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TCAPWA/SWANA CONFERENCE TECHNICAL SESSION By Jim Albert, GISP
Drones for Solid Waste Management
I recently had the privilege of first question is that if you plan to use restricted airspace, and the FAA B4Ufly
presenting at the 2018 TCAPWA/ drones in any capacity where money app. We discussed the different types of
SWANA conference held in Nashville. is transferred, you need to be FAA- software that can be used to process the
I enjoyed the opportunity to discuss certified. This includes any federal, state images to create models, orthophotos,
exciting advances in drone technology and local government entities, as well as and DEMs that can be used to process
and application. My presentation public and private landfills. In regard to topography.
focused on using drones in solid waste how to get certified, I went over some
management. I also discussed the of the sections of the test, including After reviewing general information
distinct types of drones and the best aviation weather, chart study, airspace, about drones, their wide range of
applications for which they can be used. pre-flight maintenance and inspection application, and FAA certification,
I gave an in-depth look at a popular procedures, and regulations. The test is attendees were ready to learn how
drone, the Phantom 4 Pro, that both very detail-oriented but can usually be drones can be used when managing
hobbyist and commercial drone pilots easy to pass if you are prepared. a landfill. Managing a landfill is a
have found useful and easy to navigate. complicated process that requires a large
I also went over the diverse types of amount of preparation, planning and
When I have conversations with applications and software that drone adhering to government regulations,
people about drones and drone-related users need and how those technologies such as meeting airspace requirements
technology, most people are interested can be utilized. If a drone operator and ensuring that the landfill is being
in how they can use drones and what it would like to get more out of a drone built as designed. A well-planned
would take for them to be commercial than pictures and videos, there are landfill works in conjunction with its
remote pilots. In my presentation, I several apps to investigate. I reviewed surroundings, ensuring that the leachate
addressed these questions and the topics specific flight planning apps that are that is produced from the decomposing
related to them, such as, “Do I need used to collect images for use in 3-D trash does not enter streams and
to be FAA certified?” “If so, how do I modeling that can be processed into aquifers.
prepare?” and “What do I need to do to Digital Elevation Models (DEM) and
obtain an FAA Part 107 certified remote orthoimages. We also discussed other Drones have been commonly used in
pilot license?” The simple answer to the apps like weather, FAA waivers of flight- the solid waste industry for aerial photos
or videos. The use of unmanned aerial
Utilizing UAVs provides a safer
data collection environment, more
accurate and timely data, and will
reduce overall operating costs.
6 TPW November/December 2018
