SUMMARY

Implementation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Operational Capabilities: A Guide

The technologies associated with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have greatly matured in the last two decades, resulting in the creation of federal regulations in 2016 to oversee commercial UAS operations. State departments of transportation (DOTs) have embraced and integrated UAS as a valuable data collection and supplemental inspection tool. State DOTs are seeing increased safety, cost savings, and overall efficiency across use cases such as infrastructure inspection, construction monitoring, surveying, emergency response, and many others. While there has been great success in implementing UAS technology into state DOT operations, UAS programs face ongoing challenges. This research project aims to address many of those challenges related to maturing UAS operational capabilities.

Advanced air mobility (AAM) is an umbrella term that includes emerging aviation technologies such as increased autonomy, electric propulsion, and distributed propulsion that may enable new aviation markets in rural and urban areas. The term includes passenger and cargo transportation as well as other use cases, such as emergency response and aeromedical services using these new technologies. AAM holds the potential to further connect communities and strengthen transportation systems, and state DOTs are seeking to understand the role they will play in AAM adoption.

This report presents a Guide based on the research completed as part of NCHRP Project 23-20, “Guidebook for Implementation of UAS Operational Capabilities.” The report summarizes the latest industry trends and technologies associated with UAS and AAM, presents use cases and the potential impact and opportunities, provides a coordination framework and collaboration strategy, reviews funding considerations, and discusses workforce development, as well as roles and responsibilities.

Who Is the Guide For?

The Guide is intended primarily for state DOTs, but the information can be relevant to other transportation agencies seeking guidance for UAS- and AAM-related topics.

How to Use the Guide

While all state DOTs have adopted UAS, many need guidance and resources to grow and better establish their UAS program. Several state DOTs with robust UAS programs still seek information regarding how to mature and advance UAS integration efforts. This Guide was developed to provide utility to all state DOTs, regardless of their current UAS position, and to present resources, tools, and considerations that address leading challenges.

AAM is largely in its nascency, with UAS package deliveries growing, but other use cases with electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are still emerging. State DOTs are seeking to understand their potential role in the adoption of AAM. The Guide addresses AAM topics throughout the various chapters.

The Guide was designed to be read all the way through or to be used as a quick reference document based on the topic for which information is needed. Tools and additional resources are provided within the body of the text and in the appendices.

Guide Organization

The Guide provides state DOTs and relevant stakeholders with a thorough understanding of UAS and AAM technologies, use cases and applications, methods to evaluate future opportunities and associated impacts, a coordination framework, outreach strategies, considerations regarding funding and workforce development, and the potential roles and responsibilities associated with these initiatives.

The Guide is broken down into 12 primary parts, as illustrated in Figure 1:

Chapter 1: Introduction

This chapter defines UAS and AAM and describes how these technologies relate to state DOTs. It also outlines the methodological approach used to conduct this research.

Chapter 2: Industry and Technology Trends

This chapter provides an overview of the UAS and AAM industries and the associated enabling technologies. It also provides a brief history of UAS and discusses the evolution of regulations governing UAS. The three main UAS platforms and their capabilities are reviewed before presenting the trends regarding state DOT adoption of UAS. The emerging technologies of machine learning (ML) for data processing, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, and drone-in-a-box solutions are introduced. The chapter ends with an overview of AAM and electric and hydrogen propulsion technologies, as well as a summary of leading AAM aircraft.

Chapter 3: Use Cases and Applications for UAS and AAM

Chapter 3 provides an overview of state DOT use cases and applications and describes which state DOTs are actively using UAS across the top five use cases: Surveying and mapping, structure inspection, construction monitoring/quantities, emergency response, and public outreach. The chapter includes a discussion of current and potential AAM use cases.

Chapter 4: Impact and Opportunity Evaluation

This chapter describes the impact of UAS integration on early and late adopter state DOTs and the advantages and disadvantages of both. Overall, UAS adoption has increased, resulting in generally positive results that include a high return on investment (ROI), increased safety, and improved efficiency. The chapter discusses opportunities and applications around emerging UAS technologies, including advanced analytics, BVLOS operations, and drone-in-a-box platforms.

The chapter outlines anticipated or potential opportunities and the associated impacts for AAM. These anticipated benefits include improved quality of life, economic growth, and a cheaper transportation alternative from an operating perspective. Evaluation considerations and tools are provided for both UAS and AAM.

Chapter 5: Framework and Tools for Coordinating Resources

State DOTs face different challenges when coordinating resources for UAS versus AAM efforts. These unique challenges are discussed prior to describing a committee framework that can be used to coordinate with various stakeholders. Internal UAS coordination can be affected by the UAS organizational structure; therefore, three main organizational structure models and their associated advantages and disadvantages are presented and discussed: the division of aeronautics model, the functional division of state DOT model, and the central agency model.

This chapter describes the committee coordination framework and discusses various committee models, who should be on the committee, and the roles of the committee. This framework is provided from a UAS and AAM perspective. Tips for how to best coordinate with executive leadership, including state legislators, are outlined. Other areas of coordination, such as state-DOT-to-state-DOT or peer-to-peer collaboration, data coordination or management, and resource coordination for both AAM and UAS efforts, are also explored.

Chapter 6: Outreach and Collaboration Strategies

Building on the previous chapter, this chapter of the Guide provides internal and external UAS program outreach strategies for state DOTs. The use of a pilot project framework for internal outreach and collaboration is described, as well as elements of agency-to-agency external outreach. The importance of transparency regarding UAS use and educational outreach to the public is discussed.

AAM outreach variables are offered, including who should be providing AAM education or outreach, who should be educated on AAM topics, what the best resources for learning about AAM technologies are, and what the best approaches to AAM outreach or education efforts are. Federal AAM outreach initiatives, such as publications and programs, are described. State AAM outreach efforts are shared, including examples of state DOT involvement and potential roles. Local and industry perspectives concerning this topic are also explored.

Chapter 7: Funding Considerations

Securing funding to support UAS programs is a commonly faced challenge among state DOTs. This chapter provides a list of potential funding sources and strategies to support UAS adoption. AAM funding strategies and considerations at the city and state levels are explored. Alternative AAM funding mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships (P3) and grants, are also shared.

Chapter 8: Workforce Qualifications and Training

This chapter describes UAS qualifications from a regulatory perspective. It provides an overview of state DOT UAS training program models, including internal, external, and a hybrid model, with a thorough discussion of the advantages and disadvantages associated with each approach. Training considerations regarding Part 107 knowledge, internal UAS policies and procedures, practical training, and best practices, including pilot currency and specialized training, are presented.

Some of the workforce challenges specific to UAS that state DOTs face (e.g., low retention rates) are explored. The chapter includes a discussion of strategies to mitigate these challenges, such as comprehensive training for internal divisions, cross-training of staff, diverse workforce composition, and robust on-call UAS services. Avenues to partner with academia and the role of academia, industry, and states regarding workforce development for UAS and AAM are provided.

Chapter 9: Roles and Responsibilities

This chapter explores the potential roles and responsibilities of primarily state DOTs, but also of federal and local governments, regarding UAS and AAM. The chapter discusses the federal role on UAS topics such as continued coordination support, guidance on potential UAS bans, and standards for UAS pilots. It also describes potential federal responsibilities on AAM topics, including framework development, unmanned traffic management (UTM), and coordination leadership.

While the majority of the Guide is focused on roles and responsibilities of state DOTs concerning UAS operations, this chapter focuses more on the potential role of state DOTs related to AAM adoption. AAM topics such as coordination, planning, UTM, outreach, the role/support of local governments, and the relationship between local entities and state DOTs are all presented.

Chapter 10: Key Study Findings and Recommendations for Further Research

This chapter offers a conclusion of the key findings discovered as a result of this project and discusses areas that could benefit from additional future research.

References and Bibliography

This section provides a comprehensive list of the references used in the research.

Appendices

Appendix A: UAS Capability Maturity Model Assessment Tool

Appendix B: Texas Department of Transportation UAS Training Program Resources