ISCRAM 2013: Design of a Process Model for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in Emergencies

1
Design of a Process Modell for Unmanned
Aerial Systems (UAS) in Emergencies
Hans-Peter Thamm
BT Geoconsulting and Mapping GmbH
Thomas Ludwig, Christian Reuter
University of Siegen

Hans-Peter Thamm, Thomas Ludwig, Christian Reuter 2
Introduction
In case of natural disaster supply lines
(e.g. electrical power) can be damaged
• Strong disturbance of the life of population
• Risk for people
• Immense loss of money
Goal: Quick restoration of
supply lines

Research project
3
Goal: Development of
an inter-organizational
collaboration
infrastructure „Security
Area“
Learning Information structures for
crisis management at the example of
electrical power supply (2010-2013)

Introduction: Infostrom Project
In case of disaster:
Fast and efficient re-establishing of supply with electrical power.
Therefore necessary:
Suitable system for assessing sound information about the real
situation and efficient communication between the different
stakeholders.
S
S
RWE RWE RWE RWE

Control room
Service
technicans
Police Fire
brigades
THW MediaPower
supply
companies
Information structure in case of emergency
People
Problem: Very much information with different level of relevance and
spatial representation How to get sound information

Control room
Service
technicans
Police Fire
brigades
THW MediaPower
supply
companies
Information structure in case of emergency
peopleExternal
spatial
information
Sound external spatial information sources can help assess the real
situation in a short time.

INFOSTROM: Workshops to assess the availability and demand on spatial data
Organisation of Workshop with stakeholders
“Demand on spatial data in case of disaster”
• How can the data be distributed in case of disaster?
• Which information channels are available?
• Which media?
• Where are urgent demands for spatial data?
• Which spatial data are
available?
• In which data format they are
accessible? Thamm

INFOSTROM: Workshops to assess the availability and demand on spatial data
Results of the Workshop with stakeholders
“Demand on spatial data in case of disaster”
aerial photos in a very high spatial resolution showing the
actual situation are very valuable tools.
• High demand on spatial data
representing the actual situation
• Pre processed data preferred (e.g.
road is free, area is accessible)
• Information system must work even in harsh conditions
• Information must be easy accessible and understandable

Disaster management: Role of high resolution remote sensing images
In case of disaster: Necessity for actual aerial photos
Source: WSL
•Overview over the local situation
•Assessment of the damages
•Assessment of the accessibility to the
damaged spots
•Efficient management of the action
forces (which damages, where to go,
which roads are accessible, risks)
Thamm

In case if disaster: Remote Sensing
Sources of aerial photos in case of disaster
“Classical methods”
•Manned helicopter
•Manned aircrafts
New techniques:
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS)
Can be operated local. Very high
spatial resolution - even small details
visible.
Time series can be taken – changes of
the situation and progress of work
can be documented
Problem:
Images for local situation
are often not fast enough
available.
Time series expensive.
Coarse spatial resolution

UAS: Different UAS types
Multicopter
Weight 1 kg – 5 kg
Flight time 15-40 min
Can be operated till
8 m/s wind speed
Little payload
No airstrip needed
Weight 0.5 kg – 25 kg
Flight time 30-120 min
Can be operated till
30 m/s wind speed
Needs air strip for
landing
Fixed wing
Weight 12 kg -16 kg
Flight time > 120 min
High payload
Can be operated till 7 m/s
wind speed
Air strip needed
Parachute
UAS
Thamm Thamm Thamm

UAS: Properties
General properties of UAS
• Autopilot – flying along pre
defined flight path – covering area
• Manual steering possible
• Live transmission of field of view
and GPS to ground station
• On board cameras
• Fast mobilisation – take off after
15 min - 25 min after reaching the
investigation sites
Thamm

UAS: Process model
How to integrate UAS in a general information system?
Process model for use of UAS in emergencies
UAS action forces
collect aerial photos
of hot spots
Control room
Demand for local
information,
Transmission of data to
control room,
information extraction
out of the data.
Distribution of the
information to the
service technicians
and other stake
holders
• Where are the
damages
• Accessibility of roads

UAS: Process model
Control room
Prevention
Action force UAS
Suitable areas of
investigation size,
conditions
Advanced multi
criteria risk maps for
different scenarios
Possible air strips,
useabe telecom-
munication
Encrypted com-
munication system
Choice and purchase
of UAS
Digital maps of area
with additional
information
Flight permissions
Local stored
digital maps of
area with
additional
information
Continuous
training
Advanced
update
functions
with time
stamps
Integration in
encrypted
information system

UAS: Process model
Control room
Response
Action force UAS
Weighting the demand
of information request,
area definition as
vectors
Decision if the
information is sufficient
Evaluation of
the situation
at the hot
spot
Choosing
area of
investigation
Mission planning
choosing UAS type
Programming
autopilot / start
Orthophotos,
object
detection
Live transmission of
position and video
stream
Possibility of changing
the flight path of
mission in near real
time
Processing of
images
New flights
Evaluation
Requirement
new details
Regarding
total
situation,
flight
restrictions
area
implemented
automatically

UAS: Process model
Wrap up (after Disaster)
Detailed assessing of the damages in high spatial resolution
Evaluation of the operation
• Institutional
• Technical
• Communication
Comparison of the risk maps created before the operation with
the real situation
Hot list with improvements for the total systems

Challenges
Limitations / challenges for the use of UAS
Technical
•Enlargement range of UAS
•Improvement all weather
suitability
•More information about long
term reliability
•Fast image processing
•Reliable broad band
transmission
Legal
•General flight permissions
•Autonomous flight beyond line of
sight
•Integration in general air traffic
•Improved flight height

Challenges
Summary
•Structured assessment of demand on information in case of
disaster from stakeholder
•UAS for gaining up to date information are available
•Process model for the integration of UAS in a communication
system created (prevention, respond, wrap-up)
•Deficits and challenges for the use of UAS in case of emergency
evaluated
•Outlook for further development of UAS given

,
Dr. Hans-Peter Thamm
Thomas Ludwig, Christian ReuterBT Geoconsulting & Mapping GmbH
Thank you for the attention
Prof. Volkmar Piepek

Appendix
Used software of the information plattform
• open source social network engine ELGG (http://www.elgg.de)
blogging, microblogging, file sharing, common social networking functionalities,
Elgg runs on the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP) platform.
• ‘Inter-Organizational Situation Assessment Client (ISAC)’, a situation map that
allows various collaborative interactions and sharing,
• ‘Inter-Organizational Information Repository (IOIR)’, a web-based information
pool, which gives central access to distributed, external information resources like
websites, files or various web services
• ‘Mobile Collaborator (MoCo)’, a mobile application for collaboration among
spatially distributed users using ISAC components
• ‘Mobile Reporter (MoRep)’, a mobile application for on-site reports.

ISCRAM 2013: Design of a Process Model for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in Emergencies

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