State of the Practice for Streaming Unmanned Aerial System’s Video during Incident Management Events

Abstract: Real-time and accurate data can be used during incident management situations to inform the response of first responders and other participating agencies. In many instances, Traffic Operation Centers (TOCs) utilize the local traffic camera network to view the incident and coordinate the response. However, in cases where a camera is not available or insufficient, TOC personnel rely on verbal descriptions and photographs sent to them by first responders. Relying on first responders to communicate with the operations center may interfere with their other responsibilities, decreasing response efficiency and placing responders in additional dangerous situations.
A solution to this problem is to utilize Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) or drones to livestream aerial imagery directly to the TOC, thus enhancing response capabilities. This study summarizes the results of a state-of-practice summary from Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and other agencies to provide actionable recommendations for future implementation. The results of the summary indicate that livestreaming UAS video feedback is feasible. However, the deployment of livestream UAS may not be applicable in all circumstances. In many instances, livestream UAS deployment can provide critical safety and efficiency benefits to first responders and the public.
This presentation and subsequent conference proceedings will provide recommendations for future implementation, highlight emerging technologies, and summarize potential legal and technical challenges during implementation. As the UAS field is constantly evolving, the presentation and proceedings avoid describing specific technologies or platforms in detail but rather strives to provide general principles that can be applied by a variety of agencies across the nation.