State of the UAS Industry for Insurance and Construction

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Kristian Morgan
6 years ago
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1 State of the UAS Industry for Insurance and Construction

2 A Drone by any Other Name There are many terms for drones in use today The industry is trying to shy away from drone verbiage since it has military implications The industry is now using: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) which is the aircraft Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) which is the aircraft and the associated payload, such as an imaging system

equipping UAVs with cameras or other sensor platforms Some hobbyists are using them for

3 UAV, UAS and More UAV companies continue to emerge every month as small start-ups, usually with a focus on the hobbyist market There is a growing trend of hobbyists equipping UAVs with cameras or other sensor platforms Some hobbyists are using them for commercial applications, especially in regards to mapping, although it is currently not approved by the FAA

experience, are entering the commercial drone market The industry is still

4 Still More UAS A few start-up companies are being purchased by larger companies to add to their repertoire Many larger companies, often with military drone experience, are entering the commercial drone market The industry is still largely experimental with a few approvals for commercial use, such as the film industry

Commercial Potential According to World Reports: Global demand for UAVs/UASs will increase by an average of 19% over the next five years The highest percentage of industry players foresee the future

5 Commercial Potential According to World Reports: Global demand for UAVs/UASs will increase by an average of 19% over the next five years The highest percentage of industry players foresee the future of UAV/UAS shaped by usage in non-defense areas Agriculture will be the largest non-military application area for UAVs U.S., China and Russia will record highest increase in demand for UAVs over the next five years The global UAV market for 2013 through 2023 is estimated at $114.7 billion in aggregate

The Regulatory Environment The FAA has regulatory control

include: Airworthiness certificate for the aircraft

mission Currently the FAA has granted NO Certificates of

6 The Regulatory Environment The FAA has regulatory control over the commercial use of UAS Operation requirements include: Airworthiness certificate for the aircraft Certification for the pilot Authorization for the intended mission Currently the FAA has granted NO Certificates of Operation (COO) for UAS The FAA has only granted a few exceptions for the use of UAS

Recent Court Rulings Summer 2014 - a judge overturned the FAA ban on commercial drone use, due to the FAA not following

7 Recent Court Rulings Summer a judge overturned the FAA ban on commercial drone use, due to the FAA not following proper procedure The FAA has appealed and is starting the proper procedure to fully reinstate the ban The ban is still in effect

8 The Hobbyist FAA Exclusion Must be more than 5 miles away from the nearest airport Must not operate greater than 400 feet above ground Must not operate over populated areas Must weigh less than 55 pounds or must be FAA certified Must not be for commercial or paid use

9 Airspace The U.S. has the busiest and most complex airspace on earth There are airport restrictions, military restrictions and temporary flight restrictions There are commercial aircraft, private aircraft and hobbyists It is complex and congested and it is clear why it is not an easy task for the FAA Commercial air traffic planes in the air over a few hours of time.

The busiest airports are always near the

10 Class B Airspace The most controlled airspace is Class B which surrounds the busiest airports including JFK, DFW, IAD, etc. The busiest airports are always near the largest cities meaning over half the population is close to a Class B airspace

11 FAA Selects Test Sites The FAA has selected six sites to help fast track testing and authorizations while also creating guidelines and regulations for the industry Each site has a slightly different focus of testing and problem sets

12 Sample Test Site NUAIR Alliance

13 NUAIR Alliance Industry Partners Lockheed Martin Saab Sensis Pictometry International SRC, Inc. Raytheon Calspan Moog Allred & Associates Avwatch C Speed Draper Laboratory Dielectric Laboratories Griffiss International Airport Air Force Research Labs (AFRL)- Stockbridge Test Site Plattsburgh International Airport Greater Binghamton Airport Syracuse Regional Airport Authority PAR Government Systems/Rome Research Corporation

14 NUAIR Alliance Academic Partners Rochester Institute of Technology (NY Lead Academic Institution) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Mass Lead Academic Institution) Cornell University Clarkson University Syracuse University SUNY Binghamton, Morrisville, Buffalo and Oswego SUNY IT Dowling College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Onondaga Community College Mohawk Valley Community College University of Massachusetts at Lowell Worcester Polytechnic Institute Boston University Cape Cod Community College Georgia Tech Research Institute

15 Challenges and Hurdles Regulatory approval Public safety Operator safety Property and Access rights

16 Regulatory Approval There are no full Certificates of Operation being granted The FAA is issuing Certificates of Allowances (COA) that permit a company to fly a specific drone for a specific use at a specific location. These COAs take about 60 business days to process The FAA has also been issuing Section 333 exemptions that permit a company to fly a specific drone for a specific use under specific conditions but in unspecified locations There is a large back log of these 333 exemptions and the entire process has been taking more than 120 business days to complete

17 Public Safety Air traffic safety Aircraft collision risk Objects falling out of sky Collisions with buildings and infrastructure Spinning propellers striking bystanders Distracted motorists Receipt of dangerous goods

18 Operator Safety Spinning propellers Drone falling on operator Maintaining line-of-sight Operating in unsafe areas especially when looking up at drone Primary concern is if the drone application is safer than the method it replaces

Property and Access Rights Does the operator have the right to fly over personal property where in most states the property owner owns 500 feet of airspace above their property?

19 Property and Access Rights Does the operator have the right to fly over personal property where in most states the property owner owns 500 feet of airspace above their property? Does the operator have the right to fly over public property where in most states the law requires operators to obtain permission for commercial filming? Are there objects that cannot be photographed? Rules will change by local ordinances in conjunction with state and federal laws

20 Current Exemptions The Movie Industry Agriculture

21 The Movie Industry Public safety production teams fly over a controlled set so public safety can be maintained Operator safety generally as safe or safer than helicoptermounted cameras Privacy rights all participants on the set grant rights for the filming area Access rights production team obtains rights for the filming location Cost efficiency production is a limited duration of flights that are more cost effective than current collection methods

22 Agriculture Public safety over farm fields there would be minimal damage should something go wrong Operator safety generally safer than crop duster type flights Privacy rights looking at owner s crops so there are no issues Access rights flying over owner s airspace so there are no issues Cost efficiency small area capture enables UAS use to be more cost effective than current collection methods

23 Insurance Use Cases Claims Post-storm events hail, tornadoes, hurricanes Single house events fires Damage assessments Cost estimates for repair Underwriting Condition of property More extensive property information

Single Property Inspections Public safety flying around individual house limits risk Operator safety automated flight control could minimize risk to operator Privacy rights -

24 Single Property Inspections Public safety flying around individual house limits risk Operator safety automated flight control could minimize risk to operator Privacy rights - limited to individual property approvals Access rights property owner approval required Cost efficiency very short duration flights where UAS could be carried by operator to the site

there must be both a drone operator and a spotter.

25 Feasibility In many cases UAS solutions are more costly than current processes To currently meet FAA approval there must be both a drone operator and a spotter. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) must be submitted before operating UAS

26 Operational Considerations Battery life Transportation of UAS to and from the target area Specialized operators System susceptibility to hijacking or interception

27 Operational Requirements Fully automated flight plans to account for winds blowing across the roof Proximity sensor to keep UAV from flying into roof in order to stay close Built-in fail safes must be available for operator safety and training to help prevent accidents Need strong wind shedding and water resistance for inclement weather during post-event response

28 Cost/Benefit Factors If it requires an operator and a spotter (per FAA today), it may be more costly than utilizing an estimator Could replace ladder assist providing the opportunity to offer drone assist Ability to provide continual updates on repairs for cost effectiveness and ease of use

29 The Ultimate Decision Is UAS safer than the way it is currently being done? Is it more cost effective than the way it is currently being done?

30 Thank you! For more information visit

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