Abstract

UAV (Drone) Applications for Water Utilities
Track: Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater
Authors: Chris Kahn, Eric Gackstatter

In 2016, American Water funded a Proof of Concept project to understand the value of UAVs for various applications within its operations. We tested different types of rotorcraft and fixed-wing UAVs with payloads such as high-resolution RGB cameras, multi-spectral and thermal sensors. To plan the data collection flights and process the imagery, we tested various mission planning software workflows, both manufacturer-supplied and 3rd party. This evolving technology produces impressive results.