HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution_KCDPW Drone PolicyKITTITAS COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
2023 AGENDA STAFF REPORT
AGENDA DATE: May 16, 2023
ACTION REQUESTED: Request to Approve a Resolution Adopting Kittitas County
Department of Public Works Drone Policy.
BACKGROUND: After several years of technical evaluation, Public Works
elected to acquire a survey drone in 2022. Upon
procurement, Public Works found it to be essential to
stipulate the data collected, but not used in survey
document creation, be noticed in policy as being incidental
data to survey. With the policy in place this allows Public
Works to discard significant digital data that is not post -
processed by a third -parry vendor. This also provides cost
savings and file space on county servers for archiving
unnecessary data. Additionally, numerous FAA certified
operators will operate the survey drone, the policy defines
operational requirements consistent with FAA
requirements.
This policy was reviewed and approved by the Prosecuting
Attorney's Office.
INTERACTION: Public Works; Kittitas County Prosecuting Attorney's
Office
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Resolution adopting the proposed Kittitas
County Department of Public Works Drone policy for use.
HANDLING: Return one original to Public Works.
ATTACHMENTS: Resolution; Kittitas County Department of Public Works
Drone Policy
LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook, Director.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY OF KITTITAS
STATE OF WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION
NO.
ADOPTING KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS DRONE
POLICY
WHEREAS: Kittitas County Department of Public Works procured a survey drone in
October 2022; and
WHEREAS: Kittitas County Department of Public Works found it essential to stipulate
data collection and define operational requirements for said drone usage; and
WHEREAS: Kittitas County Department of Public Works has prepared and presented a
draft policy to the Board of County Commissioners for review on February
13, 2023; and
WHEREAS: Kittitas County Public Works desires now formalizing the draft drone policy.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: The Board of County Commissioners, after due
consideration, does hereby adopt the Kittitas County Department of Public Works Drone Policy.
DATED this 16" day of May 2023, at Ellensburg, Washington
Attest:
❑ Clerk of the Board- Julie Kjorsvik
❑ Deputy Clerk of the Board- Mandy Buchholz
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Cory Wright, Chairman
Brett Wachsmith, Vice -Chairman
Laura Osiadacz, Commissioner
KITTITAS COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS
UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM (UAS) POLICY
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the Kittitas County Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Program is to support and
augment Public Works operations through use of an Unmanned Aerial System. This UAS Program
Policy and the included procedures are intended to promote safe, efficient, responsible, and lawful
operation of the UAS program.
DEPARTMENT -SPECIFIC PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY:
UAS operations may be performed by one department at the request of another under the oversight of
Public Works. Public Works may perform UAS operations for another county department or, through
interlocal agreements, another agency; conversely, UAS operations may be performed for the
department adopting this policy by another county department or another agency. In such cases the
policies of both involved departments or agencies shall apply. In the case of any disagreement between
two applicable policies, the provisions of the more restrictive policy shall apply.
DEFINITION OF TERMS:
Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) — a system associated with an unmanned remote -control aircraft,
includes an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and other related support equipment.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) — An unmanned remote-controlled aircraft commonly referred to as
a "drone."
Program Manager — The County Engineer and/or County Surveyor in charge of the UAS Program
Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) — FAA Certified Remote Pilot remotely in control of a UAV,
responsible for the operation and safety of a UAS flight with final authority over UAV operations
during a UAS flight.
Visual Observer (VO) — A person designated by the RPIC to assist the RPIC and the SP to see and
avoid other air traffic or objects aloft or on the ground.
Supplemental Pilot (SP) — A person designed by the RPIC to pilot the UAV under direct supervision of
the RPIC.
Flight Team — The group of individuals responsible for the implementation of any UAS flight
authorized by this policy, including RPIC, VO(s) and SP(s).
Non -Participant — A person not directly involved in or in support of the flight but are bystanders within
the flight area.
Kittitas County Public Works UAS Policy May 2023 Page 1
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) — The division of the Department of Transportation in charge
of aviation.
Part 107 — Federal Aviation Regulation Part 107 of the Title 14 Code of Federal regulations, which
governs the operations of UAS.
FAA Waiver — A waiver issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to a commercial sUAS
RPIC for deviating from a specific Part 107 regulation for a specific UAS flight.
Certificates of Waiver/Authorization (CoA) — A blanket, continuous authorization issued by the FAA
to an agency that allows self -certification of the UAV pilot, UAV flights at night, flying beyond visual
line of sight, flying over people, flying in controlled airspace and the option to obtain Emergency
CoAs (e-CoAs) under certain circumstances.
Section 1 — Protection of Civil Rights and Privacy
The UAS Program Managers and RPIC shall ensure the protection of civil rights and reasonable
expectations of privacy, which are key components in any decision to deploy the UAS.
All staff involved in UAS flights shall minimize the extent to which operations intrude on the citizens
of Kittitas County and shall employ reasonable precautions to avoid capturing images of Non -
Participants except those that are incidental to the project.
The UAS Program shall operate strictly within the current federal, state and local laws and regulations.
Section 2 — Retention and Public Disclosure of Aerial Imaging
Aerial imaging data shall be retained in accordance with the County data retention policy and the
provisions of Washington State RCW 40.14. Aerial imaging data retention schedules shall be based
upon the Washington Secretary of State — Washington State Archives most current Common Records
Retention Schedule (CORE).
Public Requests for UAS aerial imaging data shall be processed in accordance with County public
disclosure policy and the provisions of Washington State RCW 42.56 and/or federal guidelines that
may supersede state law/requirements.
For projects that acquire data for additional processing such as Lidar Surface data, Photogrammetric
surface data, or aerial composites, the data collected during the flight shall be considered incidental
and may be disposed of once the flight data is processed and a final aerial image and/ or surface is
created.
Section 3 — UAS Applications
The following routine applications require no additional approval or oversight whether performed for
the relevant Department or for another department or agency:
Kittitas County Public Works UAS Policy May 2023 Page 2
a. Mapping and Surveying: Provide data collection and mapping for County infrastructure
projects such as road, facility, trail, bridge, park and solid -waste projects and collection of data
useful for the county's geographic information system.
b. Volumetric Measurement: Provide volumetric measurement for management of County pits,
quarries and stockpile material resources.
c. Inspection: Provide inspection for County infrastructure including roads, bridges and facilities.
d. Disaster Response: Provide situational awareness and damage assessment of storms, floods,
earthquakes and landslides by providing video, still photos and other electronic data of the
disaster area.
e. Public Outreach: Provide video and still photos of County projects and facilities for
communication with the public.
f. Staff Training: Provide video and still photos of County projects, facilities and tasks for use in
training County employees.
g. UAS Training: Provide instruction, training and practice for UAS Flight Team members.
UAS applications outside the scope of the above typical applications shall be reviewed for
authorization by the Director of Public Works.
Section 4 — Administration
This policy is considered a supplement to existing Kittitas County Code and policies, FAA regulations
and policy, Washington State regulations and each UAS aircraft manufacturer's flight operations
manual. This policy should be reviewed periodically and updated when other rules, regulations or
policies change or when updates are deemed necessary.
Section 5 — Organization and Personnel
Management and supervision of the UAS program within each department, division or office is the
responsibility of the respective UAS Program Manager. The following roles exist within the UAS
program:
UAS Program Manager:
a. Ensures that all staff involved in Flight operations are trained and certified to current standards
& regulations.
b. Maintains the flight team training records.
c. Develops and distributes pre-flight checklists for flight operations.
d. Develops and distributes procedures detailing operations, documentation, assessments,
inspections and other routine and special tasks required for flight operations.
e. Responsible for obtaining FAA Waivers and FAA Air Space Authorizations when necessary,
f. Recommends approval of hardware and software purchases.
UAS Remote Pilot in Command:
a. An FAA Part 107 certified member of the Flight team designated to be in charge of operations
for the flight.
Kittitas County Public Works UAS Policy May 2023 Page 3
b. Responsible to meet FAA requirements and follow FAA guidelines for the duration of the
flight.
UAS Supplemental Pilot:
a. An FAA Part 107 certified member of the Flight team designated by the RPIC to control the
UAV for the flight or portion thereof.
b. Responsible to meet FAA requirements and follow FAA guidelines for the duration of the
controlled flight.
UAS Visual Observer:
a. Complies with all requirements as outlined in Part 107.;
b. Assists the RPIC and the UAS SP to see and avoid other air traffic or objects aloft or on the
ground, and relays situational information to the rest of the Flight team.
Section 6 — Operations
UAS flights shall comply with the Part 107, which may be supplemented by an approved FAA Waiver
or supplanted by a COA or an e-COA under special circumstances.
Only County -owned or -leased UASs shall be used in the UAS Program. Use of personally owned
UASs is prohibited in the UAS Program. Conversely, County -owned and -leased UASs are for Official
Business Only.
Section 7 — Documentation
The flight number, date, flight start time, total flight time, flight description, UAV registration number,
FAA waiver number (if applicable) and RPIC name shall be logged in a log book and maintained with
each UAV. UAV Flight logs shall be retained as provided by State law and county -established record -
retention schedules.
Pre-flight and post -flight inspections shall be recorded on checklists and logged in the UAV Flight
Log. Any discrepancies from the pre-flight and post -flight checklists shall be logged in the UAV Flight
Log and shall be reported to the relevant UAS Program Manager.
Each UAS Program Manager shall maintain documentation for each of their department's members of
the UAS flight team containing copies of UAS training documentation and any required FAA
certifications.
Section 8 — Risk Manaeement
UAS Flight Team members shall comply with Safety Manual policies and FAA safety regulations.
RPICs and SPs shall adhere to all federal, state, and local regulations but may deviate from these
regulations in response to an in-flight emergency.
Kittitas County Public Works UAS Policy May 2023 Page 4
UAS-related accidents and incidents shall be reported to the FAA in accordance with Part 107.
Section 9 — Trainin¢ and Currency
The Program Manager shall oversee the training program.
Only current, Part 107 qualified and certificated remote pilots shall operate UAV's.
Prior to flying a project, time should be taken to re -familiarize manual operations of the UAV. This
manual operation may be done by all FAA certified staff on site that can easily take over control of the
UAV during the familiarization operation.
Manual operation familiarization shall be performed by the RPIC and SP, prior to flying a project.
Kittitas County Public Works UAS Policy May 2023 Page 5