Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) have been widely accepted by State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) over the last decade. Although UAS have been integrated into workflows and are being leveraged as a supplemental tool across a large variety of use cases there is yet to be defined standards developed. State DOTs need UAS data collection standards, specifically for leading use cases such as, surveying, construction inspection and bridge inspections. 

This project will create a comprehensive UAS Standards and Specifications guidebook that provides State DOTs with the needed UAS data collection standards and best practices. A standalone standards guidebook will be developed and validated for the following use cases:

• Survey
• Construction
• Bridge Inspections
• As-builts
• Incident Management
• Earth Movement
• Asset Lifecycle and Mainenance

The pooled-fund project will span across 5 years but will be structured in a way that a set of deliverables is provided to State DOTs annually. Roughly one use case per year will be accomplished with some overlap between efforts. The set of deliverables provided with each use case will provide utility and benefit to operators at State DOTs and elsewhere throughout the industry. In the final year of the project the first three use cases and their associated standards will be updated as needed based on technology advancements and other factors.  The scope of work for each study case will include:

• Literature Review
• Focus Group Meeting
• Gap Analysis
• Test Flights
• Standards Development
• Standards Validation
• Technical Memorandum - Summary of Research Activities
• UAS Standards and Specifications Guidebook
• Field Reference Guide 

Travel: UAS Board members will travel twice per year for focus group meetings. All travel expenses for members are paid from pooled funds. The Board member or designated representative of each active member agency will be eligible for reimbursement of reasonable costs for travel, including registration fees, accommodation, and sustenance, to attend approved UAS meetings. Travel costs of attendance at UAS meetings by others may also be reimbursable in special cases approved in advance by the UAS Program Administrator or the Executive Board. The Program Administrator and management consultant are charged with coordinating events requiring travel as appropriate to minimize travel costs.