Peter Keum

WTD GIS Senior Specialist

Use of RPAS* for Wastewater Treatment Division

October 27th, 2021

FAA Part 107 Certified Remote Pilot

Remotely Piloted Aircraft System

  • Drone - What is it? How we use it? 
  • WTD RPAS Pilot Program  
  • WTD Project Workflow 

It's just a toy...

2016

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

It's just a toy...

So Where is it going...

  • Increase in Enterprise use of Drone

    • Using it because it does job better

  • Successful technology is not thrill but becomes essential and accepted 

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

  • Mitigation & Monitoring Group - 36 flights since 2017

  • Denny Regulator Station Erosion Project - 3D Model

WTD Projects

  • West Point TP & Brightwater TP

July & August 2021 - Panoramic View

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. 

Background Information

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 ~ $$$$

1. Aircraft + Sensor    (Data Collection)

2. Data Processing & Analyzing (GIS)

 3. Information Products

=

+

 Information Products

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

 Sensors Payload

Multi-spectral 

Thermal Infrared

Lidar Camera

High resolution digital camera (100 MP)

Lidar Camera

Lidar Camera

Methane Gas Dector

 Sensors Payload

High resolution digital camera

credit: Esri

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, 2021 - "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."

King County WTD

June, 2016 - Approved to Started RPAS Pilot Program

  • Three FAA Part 107 Drone Certified Pilots - WTD GIS Specialists
  • 3 Drones: DJI Mavic 2 Pro, DJI FPV (Confined space) Drone, DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advance 
  • Since June, flown over ten missions to support Capital and Asset Management Program and Mitigation & Monitoring Program

Two Spaces for Drone

Outdoor

  • GPS Signal
  • Automated Planning and Flight
  • Even, Diffuse lighting
  • Open space

Indoor

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

Outdoor

Indoor

DJI Air & Mavic 2 Pro < $1800

Aertos 120 $25,000 +

Eilos 2  $48,000 +

DJI Matrice 300 $12,000 +

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

Avoid Hazardous Condition

West Point TP - Digester

Better Precision Data 

Standard Drone Workflow

WTD PM Workflow

Memo Template

Simple Payment Template

GIS Products

Many 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

Drones, What are they Good for?

peter.keum@kingcounty.gov   

Just another tool in the toolbox

Let's Go Find Solution

Questions?