UAVs: Understanding Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Potential Applications

Doug Zeissner | Bryan Tuschhoff

Agenda

UAV vs Drone System Platform Types Suitability & Capability Regulations Markets UAV Survey Pattern Cost Considerations/Timeframe/Turnaround Michael Baker’s UAS capabilities

What’s in a Name Unmanned Aerial System

(UAS)

Preferred terminology of the FAA. 

Aircraft

Payload (Camera…)

Autopilot RC Controller

Ground Station 

What’s in a Name

TypesMulti Rotors Fixed Wing

Types of UASMulti Rotors

Strengths• Vertical takeoff • Hovering capability• Camera gimbals• Simple to fly manually

Considerations • Short flight times (<20min)• Hard landing with fail • Low payload weight

Fixed Wing Strengths

• Hand launch • Long flight times (>40min)• Loiter capabilities• Soft Landing with fail

Considerations• No payload stabilization • Glide to loss with fail • Best in programmed flight

SuitabilityMulti Rotors

Video Documentation Bridge Inspection Construction Site

Monitoring (Video) Architectural Modeling Fly Through Animations Stack Inspections Tower / Pole Surveys Site Mapping (< 5 acres)

Fixed Wing Watershed, Site Mapping

(< 160 acres) Land Dev Mapping Construction Site

Monitoring (Mapping) Corridor Mapping

• Transportation • Utility

Environmental Mapping Agricultural Mapping

Michael Baker’s UAS

Fixed Wing Precision Hawk

Michael Baker’s UAS

Multi Rotor DJI Phantom 3

Regulations

The FAA is beginning to allow UAS operations This is a two step process Must file a Petition For Exemption under Section 333 Must apply for and receive a Certificate of Waiver or

Authorization (COA).

Regulations

The FAA currently requires a Licensed Pilot as the Pilot In Charge (PIC).

The FAA requires a Visual Observe as well (VO).

Markets

Utilities Corridor Inspection Services, Greenfield Mapping, ROW and Vegetation Encroachment, Substation Mapping and Wind Turbine Inspection 

Transportation  High Resolution Corridor Mapping, New Construction, Construction Monitoring, Visualization, and Modeling   

Land Development  Site Development, Topo Mapping, Volume Computations, Construction Monitoring, Planimetric Updates, Asset Inventory, and Visualization 

Environmental  Waste Monitoring, Spill Monitoring, Vegetation Monitoring, and Sea Grass Monitoring  

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Top view of the initial image position. The green line follows the position of the

images in time starting from the large blue dot.

UAV Survey Pattern

Typical Costs

Acquisition costs • UAS have lower operating costs when compared to

conventional aircraft • UAS can be mobilized at a lower cost than

conventional aircraft Processing costs

• Mapping costs per acre are lower• As project size increases economies of scale tip

toward conventional acquisition means…fewer images to process over a larger area

Timeframe/Turnaround

Due to typical UAS project size, advances in processing technology, and depending on the deliverable…data can be delivered much faster.

Sample Turnaround times with out control• Video – Real Time • Imagery – Within Hours • Raw Semi Globally Matched (SGM) Point Clouds and

Ortho mosaics – Under 24 Hours• Planimetrics, Contours - * Based on project size

Michael Baker’s UAS Capabilities Designed for aerial mapping of small to mid

sized projects. Rapid deployment Fully backed by 75 years of mapping

experience. ISO certified LiDAR processing One stop shop includes surveying also

Questions

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