Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
The use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) is expanding rapidly into the transportation industry. UAS provides a wide variety of operational, societal, and economic benefits.
IMT
The goal is to have a UAS placed in each IMT vehicle for accident documentation, monitoring alternative routes, provide Search and Rescue support, and detour management through real time broadcasting.
We currently have 12 IMT Employees certified to operate the UAS with the goal to have all IMT UAS Licensed. This will aid significantly in the time to map, provide high resolution aerial imagery with a point cloud, enhance safety mitigation and provide the ability to navigate in dangerous areas and live streaming capabilities to the Traffic Operations Center.
Construction/Maintenance
Within the Department the use of UAS can significantly provide cost efficiency, improve data quality, and improve personnel safety over an existing method or process.
The UAS provides aerial imagery,a high resolution detailed point cloud, route management, quick response vs. traditional aircraft and even Utilize machine learning to help increase productivity for pavement inspections at airports.
Urban Air Mobility
UDOT is looking ahead at the developing Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) industry, discussing how these new technologies could change the way we think about transportation, and preparing Utah to be ready for the first package delivery drones and aerial taxis. Visit our Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Page to learn more.