Integrating Unmanned Aerial Systems for Enhanced Wildlife Hazard Assessment in Airport Environments

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

Our team has explored the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technologies to develop a concept of operations for data collection during a Wildlife Hazard Assessment. Data have been collected in a farmland area located two nautical miles south of Daytona Beach International Airport (Class C Airspace). The research team has applied and assessed the effectiveness of several Safety Risk Management protocols designed to ensure safe UAS operations during a WHA. The UAS crew has applied drone technologies to visually detect and record wildlife observations, activities, and natural habitats that could attract wildlife to the airport environment, as recommended by the Federal Aviation Administration. Multiple flights have been conducted at varied dates and times of the day to assess seasonality and other factors affecting the presence and behavior of wildlife in the data collection area. Preliminary findings suggest that the safe application of UAS to streamline the WHA processes can provide several benefits to the airport operator, including task completion in reduced time, enhanced level of accuracy during the data collection process, and cost efficiencies. Most importantly, researchers are expecting to develop benchmark safety protocols that can facilitate the effective integration of UAS into the airport environment.

Authors

• Box, Savanna Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Golendukhina, Anna Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Ayres, Raymond Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Buckalew, Nicholas Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• UAS Technology
• Innovation
• Wildlife Risk Management
• Airport Safety
• Safe Airport Practices
• Operations
• Advanced Air Mobility
• Aviation Safety and Security
• Management and Operations