UAS OPERATIONS IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

David Merrick, Director, FSU EMHS

dmerrick@fsu.edu

28 February 2017

Sample UAS Applications In Emergency Management/Services

■ Provide a rapid aerial view of disaster area or incident scene

■ Route clearance

■ Path finding and terrain familiarization for incoming resources

■ Hazard identification to enhance responder safety

■ Produce geo-tagged imagery of the incident

■ Produce ortho-rectified mosaic images

■ Create 3D Digital Terrain Model (DTM) of incident scene

■ Produce near real-time maps of disaster area or incident scene

SIMPLE (minutes)

COMPLEX (hours)

• Capture video or still images

• Capture video or still images

• Capture video or still images

• Capture video or still images

• Capture still images

• Capture still images, process into orthophoto

• Capture still images, process into DTM

• Capture still images, process into ortho-photo, create

map in GIS software

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 2

Processing Adds Complexity (And Value)

Almost every UAS use case involves the

capturing of imagery – either still or video, color

or infrared.

That is simple for almost every UAS platform

SIMPLE (minutes)

COMPLEX (hours)

Complexity comes from the

processing!

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 3

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 4

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 5

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 6

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 7

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 8

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 9

INTEGRATING UAS INTO EM AND RESPONSE

ACTIVITIESWhere do they fit?

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 10

Integration Opportunities

■ Think “tactical” - embed UAS teams with:

– Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces

– Wilderness SAR Teams

– Damage Assessment Teams

– Reconnaissance Teams

– Firefighters

■ Develop organic UAS capability as part of these teams

■ Integrate UAS operation guidelines into your Air Operations Branch SOG

■ Plan for providing critical UAS generated data into local and state EOC’s

■ Consider regional/cross-discipline teams/resources

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 11

It’s all about the data

■ The vast majority of UAS generated data (and information/intelligence

products) are of the most use tactically – in the field.

■ That’s good… UAS data sets are large and unweildy

– Full resolution orthophotos can be 400-500MB

– Full HD videos can be 5-6GB

■ Transmitting that data to an offsite location such as an EOC can be an

infrastructure challenge – particularly in a post-disaster ‘comm out’

environment.

– Never assume that 3G/4G/cellular networks will be available/functional

– though MANY manufacturures and vendors do not accept that reality.

– Satellite data links are too slow (and expensive) to transfer entire data

sets.

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 12

Data processing is best performed on-site, as part of the UAS team.

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 13

Data Processing

■ Because of raw data size, combined with the local/tactical use….

■ Data processing requires:

– Specialized software

– Hardware that supports the software

– Power

– Personnel with the skills and time (!) to perform the tasks.

Data processing is best performed on-site, as part of the UAS team.

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 14

Minimal/No Processing Required

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 15

Extensive Processing Required

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 16

FOCUS ON HIGH UTILITY APPLICATIONS

Know how to effectively use the tools.

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 17

No Utility

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 18

High Utility

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 19

High Utility

Viginia UAS in EM Conference28 FEB 17 20