Unmanned aerial systems (drones)
We began a centrally coordinated unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drone program, in early 2022 to provide guidance and oversight for diverse data collection needs. The program supports FAA‑certified remote pilots using proven hardware and software solutions configured for consistently safe and efficient data gathering across various environmental programs. We operate UAS under an official agency policy and in accordance with FAA regulations.
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How we use UAS
The benefits that UAS offer the fields of environmental monitoring and conservation are being realized by an ever-increasing number of researchers and scientists. UAS provide quick, easy, and cost-effective insights, on demand.
The applications for UAS vary widely, but can be used to capture high-resolution imagery and video that give scientists and first responders a new perspective and important information that supports data-driven, real-time decision making.
How we apply UAS in our work
- Aerial photography/videography
- Coastal erosion monitoring
- Spill response/emergency response
- Mapping and site inspections
- Structure-from-motion modeling
- Lidar (light detection and ranging)
- Temporal change monitoring
- Air and water quality surveys
- Communications products and storytelling
How UAS benefit our environmental work
- Increased safety and reduced risk for our staff.
- Scale of the landscape to be surveyed exceeds the capacity of staff and/or conventional aircraft.
- The above-ground-level operational requirements exceed the safe operation limits of conventional aircraft.
- Survey equipment — such as cameras, video cameras, infrared cameras, radar, sonar, and Lidar — are best deployed using these vehicles.
- Manned aircraft are usually unavailable and not cost effective.
Projects
We fill out a project checklist every time we use UAS to support our work. Below is a list of all approved projects.
| Project Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Landfill Fire Imagery and Monitoring | Ongoing |
| Chehalis Basin Imagery and Monitoring | Ongoing |
| Puget Sound Coastal Monitoring | Ongoing |
| Columbia River Littoral Cell Monitoring | Ongoing |
| Padilla Bay Research | Ongoing |
| Watershed Health Monitoring | Ongoing |
| Abandoned mine lands | Ongoing |
| Brownfield site inspections | Ongoing |
| Hazardous spill and incident response | Ongoing |
| North Cove coastal erosion monitoring | Ongoing |
| Port Susan Bay restoration project | Ongoing |
| Eyes Over Puget Sound (EOPS) | Ongoing |
| Railroad Creek effectiveness monitoring | Ongoing |
| Subsurface landfill fire - Yakima | Ongoing |
| Ecology facility inspection | Ongoing |
| Habitat Restoration Pilot Program | 4/1/2024 |
| Medical Lake ESH landfill fire | 3/1/2024 |
| Colville Post & Poles | 6/10/2024 |
| Type Np Stream Buffer | 10/14/2024 |
| WCC South Prairie Creek restoration | 11/1/2023 |
| Soos Creek TMDL | 6/1/2023 |
| Stillaguamish hydrography verification | 3/28/2023 |
| Assessing macroalgae coverage | 4/1/2022 |
Contact information
Brad McMillan
UAS Coordinator
brad.mcmillan@ecy.wa.gov
564-200-2415