www.mtri.org Colin N. Brooks, Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI) Dr. Tim Colling, P.E., Michigan Tech Center for Technology and Training (CTT) Christopher Roussi, MTRI Richard Dobson (MTRI) Valerie Lefler, Integrated Global Dimensions (IGD) Caesar Singh, P.E., US Department of Transportation Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R) www.mtri.org/unpaved Characterization of Unpaved Road Conditions through the Use of Remote Sensing RITARS-11-H-MTU1 Technical Advisory Committee Project Update – March 24, 2015
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www.mtri.org
Colin N. Brooks, Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI)Dr. Tim Colling, P.E., Michigan Tech Center for Technology and Training (CTT)
Christopher Roussi, MTRIRichard Dobson (MTRI)
Valerie Lefler, Integrated Global Dimensions (IGD)Caesar Singh, P.E., US Department of Transportation Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Research and Technology (OST-R)www.mtri.org/unpaved
Characterization of Unpaved Road Conditions through the Use of Remote Sensing
1:00 – 2:00 pm: Remote control hexacopter demonstration in the field (weather permitting)
2:00 – 3:00 pm: Discussion of next steps for outreach, demonstrations, and implementation.
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Characterization of Unpaved Road Conditions through the Use of Remote Sensing
Goal of the Project: Extend available Commercial Remote Sensing & Spatial Information (CRS&SI) tools to enhance & develop an unpaved road assessment system by developing a sensor for, & demonstrating the utility of remote sensing platform(s) for unpaved road assessment.
– Commercially viable in that it can measure inventory and distress data at a rate and cost competitive with traditional methods
– Rapid ID & characterization of unpaved roads – Inventory level with meaningful metrics– Develop a sensor for, & demonstrate the utility of remote sensing platform(s) for
unpaved road assessment– Platform could be a typical manned fixed-wing aircraft, UAV, or both; depends on relative
strengths & weaknesses in meeting user community requirements– Simplify mission planning, control of sensor system, & data processing fitting for a
commercial entity or large transportation agency– Demonstrate prototype system(s) to stakeholders for potential implementation
developed through best engineering practices– Develop a decision support system to aid the user in resource management and
Task 1: Requirements Definition– “Requirements for Remote Sensing Assessments of Unpaved Road Conditions” Report (Deliverable 1-A). Completed 10/31/2011.
Task 2: State of the Practice Assessment– “State-of-the-Practice of Unpaved Road Condition Assessment” Report (Deliverable 2-A). Completed 11/30/2011.
Task 3: Phenomenology– “Remote Sensing the Phenomena of Unpaved Road Conditions” Report (Deliverable 3-A). Completed 3/15/2012.
Task 4: Sensor Selection– “Candidate and Recommended Remote Sensors for Unpaved Road Condition Assessment” Report (Deliverable 4-A). Completed 5/24/2012.
Task 5: Platform Selection– “Candidate and Recommended Remote Sensing Platforms for Unpaved Road Condition Assessment” Report (Deliverable 5-A). Completed
6/30/2012.
Task 6: Algorithm and Software Development– A demonstration of mission planning system (Deliverable 6-A). Completed 5/31/2012.– A demonstration of how collected data could be utilized with the RoadSoft GIS Decision Support System (Deliverable 6-B). Completed
7/27/2012.– “Software and Algorithms to Support Unpaved Road Assessment by Remote Sensing” Report (Deliverable 6-C). Completed 10/31/2012.
Task 7: Integration, Testing, and Demonstration– “Plans for Field Deployment of Recommended Systems for Remote Sensing of Unpaved Road Conditions” Report (Deliverable 7-A).
Completed 5/30/2013.– “Performance Evaluation of Recommended Remote Sensing Systems in Unpaved Road Type Condition Characterization” (Deliverable 7-B).
Completed 11/26/2013.
Task 8: Reporting and Technical Advisory Committee– Quarterly status and progress reports (Deliverable 8-A) (Q1-Q12).– TAC meetings held 12/9/2011, 5/2/2013– Final Report (Deliverable 8-B) – Submitted 9/30/14; revised version resubmitted 12/5/14. Ready to post.
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2014 major accomplishments, by task
Task 7 (Integration, Testing, and Demonstration):– Gave a well-received system outreach demonstration in Sioux Falls, SD in
June, 2014 (6/26/14)– Online webinar released & watched by stakeholders– New “user friendly” implementation-focused website released; existing
research website updated– New outreach articles published: 4 popular press articles, one newspaper,
two Michigan Tech articles– Michigan XML results integrated into RoadSoft GIS DSS– New relationship with Woolpert, Inc. established focused on 3rd party
implementation (company on forefront of domestic commercial UAV usage – one of first FAA commercial exemptions, Dec. 2014)
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2014 major accomplishments, by task
Task 8 (Reporting & TAC): – Five conference & meeting presentations + USDOT Innovation Series
talk Nov. ‘14• Mid-Continent Transportation Research Forum (Madison, WI, Aug. ’14 – WisDOT
interest); ASPRS 2014 spring conference (Louisville, KY, March ‘14); Southeast Michigan GIS Users Group (Novi, MI, Feb. ‘14); TRB (Jan. ’14, Jan. ‘15)
• C.Singh presentation to 35th ACRS in Burma
– Three peer-reviewed papers submitted; one accepted for publication so far:
• Dobson, R. J., Colling, T., Brooks, C., Roussi, C., Watkins, M. K., & Dean, D. (2014). Collecting Decision Support System Data Through Remote Sensing of Unpaved Roads. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH RECORD, Vol. 2433: 108-115.
– Final Report (Deliverable 8-B) submitted, revised, accepted, & published to website - at www.mtri.org/unpaved under “Tasks and Deliverables”
Successful demonstration to South Dakota DOT & local transportation agencies in Sioux Falls, June 26, 2014– 36 attendees, 15 groups (state & local agencies) – SDDOT,
SDLTAP, 3 local counties, Nebraska LTAP, ND LTAP– Overview, live field demo, quick data processing, round table
discussion– Feedback:
• Definite improvement over “windshield surveys”• A practical system – “see tremendous use”• Strong interest in accessing as a third-party service
October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2016 Period of Performance
$283,079 new federal funding supplement (“Phase II”)– $283,079 equal amount of cost share
Focus on Outreach and Commercial Implementation
New Outreach & Implementation Phase: Additional Project Activities
Update and maintain www.mtri.org/unpaved project website with focus on professional outreach materials.
Organize and meet with the Technical Advisory Committee for input on moving Unsurfaced Roads Condition Assessment System (URCAS) to full commercial implementation and providing advice on related project direction.
Provide a state of the practice for available UAVs and systems that could be used for URCAS
Prepare the URCAS remote sensing system (RSPS) project to be moved towards an operational commercial-ready product.– Investigate additional assessment functionality for transportation agencies such as road
geometry evaluations.
Develop and provide professional outreach for implementation to a nationwide audience.
Work closely with the private sector to commercialize URCAS for day-to-day operation in light of new FAA regulations to likely to take effect in 2016.
New Outreach & Implementation Phase: Additional Project Activities
Demonstrate how URCAS is able to fulfill needs for system deficiency detection and damage prevention to transportation agencies for unpaved roads.
Meet with Technical Advisory Committee for reviewing project progress and solicit input and guidance for remainder of the project.
Extend GIS Decision Support System Tools to nationwide asset management tool for unpaved roads.
Demonstrate and integrate unpaved road assessment methods with multiple transportation agency partners in multiple states, including field demonstrations and appropriate presentations.
Report on project's progress, Technical Advisory Committee input, and obstacles and accomplishments in a series of quarterly reports to the project sponsor.
Create and submit a Final Report summarizing the project deliverables, demonstrations, outreach, and commercialization activities.
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Additional Tasks
Task 5: Review and Update System Requirements
Task 6: Adapting Remote Sensing Processing System into Commercial Readiness with GIS Extension
Task 8: Field Demonstrations with State and Local Transportation Agencies, Reporting and Technical Advisory Committee, and Updated Final Report
Task 9: Extended Professional Outreach
Task 10: Commercialization of URCAS for Day-to-Day Usage
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Task 5: Review and Update System Requirements
Outputs– Review of requirements
• Describe relevance of new inventory-focused unpaved roads rating method developing by Tim Colling
– Review of new platforms– Review of latest sensors
Deliverables– Deliverable 5-B: report “Review and Update on URCAS
Requirements, Sensors, and Platforms” • Report submitted to USDOT on Feb. 13th, 2015
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Deliverable 5-B: “Review and Update of URCAS Requirements, Sensors, and Platforms”
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Bergen Helicopter (original platform)– Total flight time: 16 minutes (not including 2
minute reserve); flight time for a 200 meter section ~ 4 minutes.
– Flown at 2 m/s at 25 and 30 meters– 50mm prime lens– ~$17k with GPS/IMU
Cessna 172 and 152 Aircraft– Average air speed: 65 knots (~ 75 mph)– Flown at altitudes of 500 and 1000 feet– 105 mm prime lens (2012), 70-200mm zoom
(2013)
Bergen Hexacopter (current platform)– Total flight time: up to 30 minutes with small
payloads– Weight: 4kg unloaded; Maximum Payload: 5kg– Includes autopilot system, stabilized mount that
is independent of platform movement, and first person viewer system (altitude, speed, battery life, etc.)
– ~$5700 with GPS navigation
Overview of Deliverable 5-B: “Review and Update on URCAS Requirements, Sensors,
Nikon D800 initially selected– still recommended for resolution, cost effective, wide range of lenses available– Sony Alpha 7R weighs less (improved range), less expensive, meets other
requirements
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Airframe Recommendations
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Airframe recommendations• Multirotor systems recommended
– Bergen Hexacopter still meets requirements
– Other airframes in selected 6 and 8 rotor configurations also meet requirements
– details in Figure 7-1 and Table 7-1 of Project Deliverable 5-B
Airframe Recommendations
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Task 6: Adapting Remote Sensing Processing System (RSPS) into Commercial Readiness with GIS Extension
Outputs– Software improvements (6-E), inc. a detailed list of the
steps being taken to make the RSPS ready for commercial utilization
detections; potholes & crown sufficiency already work well)
• Evaluation of potential new features / geometries, such as road intersection geometry
– Software outreach (6-D): • Outreach for the use of geospatial XML distress data in
GIS software to multiple transportation agencies. (T.Colling – CTT)
• A description of what steps were taken with GIS software to extend their capabilities to a nationwide audience when combined with URCAS.
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Example of useful road geometry data
Task 6: Adapting Remote Sensing Processing System (RSPS) into Commercial Readiness with GIS Extension
Deliverables– Deliverable 6-E: report "Adaption of URCAS
Remote Sensing Processing System Software to Include Additional Features and for Commercial Readiness"
– Deliverable 6-D: report "Extension of GIS Decision Support System Tools to a Nationwide Assessment Tool for Unpaved Roads"
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Unpaved roads data from URCASwithin Roadsoft GIS DSS
Current Remote Sensing Processing System (RSPS) image analysis methodology software flow& overall modular components of URCAS
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RSPS flow
Modular components of URCAS
Task 8: Field Demonstrations with State and Local Transportation Agencies, Reporting and Technical Advisory
Committee, and Updated Final Report
Outputs– Exposure to multiple transportation agencies of the capabilities of URCAS for
unpaved road asset management.– URCAS results collected and demonstrated for at least three planned states
plus potentially the location of the 2015 or 2016 Low Volume Roads Conference.
• 2015 potential: Kansas, South Dakota (+ local Michigan testing)• 2016 potential: Louisiana, TBD
– Summary of discussions with transportation agencies on how a deployed version of URCAS can help with their system deficiency detection and damage prevention needs.
– Quarterly reports– Regular and clear reporting to the sponsor and stakeholder community– One or more meetings with the Technical Advisory Committee, based on
recommendations of the Program Manager.– Updated project websites (research results focused and client-focused versions)
• www.mtri.org• www.unpavedroadsremotesensing.com
– Draft final report for sponsor review– Final report that addresses sponsors comments
2014-2015 Technical and Deliverable Milestone Schedule
Technical and Deliverable Milestone Due Date
Update project website with TAC input; sponsor notified 12/15/2014
Meet with Technical Advisory Committee (3rd meeting); publishing of meeting minutes to website once available 3/24/2015
Submit "Review and Update on URCAS Requirements, Sensors, and Platforms" (Deliverable 5-B) 2/13/2015
Submit 12th Quarterly Status Report (Deliverable 8-A) 1/15/2015
Submit "Adaptation of URCAS Remote Sensing Processing System Software to Include Additional Features and for Commercial Readiness" (Deliverable 6-E)
4/15/2015(asking for
6/15/15)
Submit 13th Quarterly Status Report (Deliverable 8-A) 4/15/2015
Submit 14th Quarterly Status Report (Deliverable 8-A): • Describe progress in developing professional outreach materials in this Quarterly
Status Report7/15/2015
Submit 15th Quarterly Status Report (Deliverable 8-A): • Describe progress in working with private sector on URCAS commercialization • Describe progress in demonstrating URCAS for system deficiency and damage
prevention
10/15/2015
Meet with Technical Advisory Committee (4th meeting); publishing of meeting minutes to website once available 12/15/2015
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2016 Technical and Deliverable Milestone Schedule
Technical and Deliverable Milestone Due DateSubmit “Extension of GIS Decision Support System Tools to a Nationwide Assessment Tool for Unpaved Roads” (Deliverable 6-D) 1/15/2016
Submit 16th Quarterly Status Report (Deliverable 8-A) 1/15/2016
Submit "Commercialization Report on URCAS for Day-to-Day Operations" (Deliverable 10-A) 4/15/2016
Submit 17th Quarterly Status Report (Deliverable 8-A) 4/15/2016
Include description of system deficiency/damage prevention activity description as part of Deliverable 6-A 7/15/2016
Submit "Transportation Agency Field Demonstration Report" (Deliverable 11-A) 7/15/2016
Submit 18th Quarterly Status Report (Deliverable 8-A) 7/15/2016
Submit Draft of "Final Report" (Deliverable 8-A) 7/15/2016
Submit "Professional Outreach for Implementation to a Nationwide Audience Report" (Deliverable 9-A) 9/30/2016
Submit final version of “Final Report” (Deliverable 8-C) 9/30/2016
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Administrative Issues – Implementation in light of changing FAA regulations
FAA regulations on UAS operations for private entities are being updated. – The FAA document 14 CFR Part 91 (
http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/reg/media/frnotice_uas.pdf) specifically excludes individuals or companies flying model aircraft for business (commercial) purposes.
– For public entities (such as the USDOT), the process of operating a UAS involves obtaining a Certificate of Authorization (COA) for a particular mission. Each mission must have its own COA, which effectively prevents the current use of UASs for arbitrary assessment. Thus, under current FAA guidelines, there had been no way to deploy an unmanned system for this purpose.
– However, some agencies with COAs have been able to get them reapproved within relatively short time periods (< 1 month).
Administrative Issues – Implementation in light of changing FAA regulations
This is changing – ex: four companies received exemptions in Dec. 2014 to operate UAVs commercially in parts of the lower 48 (previously commercial usage had been restricted to northern Alaska, and some movie companies) – including a fixed-wing UAV from our Woolpert partner covering 1/3 of Ohio in rural areas
New proposed regulations for small UAVs released February 2015, now in 60-day comment period
Commercial UAV regulations by late 2015 / early 2016
More exemptions for private firms likely under FAA Sec. 333
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Changing FAA regulations – 2015 and beyond
Section 333 exemption – Commercial operation with limitations– Line of sight– Daylight hours– Under 55 lbs– Airworthiness certificate
potentially required for aircraft– Observer required– Operator must hold valid
Commercial Pilot certificate– https://www.faa.gov/uas/legislativ
PROPOSED regulations for small UAVs (likely effective 2016/2017)– Line of sight– Daylight operation – No airworthiness certificate required– Max airspeed 100 mph (87 kts)– Under 55 lbs– Max operating altitude 500’ agl– New FAA issued UAS Operator Certificate (no requirement for
DISCLAIMER: The views, opinions, findings and conclusions reflected in this presentation are the responsibility of the authors only and do not represent the official policy or position of the USDOT/OST-R, or any State or other entity.