Drones in Forestry:

Regulations, Applications, and

Considerations

Darian Yawn

Paul Shepard

2018 SESAF Conference

About LMSS

• Forest Technology Solutions Provider

• Sales, Training, and Support

• Project Consulting, Rentals, Repairs

Forest Technology Simplified !

Goals for Today

• Drone Background

• Current Drone Regulations

• Types of Drones

• Applications in Forestry

What is a Drone?• Small unmanned aircraft system

aka UAV, UAS, sUAS.

• Weight is greater than 0.5 lbs. and less

than 55 lbs. including payloads.

• Usually carries an onboard camera or

sensors or other payloads.

• Regulated by the FAA.

Drone Regulation

Pre 2014 - Drone development exploded as we

waited for the FAA to create regulations for

commercial use.

2014 -2016 - Strict FAA regulations with Section 333.

• Licensed pilot onsite

• 6 month wait time for Section 333 exemption.

August 29, 2016 – Part 107 Provisions

• New less rigid regulations from FAA

• Requires only remote pilot certification.

Commercially Governmental Use

IllegallyModel or Hobby

Drone Regulations

Drone Regulation

Government entities can fly under Part 107

rules or obtain a public COA (Certificate of

Authorization).

• Law enforcement

• Public universities

• State governments

• Local municipalities

Hobby Use

FAA interpretation of recreational/hobby use:

Hobby is a "pursuit outside one's regular

occupation and engaged in especially for

relaxation."

Recreation is "refreshment of strength and

spirits after work; a means of refreshment or

division.”

Commercial Use

Commercial uses can include:

• Selling photos taken from a UAS.

• Providing services such as inspections.

• Providing security services.

• Monitoring progress of work being

performed.

Hobby vs. CommercialIt's all about your intent.

• If anyone benefits from the flights, then the

FAA considers the operation commercial.

• Note - No $ has to change hands.

Overview of Part 107 RulesEligibility Requirements

• Minimum 16 years old

• Read, write, speak English

• Pass aeronautical knowledge test

• Pass TSA background check

• Obtain Remote Pilot Certificate

• Pass recurrent test every 24 months

• Conduct preflight inspections

Aeronautical Knowledge Test

• 60 Question Test (Multiple Guess A, B, or C)• $150 Fee • Estimated 10-20 hours prep time.• Must score 70 or better.

Aeronautical Knowledge TestTopics

Aeronautical Knowledge Test Cont.

Sectional

Chart

Aeronautical Knowledge Test Cont.

Aeronautical Knowledge Test Cont.

• 700 testing centers in US.

• After passing the exam, must go to the FAA IACRA site and complete the registration process.

• Temporary Certificate Issued/Followed by hard copy several weeks later.

• Certificate to be kept onsite during operations.

Overview of Part 107 RulesAvoid Hazardous Operation

• Don’t fly over people or stadiums

• Don’t interfere with manned aircraft

• No flying near emergency responders

• No drinking within 8 hours of flights

Overview of Part 107 RulesOther requirements

• Fly below 400 feet AGL

• Fly below 100 mph (87 knots)

• Fly during daylight hours

• No flights of multiple UAV’s

• Cannot carry hazardous materials

• Yield ROW to all other aircraft

• Fly in controlled airspace ONLY with prior ATC

approval.

• Maintain Visual Line of Sight – VLOS

Waivers can be requested from the FAA to fly outside the requirements of the Part 107 rule.

• Operation from a moving vehicle• Visual Line of sight• Operation of multiple UAVs• Operation over people• Operation in certain airspace• Operating limitations: altitude• Operating limitations: minimum visibility

Waivers

1. Apply for a COW (certificate of waiver) on FAA website. Include justification and supporting data.

2. Propose a safe alternative for the operation.

3. Must be approved by FAA granted they find that the operation can be safely conducted under the terms of that COW.

4. FAA strives to complete review of waiver application within 90 days.

5. They may also include specific special provisions.

Application for Waivers

Georgia Drone Laws

Bylaws and rules set in place for the purpose

of restricting certain areas of drone use to

ensure that the public, and the users alike,

are safe during any operation.

Georgia Drone Laws

Do Not:

1. Video or photograph someone’s personal property

without permission.

2. Interfere with an emergency scene or personnel.

3. Fly in or around certain locations such as the

capitol or on restricted public lands.

4. Arm or use a drone as a weapon.

5. Take off from or to recover a drone from private or

public property without permission.

6. Use drones for hunting and fishing or interfere

with someone else that is hunting, fishing, or

trapping.

Georgia Drone Laws

HB481 passed and effective July 1, 2017:

Prohibits local communities from enacting their own

drone laws except:

1. Ordinances adopted on or before April 1, 2017.

2. Ordinance that enforce FAA restrictions.

3. Ordinances that prohibit launch or landing of UAS

on/from public property except for commercial

purposes.

Drone Regulation Considerations

• How will you fly? Part 107? Section 333? COA?

• Do you need a waiver?

• Online prep course for Airman’s Knowledge test.

o Drone Pilot Ground School

o UAV Coach

• Use a licensed/certified pilot for contract work.

• Know and stay abreast of FAA, state, and local

regulations.

Drone Hardware

Fixed Wing• Simpler structure• Faster• Longer flights• More expensive• Mostly autonomous• Aerial mapping• Takeoff/Landing

more difficult

UAV/Drone Hardware

Rotary Wing• Relatively inexpensive• Easy to operate• Compatible with iOS &

Android tablets• Widely used, well supported• Flexible payloads/sensors

UAV/Drone Hardware

Hybrid – FireFly6• Vertical takeoff and landing• Fixed Wing• Longer flights• Ideal for Mapping• Manual and Autonomous• Cost Effective• Small Takeoff/Landing Area

UAV/Drone Hardware

Inspections

Drones in Forestry

Camera for Pics and Video Controller

Smart Device Apps

B4UFLY – FAA app designed to help UAV users determine whether there are any restrictions in effect at the location where they want to fly.

Useful Drone Apps

UAV Mapping

Inspections

UAV Forecast

• Live camera view while in flight• Capture video/pictures

Inspections

Drone Applications

Bug Spots

UAV/Drone Inspections

Disease and fire hazards

Harvest Inspection

UAV/Drone Inspections

BMP Compliance

Regeneration

UAV/Drone Inspections

Stand Density

SMZ Inspection

UAV/Drone Inspections

Beaver Damage

UAV/Drone InspectionsControlled Burn/Wildfire Monitoring

Wildfire Hot Spot Locations

UAV/Drone Inspections

Planting

UAV/Drone Inspections

Site Prep Evaluation

UAV/Drone Inspections

Storm Damage

UAV/Drone Mapping

Mapping Workflow

• Designate area of interest/layout grid on app• Upload Mission to UAV• Autonomously fly mission• Download data from UAV• Process data in desktop software/cloud service• Create 2D Mosaic/3D Model

Mission Planning

UAV/Drone Mapping

• iOS or Android• Simple controls• Set Altitude• Easily create

Area of Interest (AOI)

• Upload to UAV

• Launch UAV (ops check)• Fully autonomous• Monitor status on PC or tablet• UAV returns to home location• Regain control at any time• Fail-safes in software

Fly the Mission

UAV/Drone Mapping

Drone Imagery Processing Options

PC Based Software:

Pix4D

Agisoft

Drone2Map

• Must have a PC with excellent processing power

• Higher upfront cost

• Purchase outright or lease

• Processing can take considerable time 4-8 hours

• Managing data over time considerations

Drone Imagery Processing Options

Cloud Based Software:

Maps Made Easy

Drone Deploy

Pix4D Cloud

• Less powerful PC required

• Can be much less expensive per flight

• Processing typically takes 24-36 hours

• Data management still a concern

• Easier comparison of previous flights

Outputs

2D Mosaic Imagery• Survival checks• High resolution imagery• Site prep acres

3D Models• DSM – Digital Surface Model• DTM – Digital Terrain Model• Stockpile/Log Deck Volumes

UAV/Drone Mapping

Stitches all project photos into one mosaic

High Resolution Orthomosaics

UAV/Drone Mapping

3D Models

UAV/Drone Mapping

Define the pile base and calculate the stockpile volume

Stockpile Volumes

UAV/Drone Mapping

UAV/Drone Mapping

Log Deck Volumes

Stand Delineation

UAV/Drone Mapping

Survival counts in the office

Sampling grid with 50th

acre buffers applied

Stocking Count

UAV/Drone Mapping

Survival Mapping

Stand Survival Assessment

UAV/Drone Mapping

UAV/Drone Payloads

RGB Camera

(True Color)

Multispectral

(Includes NIR)

Hyperspectral

(Includes NIR)

Thermal Infrared

LIDAR

• Map forest health over time

• Assess drainage issues

• Detect Nitrogen deficiencies

• Map drainages not detected by

traditional imagery

• Assist wildlife inventories and

habitat mapping

• Detailed canopy height models

UAV/Drone Payloads

UAV/Drone FutureComing Down the Road?

Forest Inventories with Drones?

Questions??

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