Rapid technological advancements and increased demand for drone-generated data in commercial applications are key drivers behind the continued growth of the drone industry, which is expected to be valued at more than $55 billion by 2027, according to a recent UAV industry study by Global Market Insights.

The commercial drone market was valued at $20 billion in 2020, and is anticipated to grow at 15% CAGR between 2021 and 2027, the study notes. The continued expansion is driven in large part by the adoption of drone technology across commercial industry sectors, including agriculture, energy, telecommunications, construction, and mining. Drones are increasingly employed for inspections, monitoring, mapping, and remote sensing, among other applications, streamlining data capture and delivery and reducing expenditures. As improvements in drone hardware and advancements in artificial intelligence further expand the potential of UAV platforms, more and more industries are expected to use drones in their daily operations to improve efficiencies and reduce costs through data-driven decision-making.

Meanwhile, DJI continues to dominate the commercial drone market, and is staking out territory in different sectors through strategic partnerships. Last fall, the China-based UAV manufacturer signed a partnership agreement with Shell Oil Company to test DJI platforms at a manufacturing complex with the aim of improving efficiency and reducing risk to workers during industrial inspections.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the drone industry growth, however, is the fact that technology continually creates a level playing field. As the Commercial Drone Market report notes, “A dynamic regulatory landscape and changing policies on drones have relaxed the barriers to entry, which now pose a threat to the dominance of larger players.”

The telecommunications industry was among the first enterprise sectors to embrace drone technology, recognizing the potential of aerial images and data for network planning and asset management, among other applications. Today, major carriers and engineering firms use drones for pre-construction mapping and path surveys, and to gain actionable intelligence about existing towers. Global Video recently partnered with a new telecom industry client to capture aerial photos that will be used to created 3D models of tower structures, conducting more than 600 telecom tower inspections in 60 days during May and June.

“Much of the work previously done by climbers now can be achieved with drones, reducing the risk of injury to workers, and saving wireless carriers time and money,” says Jose Paulino, Director of Operations for Global Video, a leading drone services provider to enterprise clients. “With the newer camera and platform technologies, we can deliver ultra-high resolution images and, in many cases, achieve centimeter-level accuracy on measurements,” he says.

Innovating for Clients

Paulino spent several weeks in the field with pilot crews to fine tune workflows and data transfer processes, and developed new tools to help the end client better manage logistics for future inspections. Since April, Global Video drone pilots have flown more than 800 telecom towers across seven states, while also serving long-standing clients in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Says Paulino, “In business, the only constant is change. Those who adapt and embrace technological innovation can outpace their peers. We’re constantly innovating and improving efficiencies to help our clients in the telecom space and other industry sectors achieve their goals.”

“The most important thing of this particular design is we are using agricultural waste, which is we are transforming the leaf of the pineapple fiber into a fiber,” explained professor Mohamed Thariq Hameed Sultan of Malaysia’s Putra University in a recent interview with Reuters. The fiber is lightweight yet durable enough to be used for aerospace applications, including creating biodegradable parts for bantam drones.

Economic Benefits for Farmers

Early prototypes have reached altitudes of nearly 3300 feet and remained airborne for 20 minutes. “The next step would be to develop a slightly larger drone to be able to carry some payload,” such as cameras and other image sensors, William Robert Alvisse, Executive Secretary of the Malaysian Unmanned Drones Activist Society, told Reuters.

In addition to potentially reducing fossil fuel consumption, drones made from plant-fibers also may offer an economic boost to local pineapple farmers. Instead of burning or discarding the leaves of pineapple plants after the fruit is harvested, they now have a potential new income stream by selling their agricultural waste.

The research team also hopes to collaborate with members of the farm community in the Hulu Langat district, about 40 miles from Kuala Lumpur, to explore what many call the fourth Industrial Revolution, using new technology innovations to increase crop yields and make their jobs easier, said Alvisse.

When it comes to drone operations, learning to fly a drone with both skill and confidence is only part of the equation. Equally important is developing a detailed procedural checklist that can help reduce risk and prioritize safe operations for every flight. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for a reputable drone service provider will address not only best practices for the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) to follow during flight, but also pre-flight and post-flight protocols to ensure the highest level of safety.

Depending on the nature and location of the work, many operators also will complete a pre-flight report. This might include information about the type of project, altitude to be flown, and planned flight time, as well as contact information for the landowner or emergency services, and the closest airport. Regardless of whether a pre-flight report is used, the RPIC should assess the winds and other weather conditions prior to leaving for the mission to confirm that the weather is conducive to flight. Once at the operating location, the operator should communicate the flight plan to any members of the flight crew, such as a visual observer, and note any potential obstacles or restricted areas. As part of the flight plan, the pilot should establish not only the designated locations for take-off and landing, but also an area for an emergency landing, if needed.

Guidelines During Flight

After takeoff and before commencing the planned flight mission, the pilot should verify that all systems show green, confirm active satellite and GPS connections, and double-check that the batteries still indicate a full charge. If a visual observer is present, they should verify that they have the drone in sight. Before landing, the RPIC should scan the landing area for potential obstacles and communicate any concerns, including elevated wind speeds, to the visual observer. As soon as the drone is on the ground, the aircraft should be powered down to avoid potential injury from the propellers or accidental takeoff.

Post-Flight Protocols

Running through a detailed checklist after flying a mission can help promote safe and efficient operations for the next flight. Before packing up the drone and other equipment, the RPIC should review the mission notes to confirm that all objectives were met, and verify the image data was captured successfully while transferring to a laptop or other storage device. Assuming the mission is complete, batteries and camera equipment should be removed and stored safely, and the aircraft inspected for noticeable wear or damage. This also may be an appropriate time to update flight and battery logs.

A comprehensive SOP will also address issues like training, emergency procedures, and accident reporting, among other protocols. The UAS Standard Operating Procedures for the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Aviation are available online and provide an excellent model for establishing similar protocols or vetting a drone service provider. Although small in size, drones occupy in the same airspace as traditional aircraft, and operators must follow stringent guidelines established by the FAA. Creating a set of best practices as an additional reference can ensure that drone operations go smoothly, and help protect both the operator and the public at large.

Following its much anticipated announcement of new rules concerning Remote ID and operations over people, the Federal Aviation Administration will be focusing on permissions for drone flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), according to FAA Executive Director Jay Merkle.

Speaking to an international audience of virtual attendees at last month’s Interdrone Conference, Merkle said that BVLOS is the biggest challenge left for integrating unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into the national airspace. Establishing guidelines that would allow drone operators to navigate their aircraft beyond the pilot’s field of view could significantly expand the use cases for UAS, Merkle noted, including applications for industrial inspections and small package delivery.

When Global Video first began offering drone services in 2014, the relationship between drone pilots and FAA regulators was cautious at best, and contentious at worst. Drones for personal and commercial use were brand new—Global Video was one of the very first drone service providers in Texas—and federal regulators were scrambling to establish guidelines that would protect other aircraft in the sky and the general public below. At the same time, they understood the benefit that capturing imagery using small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) could offer to municipalities and organizations across numerous sectors.

Today, the FAA proactively collaborates with drone pilots, manufacturers, and third party software providers to establish and implement well-defined safety protocols. These clear yet continually evolving guidelines empower individuals and commercial clients to realize the myriad benefits of aerial photos, video, and multispectral imagery, and leave open the door for continued innovation. As evidence of the agency’s increasingly supportive stance, last week, the FAA announced two new rules that will further advance the use of drone technology and growth of the drone industry as a whole.

According to the official FAA press statement, “Remote ID provides identification of drones in flight as well as the location of their control stations, providing crucial information to our national security agencies and law enforcement partners, and other officials charged with ensuring public safety. Airspace awareness reduces the risk of drone interference with other aircraft and people and property on the ground.”

Flights Permitted Over People and at Night

The update UAS regulations also allow for FAA Part 107 certified drone operators to fly over people and moving vehicles, and to fly at night, without requesting special waivers, as long as specific criteria are met.

The inability for drone pilots to operate a drone over people, even when following stringent safety protocols, has been a sticking point in the industry for years. The new rules now open up far greater opportunities to capture and leverage drone imagery, including for construction and land development projects and infrastructure management. Operations are permitted based on four categories, the details of which can be found in the OOP executive summary on the FAA website. Similarly, certain conditions must be met for drone pilots to fly at night, under the new rules.

Both rules will be published in the Federal Register and take effect 60 days later. The announcement of the changes came as great news for professional drone service providers, as well as UAS manufacturers and the companies that provide software tools used for flight and drone image data management.

Likewise, our team at Global Video is excited about the new opportunities to help our clients leverage drone technologies and aerial imagery in the New Year. Given that drones represent the fastest-growing segment in the entire transportation sector, we see only blue skies ahead.