Geospatial InitiativesA Federal Perspective

Jeff Lovin CP PSJune 3, 2015

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Who are we?Born in the 1990’s?

– You were born with a mobile device in your hand.– You have in excess of 500 friends on Facebook.– You only actually have ever met 10 of these friends, and it’s

likely that your best friend is virtual.

Who are we?Born in the 1980’s?

– You were born with mouse and game controller in your hand.– You have 150 or so friends on Facebook of which many

attended college with you, so you’ve met at least half of these friends.

– You have several very good virtual friends that you have never met.

Who are we?Born in the 1970’s?

– You were born with a game console in your hand.– You have about 50 Facebook friends and find it a nice way to

keep in touch with your family and friends.– None of your friends are virtual, you have met and know them

all personally.

Who are we?Born in the 1960’s?

– You were born with a baby rattle in your hand.– You have 15 Facebook friends, all are either childhood friends

or your immediate family and you’ve know them all since they were kids.

– You have no virtual friends.

Who are we?Born in the 1950s or earlier

– You were born with a stick in your hand.– Facebook and social media in general are just a fad so you’ve

never signed up.– A virtual friend? What is that?

Who Am I?• Senior VP of Woolpert currently responsible for local,

state, and federal geospatial market• 29 years of experience in photogrammetry, survey, and

GIS• Previous board member and past president of MAPPS• Previous delegate and chair of COGO• Current member of NGAC• Not on Facebook

Agenda• Updates on national geospatial initiatives from a few

different angles– National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC)– Coalition of Geospatial Organizations (COGO)– Management Association of Private

Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS)– UAS Update

NGAC Background• Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) Committee established in 2008• Provides advice and recommendations on management of Federal and

national geospatial programs, development of the NSDI, and the implementation of OMB Circular A-16 and Executive Order 12906. Provides a forum to convey views representative of non-Federal stakeholders in the geospatial community.

• Balanced membership:– 15 members from non-governmental organizations (private sector, non-profits,

academia)– 15 members from governmental organizations (federal, state, local, county,

tribal, regional)

• Reports to FGDC Chair through Designated Federal Officer (DFO)

NGAC Guidance• FGDC provides guidance to the NGAC each year outlining

study topics and research questions for the NGAC to address• Guidance is based on input from FGDC and NGAC

leadership, FGDC member agencies, and NGAC members• 2015 topic areas include:

– Ongoing FGDC Initiatives (Geospatial Platform, NSDI Strategic Plan, A-16/Portfolio Management Implementation Plan)

– NGAC Subcommittee Activities (Landsat Advisory Group, Geolocation Privacy, 3DEP, Crowd Sourced Geospatial Data)

– Additional Study Topics (DOI/Administration Priorities, Tribal Geospatial Issues, Sustainability/Continuity of NSDI Activities)

Coalition of Geospatial Organizations - COGO

• The Coalition of Geospatial Organizations (COGO) is a group of the leading geospatial organizations. The stakeholder groups that make up COGO speak with one voice wherever possible on geospatial data and policy issues. In accordance with its operating procedures, COGO only takes public policy positions with a unanimous vote of its member organizations.

COGO• The Coalition of Geospatial Organizations (COGO) is

a coalition of 13 national professional societies, trade associations, and membership organizations in the geospatial field, representing more than 170,000 individual producers and users of geospatial data and technology.

COGO membership• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)• American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote

Sensing (ASPRS)• Association of American Geographers (AAG)• Cartography and Geographic Information Society

(CAGIS)• Geographic and Land Information Society (GLIS)• GIS Certification Institute (GISCI)• International Association of Assessing Officials (IAAO)

Cogo membership• Management Association of Private Photogrammetric

Surveyors (MAPPS)• National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS)• National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC)• University Consortium for Geographic Information Science

(UCGIS)• United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF)• Urban and Regional Information Systems Association

(URISA)

COGO advisory organizations• National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Foundation

(NAPSG)• National Association of Counties (NACo)• National Emergency Number Association (NENA)•Western Governors Association (WGA)• American Planning Association (APA)

COGO – NSDI report card

• MAPPS' primary objective is to develop strength and unity on matters affecting the interests of its member firms. It is intended to promote a quality, profitable profession, interaction among firms, advance education, both professional and public. The organization monitors and works to affect legislation that impacts the profession. It is the purpose of MAPPS to promote the business interests of the profession. Whether it is fighting unfair competition by government, universities or non-profit entities, or promoting qualifications based selection, MAPPS enhances the ability of its member firms to participate in our great free enterprise system.

2015 Initiatives• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)• In response to a call from the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) for public comments on a proposed framework of regulations for use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to be operated in public skies, MAPPS submitted the following– Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations are

currently possible and should be promptly permitted;

• FAA should finalize regulations expeditiously requiring all small UAS sold in the United States to adhere to basic standards of design, manufacture and safety;

• Restrictions in the proposed rules for flying over a "populated area" are impractical and must be relaxed. The proposed rule indicates that "any single person within the area of operation that is not inside a structure" would cause the termination of a UAS mission and should be revised to allow operations unless an area has been designated a restricted area, such as like a stadium, parade, or event with population density;

• A microUAV category should be established for very small, lightweight UAS, with limited regulation since the impact on safety is minimal.

• USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP)– www.3dep4america.com– Dedicated advertising campaign in the Hill newspaper– 3DEP was the major issue promoted on recent member

visits to capital hill– Members met with 80 Senate offices and 125 House

member offices– Hosted a 3DEP Stakeholder forum of interested Federal

agencies and non-Federal interested parties

Woolpert’s UAS Program• FAA Section 333 Exemption• How is Woolpert using small UAS?•Which vehicles and systems are we using?• In flight

“The Exemption”In December 2014 Woolpert received approval from the FAA regarding an exemption seeking relief from selected requirements of Title 14 of the code of federal regulations concerning operation of an unmanned aircraft system over the state of Ohio pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012

So … what does that actually mean? Translation please![ First mapping & survey firm in the

U.S ]

The Exemption… Translated• UAS are so new that not all of the existing aviation regulations

from the FAA are applicable•We received exemptions from those that are not applicable•We provided the FAA with operational and technical UAS

information such that the FAA determined our activities would be safe for the national airspace and society in general• Approval is for a specific make and model of aircraft• Yes, the UAS are considered aircraft … tail number RW937

Altavian Nova Block III• Platform: Nova Block III • Endurance: 90min• Cruise Speed 35mph• Max Speed 70mph• Altitude Max. 1000ft AGL • Wing Span: 108 inches (9ft)• Length: 67 inches (5.5ft)• Weight: 15 lbs. maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)

FAA Draft Rulemaking for sUAS• Fly when needed, no COA required• Only within line of sight• Visual Observer is optional• Aircraft must be 55lbs or less• No pilot’s license required, new “UAS operator” certification• Fly at or below 500ft AGL • Approx. 1.5 to 2 years until these rules are finalized

How Woolpert Uses UAS• Aerial imagery (orthophoto creation) – Now• Digital Terrain Models and Digital Surface Models –

Now• Hyperspectral data (~ 300 bands) – Soon/Now• LiDAR sensor onboard – Future– Range is improving– Form factors for UAS now available

0.8 miles

0.4 miles

Aggregates Facility

0.5 miles

0.5 miles

Drill pad

Samples of 2cm GSD

Hyperspectral1.5LB Hyperspectral System

– +/- 300 bands– 2-3nm Channels– 400nm-1000nm

Uses– Detect and Map Illicit discharges– Impervious Surface Mapping

• Gravel• Concrete• Blacktop• Compact Clay

– Vegetation Identification• Algae• Invasive Species

Woolpert UAS Strategy•We have a strategy for the immediate, mid and long-term• Both from a consulting and technical point of view

Consulting Operations

Acquisition Processing

• Advising• Planning• Studies• Sensors• COAs

Bring Your Own Drone (BYOD)We acknowledge that some clients may need us to provide aerial acquisition and others will not require that service

– There is still potentially a significant role for Woolpert to ensure the phases before and after acquisition result in a quality product

– This includes the ability for Woolpert to process others’ data– Key is that Woolpert has been able to leverage its existing

expertise, infrastructure and workflows– Our UAS operations inform and legitimize our UAS consulting

Our Next Vehicles and Systems

• Platform: Skycatch • Completely autonomous rotary wing UAS• Self-landing on purpose built ground station• Self-charging, batteries inside station recharge from solar, or power• System can be physically secured• Ground station has heating capability• Data can be transferred or picked up• Several benefits: temporal resolution, unattended

Thank You!