Using UAS Technology for Invasive Plant Management

Using UAS Technology for Invasive Plant Management Adam Benjamin, P.S.M. UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale R.E.C. May 8, 2018 2018 Aquatic Weed Control Short Course Coral Springs, FL

Using UAS Technology for Invasive Plant Management UAS Background UAS Applications Regulatory Environment Future Trends & Impacts

What is UAS?

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a.k.a. drone o Aircraft w/o human pilot on board o Flight is controlled either: What is UAS? 1. Autonomously by computers in the vehicle 2. OR, under the remote control of a pilot on the ground or in another vehicle Prox Dynamics Black Hornet Nano Northrup Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk

Unmanned aircraft system (UAS) includes all elements beyond an aircraft itself. A typical UAS consists of the: 1. UAV Rotorcraft (VTOL) DJI Spreading Wings S1000 What is UAS? DJI Phantom Typical suas (under 55lbs)

Unmanned aircraft system (UAS) includes all elements beyond an aircraft itself. A typical UAS consists of the: 1. UAV Fixed Wing Trimble UX5 Aerial Imaging Rover What is UAS? ebee SenseFly Typical suas (under 55lbs)

Unmanned aircraft system (UAS) includes all elements beyond an aircraft itself. A typical UAS consists of the: 1. UAV What is UAS? 2. control system, such as Ground Control Station (GCS) 3. control link, a specialized datalink Ground Control Stations

UAS Sensors Imaging Sensors (cont.) Thermal IR Camera Hyperspectral Camera

UAS Sensors LiDAR Sensor

UAS Sensors Additional Components Sensors for Atmospheric Monitoring

UAS Sensors Additional Components Thermal Sensors for Water Monitoring

UAS Sensors Additional Components Spray Devices

Why UAS Aerial Imaging?

Why UAS Aerial Imaging? Fills cost effective niche in geospatial data acquisition between traditional surveying technologies and traditional photogrammetry Rapid mobilization/deployment for suas Dense GSD data acquisition o f(flying height, side/end overlap)

Why UAS Aerial Imaging? Creating Orthophotos

Why UAS Aerial Imaging?

Major Areas for UAS Application

Civil/Coastal Major Areas for UAS Application Credit: Aerovironment Inspect construction progress Inspect structural conditions

Major Areas for UAS Application Civil/Coastal Performing Volumetric Analyses (DEM, DTM) (e.g., Monitoring Beach Erosion)

Civil/Coastal Major Areas for UAS Application

Major Areas for UAS Application Utilities - Oil/Gas Oil spill detection/damage assessment Oil/Gas pipeline surveillance incident mapping Coastline monitoring Sea ice monitoring Terrain mapping Facility security Credits: Aerovironment

Major Areas for UAS Application Law Enforcement Credits: Aerovironment Search for suspects and missing persons Standoff or hostage situation CSI Explosive & bomb disposal response Narcotics investigation Hazmat incidents Crowd/riot control Situational awareness

Major Areas for UAS Application Search & Rescue Search for missing persons Search and recovery operations Disaster & emergency response Credits: Aerovironment

Fire Major Areas for UAS Application Fire-monitoring support/coord. Damage assessment Hot-spot detection Wildfire mapping Explosive detection Disaster & emergency response Credits: Aerovironment Hazardous material investigation

Agriculture Major Areas for UAS Application Monitor crops for ripeness Inspect crops for diseases, harmful insects, and nutritional deficiencies Distribute pesticides Credits: Aerovironment

Delivery Major Areas for UAS Application

Many more UAS Applications to come Next Water Resource Applications

UAS Applications for Water Resources & Wetlands Assessing Conditions with Imagery

UAS Applications for Water Resources & Wetlands Assessing Conditions with Video

UAS Applications for Water Resources & Wetlands Evaluating Submerged Habitat & Vegetation

UAS Applications for Water Resources & Wetlands Obtaining Water Samples

UAS Applications for Water Resources & Wetlands Applying Herbicides

UAS Applications for Water Resources & Wetlands Applying Herbicides Aircraft

UAS Applications for Water Resources & Wetlands Applying Herbicides - UAS

Great Let s get started!.org

Legal Flight Operations Pathways to Legal Flight for Unmanned Aircraft Section 336 vs COA/Section 333 vs Part 107

Section 336 Special Rule for Model Aircraft a.k.a. Hobbyists https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/model_aircraft/

Section 336 Special Rule for Model Aircraft a.k.a. Hobbyists

Non-Recreational: COA/Sec. 333 vs Part 107 a.k.a. Business and Research entities COA/ Sec. 333

Non-Recreational: COA/Sec. 333 vs Part 107 Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) Special Airworthiness Certificate (SAC) FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Section 333 Exemption Public Entities Manufacturers Civil Operators Public Aircraft Registered Aircraft Waiver request for commercial operation Aircraft Model Aircraft Serial Number Aircraft Model Defined Location(s) Defined Location(s) Potentially Flexible Location Approved by UAS Integration Office Approved by Manufacturing Inspection District Office Approved by Administrator of the FAA

Key Requirements for COAs Intense Req! Public Entities o Public universities, law enforcement, department of transportation, etc. Aircraft o Must be owned by the proponent o Airworthiness of aircraft is self-certified by proponent Operator o PPL Ground school passing grade for Class G airspace o PPL for controlled airspace (other than G) o Observer and Pilot must each have a current 2 nd Class Medical Airspace o Controlled or uncontrolled airspace, but not class B o Determined by agreement among Flight Standards and Air Traffic Control

Non-Recreational: COA/Sec. 333 vs Part 107 Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) Special Airworthiness Certificate (SAC) FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Section 333 Exemption Public Entities Manufacturers Civil Operators Public Aircraft Aircraft Model Defined Location(s) Approved by UAS Integration Office Registered Aircraft Aircraft Serial Number Defined Location(s) Approved by Manufacturing Inspection District Office Waiver request for commercial operation Aircraft Model Potentially Flexible Location Approved by Admin. of the FAA

Non-Recreational: COA/Sec. 333 vs Part 107 Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) Special Airworthiness Certificate (SAC) FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Section 333 Exemption Public Entities Manufacturers Civil Operators Public Aircraft Aircraft Model Defined Location(s) Approved by UAS Integration Office Registered Aircraft Aircraft Serial Number Defined Location(s) Approved by Manufacturing Inspection District Office Waiver request for commercial operation Aircraft Model Potentially Flexible Location Approved by Administrator of the FAA

Non-Recreational: COA/Sec. 333 vs Part 107

Part 107: What do you need to know? Rules and regulations UAS Weather & Weather Sources Airspace UAS Loading & Performance Crew Resource Management Airport/Field Operations Radio Communications Emergency Procedures Preflight and Maintenance Waiver Requests

Weather Aviation

Airspace!!

Airspace!! Class A Altitude 18,000 feet> Class B Big - MSL -> 10,000 feet; Busiest airports; Must receive authorization from ATC. Class C Crowded - MSL -> 4,000 feet; Must receive authorization from ATC. Class D Dialogue - MSL -> 2,500 feet; Must receive authorization from ATC. Class E Elsewhere - MSL -> 1,200 18,000 feet; do not need authorization from ATC. Class G Go for it MSL -> 1,200 feet; do not need authorization from ATC; UNCONTROLLED.

Airspace in SFL is complicated!

Airspace KBYF AirMap

Airspace AirMap for Part 107

Manned Aircraft

FAADroneZone Waivers, Reg., Accidents

Waivers What can be waived under part 107? Waivable sections of part 107 o Operation from a moving vehicle or aircraft ( 107.25)* o Daylight operation ( 107.29) o Visual line of sight aircraft operation ( 107.31)* o Visual observer ( 107.33) o Operation of multiple small unmanned aircraft systems ( 107.35) o Yielding the right of way ( 107.37(a)) o Operation over people ( 107.39) o Operation in certain airspace ( 107.41) o Operating limitations for small unmanned aircraft ( 107.51)

Waiver Research

FAADroneZone Registration

FAADroneZone - Accidents Must report to the FAA within 10 days any operation that results in serious injury, loss of consciousness, or property damage (to property other than the UAS) of at least $500.

Legal Flight Operations Pathways to Legal Flight for Unmanned Aircraft

Now we can fly legally

Now we can fly legally let s apply herbicides

Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operators Advisory Circular 137-1B is the governing doc 1B (2017) is an update to 1A (2007) that incorporates UAS language Dispensing of any substance from an agricultural aircraft (including UAS) requires compliance with part 137 o Herbicide, pesticide, water, fertilizer, etc. o Exceptions include: Public aircraft Water on forest fires

Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operators To be in compliance, multiple exemptions are required

Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operators

Legal Flight Operations Pathways to Legal Flight for Unmanned Aircraft Take away message: To avoid breaking the law, ANY commercial/research UAS activity needs FAA approval especially if you are dispensing substances

Future Trends & Impacts

Safety Future Trends & Impacts o #1 priority of FAA Protect public safety through management of national airspace o Short term: Technology (e.g., tracking) will make airspace safer

Safety Future Trends & Impacts o Long term: UAS Traffic Management systems (UTM)

Affordability Future Trends & Impacts o Investment in UAS technology continues to grow o Innovation yields consumer affordability

Technology Power o Batteries Future Trends & Impacts

Technology Power Future Trends & Impacts o Batteries o Alternative Sources - Solar

Future Trends & Impacts Technology Sensors (Current) o Multispectral, Hyperspectral, LiDAR Satellite

Future Trends & Impacts Technology Sensors (Current) o Multispectral, Hyperspectral, LiDAR

Future Trends & Impacts Technology Sensors (Current) o Multispectral, Hyperspectral, LiDAR Hyperspectral Diversity Species Status and stress Nutrients

Future Trends & Impacts Technology Sensors (Current) o Multispectral, Hyperspectral, LiDAR

Future Trends & Impacts Technology Sensors (Future) o Multispectral, Hyperspectral, LiDAR (FLASH)

Future Trends & Impacts Technology Sensors (Future) o Imagery GSD

Future Trends & Impacts Technology - Communication o Swarms, BLOS, etc.

Conclusions UAS technology is viable for many industries including water resources FAA coordination for legal operation is paramount for public safety and liability The future of UAS technology is exciting!

Thank You! Adam Benjamin abenjamin1@ufl.edu