UAS DACUM

 UAS DACUM Model

Current and Future UAS Industry Trends

Trends	Explanation
Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)	Fixed wing aircraft flying along rail lines. ~5-hour missions
Rail inspection	Mapping yards and switches
Pipeline Inspection	Checking for leaks or faults along oil and gas lines
Advanced Ground Control GPS Technology	New technology that allows for faster collection of Ground Control Tie-Ins. Aeropoints as an example
Autonomous Delivery	(Concept): Amazon delivering packages via UAS
Advanced Methods and Technology in RTK Platform based GPS accuracy in data collection	Real Time Kinetics to achieve more accurate results
Construction	Site scans, progress reports, overview images
High Resolution Remote Sensing	Better quality data when compared to sattelite
Airspace Integration	Flying in/near airports & Runway inspection
Swarm Technology	Multiple autonomous platforms working together to complete one goal.
Natural Resource Management	Resource inventory, change analysis, productivity and condition analysis.
Windmill Inspection	Reducing operation & maintenance costs
Manned-Unmanned Team (MUMT)	Drones and manned aircraft utilizing same airspace or target area to collective gather data or accomplish similar task.
Vegetation Mapping	Monitoring vegetation growth using hyperspectral NIR
Water column mapping	Using differences in reflected/refracted light received by a sensor to map vertical columns of water based on depth.
Hazard Risk Assessment (weather, geological, environmental, etc)	Fault line mapping, water drainage mapping, flood plain mapping, slope stability analysis, forest fire risk analysis
Real Estate Marketing	Arial images of various angles of the house/property, neighborhood images
All weather operations	Weatherized airframe
Site Surveying	Matching point clouds with CAD elevation maps
Site progression
Energy	Used to assess pipelines and energy networks
Light Shows /leisure /recreation	Companies like Intel use drones for entertainment purposes
Accident Reconstruction	Post-crash scene scans, gather information to show police, juries, investigators, etc.
Search and Rescue	Emergency services searching vast areas for missing persons
RC Racing	Innovation through commercial application utilizing the entertainment markets.
Firefighting	Assistance in finding safe routes of use.  Thermal imaging and analysis.
Police	Documenting crime scenes, surveying disaster sites, accident & traffic management
Emergency (medical)	Delivery of medical supplies (Zipline company)
Cinematography	Take a video of it
Agriculture	Can collect crop count and assess crop quality
Surveillance	Can be used to monitor any high security area
Deep learning flight controls and data processing	Unsupervised data management and classification.
Full Motion Video	Video Taken in MISB format. Video has bounding Geospatial coordinates
Geospatial Video	Video connected to UAS log file so it has coordinates
Policy and Regulation	More structure to UAS Commercial Remote Pilot License Categories. Also relates to certification of different classes of aircraft.
Increasing Markets and Applications of Tethered UAS platforms	Tethered power supply UAS platforms have the potential to serve for long term surveillance and other services where
More efficient Solar Panel Arrays	Increased flight times can come from axillary solar panels that provide trickle charge to the electric power source to the UAS

UAS Critical Skills and Knowledge

Skillset/Knowledge	UAS Course Applied to:
Project Management	AT 203
Geospatial Knowledge	AT 319 AT 309
Cartographic Knowledge	N/A
Post-Processing of UAS data	AT 319 (Small component)
Integration with GIS and RS software	N/A
Quick-thinking/adaptability	Throughout curriculum
Regulation Knowledge	AT 144 AT 286
Repair and Maintenance	AT 219
Flight Proficiency	AT 219 AT 309
Sensor Integration/Familiarity	AT 309
Remote Sensing	AT 319
Quality control of data	N/A
Data management/Computer Science	N/A
Integration with manned aircraft	AT 286
Potential/Future Applications	AT 409
Technical Writing	AT 409, ENG 420
Programming	N/A
Management	Entrepreneurship Certificate
Marketing	N/A
Graphic Communication	Communications and English courses
Ethics	AT 309 AT 319
Soldering	AT 219 AT 309 AT 319
Systems Engineering	Lightly throughout curriculum

UAS Technician Key Duties

Mission Planning	Description
Airworthiness Inspection	Ensuring aircraft is in a safe condition to fly and in compliance to manufactures guidelines.
Airframe integrity inspection	Checking critical parts of the aircraft for structural integrity. Search for deficiencies that may limit flight characteristics
Find the highest object in flight path	For collision avoidance, ensures that your flight altitude will not hit any obstacles
Gather weather data	Weather must be within the aircraft’s and your personal limitations
Airspace analysis	Must get permission in certain airspace
Sensor selection	Choosing the correct sensor for the mission at hand
Crew selection	Selecting the right person for the job
Geospatial Duties
Plan out missions using various forms of geospatial data	Understanding how to plan out a mission based on what data is to be selected
Understanding capabilities and limits of Sensors and UAS platforms	Choosing the right sensor for the job
Being able to apply the right sensor and platform to the job	Selecting the best sensor based on its capabilities related to the mission
Being able to properly gather Ground Control Points with survey grade GPS	Understand how to use ground control points to properly reference location
UAS Maintenance
Ensure proper record keeping	Proper record keeping of replaced and repaired parts. Proper record keeping of flight time and incidents.
Standardization of maintenance techniques (like AC 43.13)	Develop standardized maintenance plans
Maintain Scheduled Maintenance Plan/Logs	Maintain updated maintenance logs to promote safety
Software Troubleshooting	Finding software problems and resolving them
Regular inspection of flight critical parts	Essential elements for flight inspected by certified mechanics
Knowledge of UAS maintenance software and applications	Staying updated when it comes to software and applications
Maintaining Field Kit	Ensure tools are accounted for and organized so in the event that there is an emergency
Flight Operations
Maintain Safe Conduct Throughout Flight	Safety is the number one concern
Crew Management	Ensure crew is performing desired tasks
Preflight Operations	Ensure aircraft is in airworthy condition
Post-flight checklists	Ensure aircraft condition is maintained and collect data
Proper Debriefing	Discussion on the crucial parts of the flight
What belongs in a UAS field kit	Different for specific missions
Repair techniques and procedures	Performed by aircraft manufacturer or expert
Communication
Customer interaction	Ensure the specific needs of the customer are met
Marketing /Networking	Advertising using social media, ads, flyers, or commercials to expand awareness
Non-crew teamwork	Facilitate the team members that are not directly related to flight

Additions shown in italics*


The above table shows the DACUM that was drafted up by our AT 409 class with the additions done by me prior to the in class editing shown in italics. DACUM is an acronym meaning Development of Curriculum Model. A DACUM is a very useful tool that a professor can use to lay out all of the skills and knowledge they hope to bestow upon their students. Our DACUM is broken up into three main sections. The first being current and future UAS industry trends which is basically a comprehensive list of what the industry is involved in now and where it is heading in the future. The next section is titled UAS critical skills and knowledge. For this section we were encouraged to share skills we have learned in other classes as well as skills we would like to see in future classes. By doing this we can ensure that the students following us do not miss the opportunity to learn the skills we have missed. The final section is UAS technician key duties with subsections highlighting different jobs within the umbrella to ensure a mission will run smoothly. This DACUM highlights the cucial skills needed to be successful in this industry.