces for specialized uses, like inspections."

(WTD allow to purchase and operate - DNRP Director, ORM)

WTD PM Workflow for using 3rd Party Vendor

Memo Template

Simple Payment Template

GIS Products

WTD Projects

• West Point TP & Brightwater TP

July & August 2021 - Panoramic View

WTD Workflow for In-house

X

X

X

Text

Short Email

WTD Project Examples

• Kenmore Mitigation Monitoring Site
• North Creek Interceptor Monitoring Site
• West Point Treatment Plant - Digesters - Roof Inspection, Video of the plant for Exec. Office
• South Treatment Plant - Channeling Inspection
• Brightwater Treatment Plant  - Digesters - 3D Model, Roof Inspection

Other Project Examples

• Pierce Co
  • Channel Migration
  • Pano View
• Lummi Nation
  • Restoration Project Planning/Monitoring
  • Illegal trespassing/logging/ Vehical Junk yard

Lummi Nation Examples

Pre-planning for engineered log jams for upper Nooksack River

Restoration Monitoring for the Middle Fork of the Nooksack River

Lummi Nation Examples

Benefits

Give decision makers appropriate analytic information products

• Better Data -> More Knowledge -> Better Decision Making

Benefits

So Where is it going...

Where are we now?

Where are we heading?

Drones, What are they Good for?

peter.keum@kingcounty.gov   

Just another tool in the toolbox

Let's Go Find Solution

Questions?