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Kentucky Transportation CabinetUnmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Program

How State DOTs are using Unmanned Aerial Systems WebinarApril 6, 2016

Jason J. Siwula, PEInnovation Engineer – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

KYTC Mission

To provide a safe, efficient, environmentally sound and fiscally responsible transportation system that delivers economic opportunity and enhances the quality of life in Kentucky.

How to legally fly – FAA Approved Operations:

1. Public (Governmental)2. Civil (Private Companies)3. Model Aircraft (Hobbyists)

Public Agencies can apply for a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) for each location they fly and/or apply for a “Section 333 Exemption”

Private Companies must use the 333 Exemption

Hobbyists can fly but cannot make money from UAS activities

2012 Congress – permit commercial UAS by November 2015

In the meantime there are two methods for State DOTs to fly:

1. Public COA (Public only)Attorney General must certify the agency is publicApply for a COA online for each flight, location, timeOperator can be exempted from pilots licenseNOTAM required

2. Section 333 Exemption (Civil or Public) - Submitted by KYTC 6/2/15, approved 11/2/15

Fly anytime without waiting on a COABlanket COA

< 400’ Altitude, > 2-5 miles from airports (depending on airport)Operator must have a pilot’s licenseNOTAM required

KYTC Aircraft1550 mm Flying Wing 680 mm quadrotor

All aircraft carry the Sony QX1 with 16mm pancake lens

Quadrotor - $1,940

Aircraft - $1,436

(Cost includes camera)

Potential Applications within the Transportation Cabinet

• Surveying• Design - Digital Terrain Models• Construction Monitoring• As-Built Plans• Structure Inspections• Stockpile Volume Measurement• Crash Scene Management and Clearing• GIS• Archeology• Public Meetings

Surveying – Proof of Concept

• Low risk proof of concept

• Quick Win

• Simpler than flying near a bridge structure

• Safer than flying over a crash scene

• Our statewide survey coordinator is a private pilot (currently an FAA Requirement for UAS operations)

How to survey with a UAS – a 5 minute overview

In this amount of time a UAS can survey 10 acres

Place ground control markers - 9” x 12” chevron. Coordinates are captured later

Define area to photograph

Define flight lines and image interval

(or similar software)

Ground Control Coordinates X,Y,Z (Identifying each GCP in at least 3 photos is the only manual processing step

Image processing software is the catalyst for Unmanned Aircraft survey operations

Overlapping images

After a few hours of processing you have a 3D color point cloud, DTM and mesh

and contours…

and a georeferenced .TIF image!

2012 1 Meter resolution

UAS 1.3” Resolution

Resolution comparison

KY_KYAPED_Franklin_2012 6 Inch Resolution UAS 1 Inch Resolution

UAS imagery is superior to conventional aerial photographyCamera is closer to subject, less affected by atmospheric hazeShort focal lengths are less affected by vibration

UAS vs LIDAR vs Ground Survey

Grass strip 2KY8 (Seldom Scene)

Unmanned Aircraft can introduce new efficiencies in surveyingFor about 10 acres:

Surveying with a UAS 2 people, 10 minute flight, 2 hours on site1 hour GCP placement (manual process)2-6 hour processing (unattended)

Conventional Surveying 2 People, 3 weeks on site needed to capturesimilar detail to the UAS point cloud

Interim progress surveys and as-built plans can now be easily obtained

Challenges and Takeaways

• Messaging• Safety is critical.

• “Tools not toys” – UAS operations at the Cabinet are for official use only and must be used according to policies and procedures.

• There is a lot of demand for UAS solutions. Prioritization is a must.

• Be aware of state legislation. The Kentucky General Assembly had five bills relating to UAS sponsored during the 2016 session some of which (if passed) would possibly restrict State DOT UAS operations

Future Directions

• Recently the FAA stated that the “small rule” may be out in July of 2016. While this will be a significant step forward for the ability to use UAS it will also present some programmatic challenges.

• Standardization of Equipment

• Training / Certification for Employees• Public Safety

• Operations of UAS• Regulations

• Flight

• Authorized Uses

• Public Outreach

For Additional Information…

Jason J. Siwula, PEInnovation EngineerKentucky Transportation CabinetState Highway Engineer’s Officejason.siwula@ky.gov