Aside from the regulatory requirements currently necessary to be cleared before operations, the most formidable challenge to the unmanned aerial team on the ground is communications. Not only do the teams need to be able to communicate with Incident Command but also with the necessary aircraft and control organizations (Flight Center, TRACON, etc.). The obstacle lies in the various radio frequencies being utilized by agencies and where they are being used. It was discovered very early on that communications among the unmanned aerial flight crew and other aircraft and agencies via a handheld radio is ineffective unless within a very short range. Those frequencies do best when the transmitter and receiver are at altitude, so this was not unexpected. The use of an aviation band UHF base station with an elevated antenna was certainly the biggest benefit during this incident.
Tactical radios used by Fire and Law Enforcement are bound by some of the same limitations, but repeaters can be deployed to rectify the range situation and allow for effective communications. Finally, as it became available, cell phone communication played a large role in the operation and coordination of assets. Technology today allows for the aggregation of all these communication methods in a single “box” that should be deployed on an incident of sufficient magnitude.
Unmanned aerial flight crews also had to contend with ground transportation issues that precluded them from reaching an area directly. An ATV was made available to the flight crew, allowing a visual observer a position up or down river from the pilot in command for better visual awareness in case of temporary flight restriction area infractions.
Recommendation • UAS team should remain self-sufficient for daily assignments.
Conclusion
Unmanned aerial operations are required to better improve the outcome of future emergency response. In order for Incident Commanders to understand and want to use Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) technology, we must first accomplish the following:
1. Create a policy and procedure that helps steer future UAS response. 2. Develop positive public perception for the use of UAS technology.
3. Create a group that represents all UAS assets that might participate in future events. Those assets must communicate and train together throughout the year while remaining easily accessible by command. Any participating member should be credentialed and trained up to a standard that would allow for ease of integration into the emergency response.
4. Participation of UAS units in local, state, and Federal training exercises.
5. Divide the aviation branch of the Incident Command System into both manned and unmanned groups.
6. Work hand-in-hand with leaders in research and industry to create UAS technology specific to emergency response.
7. Become a recognized tool that local, regional, state, and Federal assets can call upon.
8. Provide education on UAS response and a list of resources to emergency managers, first responders, and state and local officials.
The implementation of UAS into emergency response requires support from local, regional, state, and Federal leadership. It will not be long before first responders wonder how they ever operated without the use of unmanned aerial systems.
During the days spent in the field following the flooding, the authors met with a number of private property owners to ask permission to position a mobile command unit on their land and operate UAS over their property. As Austin Fire Department Firefighter Coitt Kessler introduced himself to these individuals, who had just seen the river rise to their doorsteps and beyond, he was greeted graciously and even offered refreshments. Privacy issues were not voiced as a concern during these operations. In fact, some property owners asked for copies of the images. Therefore, in disaster situations, the authors’ experiences are that privacy issues take a back seat to rescue, recovery, and rebuilding. That being said, the flight crew continues the practice of not disseminating images to the public.