Integration of UAS into Operations Conducted by New England Departments of Transportation – Develop Implementation Procedures for UAS applications (Task 4 Report)

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology is proving to enhance State Department of Transportation (DOT) practices as an innovative and inexpensive solution that improves safety and accessibility, reduces cost, streamlines processes, improves workforce utilization, and accelerates several transportation operations activities. A few studies have been conducted at the national level, but little guidance has been published on incremental steps to integrating UAS in various applications. The objective of this research is to provide guidance to New England State DOTs regarding effective practices when incorporating UAS into daily operations. This final project report includes a topical review of existing New England DOT Operational Manuals and Policy directives to evaluate the adequacy of the guidelines against key requirements to support UAS missions. Implementation plans for six use cases based on information available from existing guidelines and case study interviews conducted with New England State DOTs are also included. These implementation procedures are derived based on a holistic understanding of mission objectives, existing capabilities, and developing appropriate planning and operations strategies. These procedures act as supplementary guidelines for the UAS use cases, along with the existing standard operating procedures and policy documents in place at the DOTs.

• Record URL:
  https://www.newenglandtransportationconsortium.org/projects/netc-18-3/
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/56187
• Corporate Authors:

  WSP USA, Incorporated

  Eliot, ME  United States 

  New England Transportation Consortium

  c/o Transportation Research Center, University of Vermont
  210 Colchester Avenue
  Burlington, VT  United States  05405

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Mallela, Jagannath
  • Wheeler, Paul
  • Sankaran, Bharathwaj
  • Choi, Chan
  • Gensib, Elyssa
  • Tetreault, Richard
  • Hardy, Darren
• Publication Date: 2021-3-22

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 86p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Case studies; Drones; Guidelines; Implementation; State departments of transportation; Unmanned aircraft systems
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01776506
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 14 2021 1:43PM