Narrator: Back in 1903, high-tech aerial photography required the use of… pigeons.
Fast-forward more than 100 years and our technology—and
what we can do with it—has come a long way. Today’s unmanned aerial vehicles – also
known as UAVs, or drones—come in all different shapes and sizes.
When equipped with cameras and other sensing capabilities,
UAVs become powerful tools – helping MDOT collect essential data and improve
transportation operations across the state. Steve Cook: The safety advantages immediately was
the first obvious benefit, or value add, to using aerial systems. Second was mobility. If we could
have the potential of eliminating work zones, getting folks out of harm’s way of traffic,
reducing user-delay costs, like we would have on a bridge closure we’d have a lane shut down
for inspecting bridges. And I would say the third is just the
efficiency and effectiveness of collecting data. You can go out and within a few
hours or one day collect terabytes of data. Narrator: With so much opportunity available,
MDOT’s research into UAV technology and its capability has spanned years
and consisted of multiple stages. Steve Cook: The first phase
was looking at the viability, the potential, of using unmanned systems in transportation.
Narrator: In phase 1, researchers tested an array of UAV models,
possible attachments, such as LiDAR or heat sensing cameras, and a variety of real-world applications.
Like a blimp for monitoring traffic… a hexacopter, for evaluating bridges and highways… or even a
tiny model for inspecting tight indoor spaces. Steve Cook: Phase II was looking at the data. We were
getting more drilled into what data can we collect, how can we store it,
and what is the potential for using it in programs that benefit our current systems at
MDOT. Once we got to Phase III, we understood the platforms, we understood the sensing technology,
we understood the potential for collecting data. And then what we did is we aligned those
two phases in Phase III with four use cases. Narrator: Bringing together the knowledge from
Phases I and II, MDOT explored what UAVs could do in four everyday situations: Analyzing traffic,
conducting bridge assessments, inspecting construction sites, and design surveys.
Since each UAV model can cost thousands of dollars, operating one requires
extensive training and even federal licensure. Steve Cook: The kind of certification and training
you need to be a pilot to fly these is governed by the FAA, the Federal
Aviation Administration. You have to take an exam in order to be able to fly them. That being said,
just because you can pass an exam and do all this on paper, doesn’t mean you know how to fly an
unmanned aerial vehicle. FAA does not require, through that training, to do a
practical exam of actually flying a vehicle. Narrator: MDOT’s Office of Aeronautics
provides the practical training that operators need for flying UAVs in the field.
Steve Cook: In terms of being able to take off, move these things in every direction, knowing the
elevation requirements that you are restricted to, knowing the line of sight you’re restricted to,
staying away from airports – 5 miles from airports — there’s all these exceptions that
you have to know through the rules and regulations of FAA. And they will train
an individual to go out and fly one of these. Narrator: Though the research on UAVs is ongoing,
MDOT anticipates this work will pay dividends in the long run and lead to discoveries and
applications that haven’t been imagined yet. Steve Cook: If you’re going to ask me what a return on
investment is, I would say it’s eventually off the charts. We’ve just touched the tip of the iceberg
and we don’t know what we don’t know yet. Narrator: For more information,
please visit Michigan DOT’s website.