Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Systems: Projects, Pilot Programs, and News

The objective of this project is to compile and produce best practices and recommendations for optimizing small unmanned aerial systems (SUAS) in the design of transportation projects. The study objectives are (1) acquire and process (orthomosaic) survey grade real-time kinematic (RTK) geotagged optical imagery, (2) evaluate the level of survey ground control required to improve the horizontal precision and accuracy of RTK geotagged imagery, (3) test and evaluate methods to increase the viability of using SUAS in arctic and sub-arctic conditions, and (4) provide documented methodologies and field training for both the SUAS acquisition of RTK geotagged optical imagery and the processing of RTK-enabled SUAS collected aerial photography.

Research tasks to address the safe and effective use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle platform for performing routine bridge, tower, and public facility inspections. tasks include: 1) Develop UAV test protocols for performing aerial surveys/inspections of various infrastructure elements (Public Facility vertical structure inspection will include looking for heat loss, cladding deterioration, sealing issues) 2) Supplement a number of bridge (10), high mast tower (1), and public facility building (2) inspections and rating surveys by proactive condition monitoring of these infrastructure assets using UAV based inspections. 3) Perform a cost/benefit analysis to determine what size or types of structures warrant the use of UAVs for supplemental inspections. 4) Create a minimum specification for the hardware, software, UAV, and associated accessories that are specific to structural inspections.

The UAS Drones Disaster and Public Safety Exercise, a full-scale exercise at Florida International University, gave local drone teams airtime and inexperienced pilots a chance to work in a simulated disaster scenario.

Extensive indoor controlled experiments using industrial fans were conducted to evaluate sUAS flight response in controlled wind conditions, to measure image quality in different flight scenarios, and to determine image quality in low-light conditions.

Drones used to improve traffic crash site assessments

Roadway crashes create slowed traffic as responders help victims
and safety officers clear roads. This is also one of the most vulnerable times for ‘secondary accidents,’ which often can be worse than an original source of the slowdown, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation: Federal Highway Administration.

"This report includes a literature review which lists the commercial companies currently using UASs after gaining a Certificate of Authorization (COA) exemption and research done by other DOTs … A survey was created and sent to all state Department of Transportation offices.”

Article about Kansas pilot project to determine how drones could be used in road design work.

Kansas Department of Transportation is partnering with the private AirMap technology company to deploy the nation's first statewide aerial drone traffic management system.

Atlas partners with Military Police of Rio de Janeiro State (PMERJ) Choque Special Forces to deploy AtlasPRO UAS network over Maracanã Stadium during Copa America

Project to test and evaluate five main UAV platforms with a combination of optical, thermal, and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors to assess critical transportation infrastructure and issues such as bridges, confined spaces, traffic flow, and roadway assets. A State of the Practice report was completed, and a series of lab testing were accomplished to ensure practicality and safe operations.

At this site, UAS data along a road corridor of US-31, 14 miles north of Muskegon, Michigan were collected including a bridge over the White River

Minnesota Department of Transportation Webinat on UAV bridge inspection. Requires registration to view.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation and Collins Engineers, Inc. has completed this third phase of research focused on utilizing drones as a tool for improving the quality of bridge inspections. The previous phases focused on the rules and regulations, drone hardware and the ability of drones to collect quality inspection data. This phase of research has identified new drone technology and methods to address limitations identified in Phase II. More importantly, this research phase has focused on the value of data collected during the inspection and finding ways to process the data into actionable inspection deliverables that greatly improve the quality of the inspections.

Purpose: To define the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operated by the Construction Engineering Services Bureau (CES)

Slides showing current UAV equipment and uses in Montana.

Drone Mapping Report

In February 2017 MDT CES Bureau acquired a UAV at no cost from URC Ventures (d.b.a.
Stockpile Reports). This memo describes the equipment and workflows used to collect imagery
of the Lincoln Rd. MDT Section yard and process it with Pix4D software to create a rectified
orthomosaic map, point cloud (LAS file), a Digital Surface Model (DSM), measure a stockpile
volume, and create a visualization video clip.

This report provides an analysis and evaluation of the application of UAS technology for MDT to map
highway construction projects prior, during, and after construction to aid MDT construction administration
staff in determining earthwork quantities.

The NIMBUS Lab at the University of Nebraska has been developing drones that have the unique ability to dig holes in the ground and then fill those holes with sensors. If this sounds like a complicated task, that’s because it is: The drone needs to be able to carry a portable digging system a useful distance, locate a diggable spot, land, verify that the spot it thought was diggable is in fact diggable, dig a hole and install the sensor, and then fly off again.

FHWA / NDOT Webinar. Requires Adobe Connect application to view.

Summarizes the literature review, performed by students from three schools within the University Transportation Research Center Consortium, documenting applications and demonstrations of UAS and UGS technologies and potential deployment opportunities for NYSDOT in the near future. Specifically, NYSDOT would like to assess the existing capabilities of these systems for responding to highway incidents including field surveying, accident information collection and reconstruction and other related requirements to clearing a highway incident. As part of this effort, NYSDOT would also like to explore other transportation applications for these devices such as bridge inspection, traffic monitoring, road construction and maintenance worker safety.

The N.C. Department of Transportation has received national honours for its innovative use of drones during the state’s coordinated response to Hurricane Florence.

“Watching a short video is easier than reading through a plan or report,” said Jamille Robbins, NCDOT’s public involvement and community studies group leader. “The greater utility of these types of videos is that they can be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week far beyond the timeframe of a traditional public meeting.”
Officials say NCDOT’s video was critical in the public becoming comfortable with their proposed design and changing minds of some who didn’t like the idea of using roundabouts. The drone footage’s bird’s-eye perspective helped those unfamiliar with roundabouts understand how they work and demonstrated the safety benefit offered by keeping traffic flowing. Videos like these and other forms of virtual public involvement continue to be an effective way to engage and educate the public at any time as people continue to use online video for news and information.

Report to the House Select Committee on Strategic Transportation Planning and Long Term Funding Solutions

2018

A dynamic agenda of keynote talks, panel discussions, and contributed presentations covers the spectrum of commercial and public safety UAS applications

State Aviation Journal August 4, 2018

StateScoop website, 6/7/18. The state's transportation department has announced it is combining its leading-edge ground- and air-based vehicle research.

WOSU. July 2, 2018.

In evaluating the use of UAS in bridge inspection, it is critical to understand both the capabilities and limitations of UAS, the aspects of an inspection that UAS can and cannot be used to satisfy, the regulatory aspects of UAS use, and the recommended operational procedures and workflows. Additionally, to assist ODOT and other transportation agencies in deciding whether to implement UAS-based inspection programs and procedures, cost-benefit information is needed.

Simulator study on the effects that drones used for bridge inspections and other highway-related uses have on the travelling public. Includes recommendations for programs planning to implement drone usage.

Explains how TxDOT is exploring the use of UAS to streamline the process to clear and document fatal crash scenes, especially in poor environmental conditions.

Explains how Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers conducted the demonstration over two days in May 2017 and included missions to monitor traffic, detect incidents, respond
to incidents, provide situational awareness, and investigate crash scene mapping capabilities.

In a recently completed TxDOT research project, the research team from UT Arlington studied the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with close range photogrammetry (UAV-CRP) technology to perform infrastructure health monitoring and performance assessments. A multirotor UAV was used in these studies. This research also assisted in developing standard operating procedures, including operational procedures, flight operation manuals (FOM) for Texas DOT.

UAS policies that integrate unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System (NAS).

Town of Plainfield has been working with University of Vermont’s Spatial Analysis Lab to map the Great Brook & part of the Winooski River. These UVM experts, who are part of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, have state-of-the-art aerial mapping equipment.

On September 21, 2017, the University of Vermont Unmanned Aircraft Systems Team conducted flight operations in Readsboro, Vermont to inspect a bridge using UAS technology.

A course in Wyoming Statutes, Regulations and Ethics providing 30 hours of continuing professional competency required for Wyoming licensed professional engineers.

A new modeling strategy could improve streamflow predictions in places where mountain snow is a critical source of water.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has been selected as one of 10 participants in the US Department of Transportation’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program, an initiative aimed at shaping the future of drones and their use.

Recorded announcement event from Wednesday May 9, 2018

The first 10 participants in the agency's Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program were announced at a May 9 event in Washington D.C.; a three-year test program led by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), that includes local, state, and tribal governments plus private sector firms that will integrate drones into the nation's airspace system.