A Brief History of CDOT’s Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

By Ronald Archer, Process Improvement & Change Management Intern

January 10, 2022

Background on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

Unmanned Aerial Systems, commonly known as drones have been in use for over 100 years (Timeline of UAVs). Throughout this time this was used primarily in a military capacity for both combat and surveillance operations. 

The first civil UAS airworthiness certificate issued by the FAA was in 2005 (Timeline of UAS Integration 2021). Search and rescue and disaster relief operations were the first to use UAS in civilian airspace (David Daly et al., 2020). UAS would soon expand into areas such as the consumer market, private companies, and government.

Unmanned Aerial System or drone

Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Data Drone in Grand Junction

CDOT’s Utilization of Drones

 At the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), drones have been in use for over two decades, beginning with programs such as the Geohazard program. This entailed risk mitigation related to rockfall, rockslides, mudslides, and landslides. Drones were deployed for surveillance or for emergency services.

CDOT continued to expand its usage of drone technology. One aspect of this is use in civil construction projects. This has proven to be very beneficial in terms of safety and efficiency. A recent interview on CDOT’s current use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) was done to give a more in-depth look at the use of drones throughout the State. 

During a recent interview with Nicki Upright, an experienced Civil Engineer Project Manager for CDOT, as recently as 2018, CDOT construction projects measured seeding by hand. Seeding - is an erosion control technique used on construction sites by planting vegetation.

There was an opportunity to use drones to measure the seeding areas on a construction project and Nicki took it. The data from the drone was processed and compared to hand measured seeding. The comparison was very close. For Nicki, drones became the preferred method of measuring seeding and Nicki continues to use drones on her projects to this day. 

How are Drones used in Transportation Construction?

The emerging technology of UAS today has unlimited uses as well as many advantages and some challenges. In construction projects such as CDOT’s  I-76 & CO 52 Roundabout Project, drones served as a 3d map of the area of interest in surveillance or in an engineering capacity. Lengths, widths, areas, elevation, acreage, cubic yardage, etc. can be measured (material quantification). Once the drone data is processed, the software can resolve disputed measurements (timestamp 08:46) such as pipe lengths from 3rd parties, by referencing material quantification data and photographic data. Information can easily be referenced as a benchmark to show project progression and to create reports.

CO 52 & I-76 Roundabout Construction in Hudson

CO 52 & I-76 Roundabout Construction in Hudson

The Benefits of Drones

Some of the benefits (timestamp 13:29 to 20:20) of drones include:

During the interview, I asked Nicki if she would go back to measuring seeding by hand vs. using a drone. The answer was a resounding no and she stated she “doesn’t have the time or the budget for that.” Nicki continues to fly her drone once a month to update her current I-76 & CO 52 Roundabout project’s progression.

Nicki also mentioned specifically how very large wind blades can make it through the newly constructed roundabouts, which are some of the largest in the state. They allow the traffic to flow easier and large trucks to maneuver quite well. For large construction projects it is evident of the impact of UAS (timestamp 10:30 to 13:00).

I-76 & CO 52 Roundabout Project - CDOT Drone Image

I-76 & CO 52 Roundabout Project - CDOT Drone Image

The Challenges of Drones

Although there are many upsides to UAS technology, challenges are to be expected as this technology is refined and improved. Nicki and later Andy Hieber, a Drone specialist with RockSol Consulting Group, spoke about some of the challenges in using drones  (timestamp 23:29 to 26:37) such as safety and regulation seen below:

Incidents with Drones

Sometimes when drones are deployed there may be malfunctions from poor communication, improper planning, equipment issues, or unfavorable conditions.

A client expecting one thing but who did not specify what they wanted can cause communication errors that lead to the drone flying at the wrong altitude and therefore capturing data incorrectly.

When planning to deploy a drone, battery life is crucial depending on the flight plan. A mission may not be completed if altitude and flight plan aren’t carefully considered when selecting batteries.

Sometimes the GPS may malfunction or take some time to orient itself before flying can begin. Also, weather conditions must be considered when deploying a drone. Favorable conditions are the best.

How Can We Leverage Drone Technology?

Seeding projects is a great example of leveraging drones (timestamp 32:16 to 34:33) and getting a great return on investment (ROI) through time savings, cost savings, and safety. Surveying takes 2-3 weeks with manpower, while a drone can fly it in a day. Also reducing the need for manpower to conduct traffic control on roadways when inspecting signs is another example of a cost saving measure.

Endless Uses of UAS for CDOT

There are endless uses of drone technology for DOT’s  (timestamp 27:30 to 29:49). This includes construction, maintenance, inspection of bridges or signs, surveying, public relations, material quantification, and so on. As UAS technology progresses with time, the impact of drones will continue to grow for organizations like CDOT. Regulations and liability which are always constraints with newer technologies will help to standardize processes and methods across the board, ensuring that drones can be used effectively and safely.