Applying UAS Technologies at Night during a Wildlife Hazard Assessment

Abstract

Airports operating under the Code of Federal Regulations Part 139 should conduct a wildlife hazard assessment (WHA) when some wildlife-strike events have occurred at or near the airport. The WHA must be conducted by a Qualified Airport Wildlife Biologist (QAWB). The required elements in a WHA include the identification of the wildlife species observed and their numbers and the location of features on and near the airport that could attract wildlife. The collection of data pertaining to mammal populations during a WHA is generally time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly. Protocols to collect this data include trapping and marking animals and systematic surveys using a spotlight and/or night vision equipment. The purpose of this study was to investigate how UAS technologies could be effectively applied to streamline the QAWB efforts during a WHA at night. Researchers, including students, used a DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual with visual and thermal cameras and a spotlight, as well as a Matrice 210 with a Zenmuse XT2 thermal camera to collect data. Data were collected in a farmland area located two nautical miles south of Daytona Beach International Airport. We applied multiple strategies to mitigate the risks associated with drone operations in an airport environment. The safe application of UAS to streamline the WHA process is anticipated to provide several benefits to the airport operator, including task completion in reduced time, enhanced level of accuracy during the data collection process, reduced risks for the QAWB, and cost efficiencies. Most importantly, researchers expect to develop benchmark safety protocols that can facilitate the effective integration of UAS into the airport environment.