UAS DACUM Model

Current and Future UAS Industry Trends

Trends	Explanation
Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)	Fixed wing aircraft flying along rail lines. ~5-hour missions
Rail inspection	Mapping yards and switches
Pipeline Inspection
Advanced Ground Control GPS Technology	New technology that allows for faster collection of Ground Control Tie-Ins. Aeropoints as an example
Autonomous Delivery	(Concept): Amazon delivering packages via UAS
Advanced Methods and Technology in RTK Platform based GPS accuracy in data collection
Construction	Site scans, progress reports, overview images
High Resolution Remote Sensing
Airspace Integration	Flying in/near airports & Runway inspection
Swarm Technology	Multiple autonomous platforms working together to complete one goal.
Scientific Research
Natural Resource Management	Resource inventory, change analysis, productivity and condition analysis.
Windmill Inspection	Reducing operation & maintenance costs
3D Mapping
Manned-Unmanned Team (MUMT)	Drones and manned aircraft utilizing same airspace or target area to collective gather data or accomplish similar task.
Vegetation Mapping	Monitoring vegetation growth using hyperspectral NIR
Water column mapping	Using differences in reflected/refracted light received by a sensor to map vertical columns of water based on depth.
Hazard Risk Assessment (weather, geological, environmental, etc)	Fault line mapping, water drainage mapping, flood plain mapping, slope stability analysis, forest fire risk analysis
Real Estate Marketing	Arial images of various angles of the house/property, neighborhood images
All weather operations	Weatherized airframe
Site Surveying	Matching point clouds with CAD elevation maps
Site progression
Energy	Used to assess pipelines and energy networks
Endurance/extended duration
Light Shows /leisure /recreation	Companies like Intel use drones for entertainment purposes
Accident Reconstruction	Post-crash scene scans, gather information to show police, juries, investigators, etc.
Search and Rescue	Emergency services searching vast areas for missing persons
RC Racing	Innovation through commercial application utilizing the entertainment markets.
Firefighting	Assistance in finding safe routes of use.  Thermal imaging and analysis.
Police	Documenting crime scenes, surveying disaster sites, accident & traffic management
Emergency (medical)	Delivery of medical supplies (Zipline company)
Cinematography	Take a video of it
Agriculture	Can collect crop count and assess crop quality
Surveillance	Can be used to monitor any high security area
Deep learning flight controls and data processing	Unsupervised data management and classification.
Full Motion Video	Video Taken in MISB format. Video has bounding Geospatial coordinates
Geospatial Video	Video connected to UAS log file so it has coordinates
Policy and Regulation	More structure to UAS Commercial Remote Pilot License Categories. Also relates to certification of different classes of aircraft.
Increasing Markets and Applications of Tethered UAS platforms	Tethered power supply UAS platforms have the potential to serve for long term surveillance and other services where
More efficient Solar Panel Arrays	Increased flight times can come from axillary solar panels that provide trickle charge to the electric power source to the UAS

UAS Critical Skills and Knowledge

Skillset/Knowledge	UAS Course Applied to:
Project Management	AT 203
Geospatial Knowledge	AT 319 AT 309
Cartographic Knowledge	NA
Post-Processing of UAS data	AT 319 (Small component)
Integration with GIS and RS software	NA
Quick-thinking/adaptability	Throughout curriculum
Regulation Knowledge	AT 144 AT 286
Repair and Maintenance	AT 219
Flight Proficiency	AT 219 AT 309
Sensor Integration/Familiarity	AT 309
Remote Sensing	AT 319
Quality control of data	NA
Data management/Computer Science	NA
Integration with manned aircraft	AT 286
Potential/Future Applications	AT 409
Technical Writing	AT 409, ENG 420
Programming	NA
Management	Entrepreneurship Certificate
Marketing
Graphic Communication
Ethics	AT 309 AT 319
Soldering	AT 219 AT 309 AT 319
Systems Engineering	Lightly throughout curriculum
Electronics design

UAS Technician Key Duties

Mission Planning	Description
Airworthiness Inspection	Ensuring aircraft is in a safe condition to fly and in compliance to manufactures guidelines.
Airframe integrity inspection	Checking critical parts of the aircraft for structural integrity. Search for deficiencies that may limit flight characteristics
Find the highest object in flight path	For collision avoidance, ensures that your flight altitude will not hit any obstacles
Gather weather data	Weather must be within the aircraft’s and your personal limitations
Airspace analysis	Must get permission in certain airspace
Data capture and quality considerations
Sensor selection	Choosing the correct sensor for the mission at hand
Crew selection
Geospatial Duties
Plan out missions using various forms of geospatial data
Understanding capabilities and limits of Sensors and UAS platforms
Being able to apply the right sensor and platform to the job
Being able to properly gather Ground Control Points with survey grade GPS
UAS Maintenance
Ensure proper record keeping	Proper record keeping of replaced and repaired parts. Proper record keeping of flight time and incidents.
Standardization of maintenance techniques (like AC 43.13)
Maintain Scheduled Maintenance Plan/Logs
Software Troubleshooting
Regular inspection of flight critical parts
Knowledge of UAS maintenance software and applications
Maintaining Field Kit
Flight Operations
Maintain Safe Conduct Throughout Flight
Crew Management
Preflight Operations
Post-flight checklists
Proper Debriefing
What belongs in a UAS field kit
Repair techniques and procedures
Data Capture Considerations
Communication
Customer interaction
Marketing /Networking
Non-crew teamwork
Crew Resource Management

     Above is a DACUM model for UAS here at Purdue. A DACUM is an acronym for development for a curriculum. Our DACUM goes into the design of how our program teaches students the different aspects of all UAS. The first table shows what trends and areas of industry drones are currently used in. As you can see, drones are used in many diverse markets. From inspection to police/fire to 3D mapping, drones are used almost everywhere in today's society. Next to each trend is a short description of how a drone can be used.
     Below trends seen in industry is UAS critical skills and knowledge. This table shows what skills and knowledge should be utilized by people in the UAS industry. It covers all types of knowledge from building and repairing to testing and flying. In the column next to it is what class or classes have taught Purdue students each skill. If there are blanks then it is a skill that should be taught by Purdue to UAS students. These are critical skills that each and every person should acquire before working on drones within an industry.
     As the list continues, it shows more categories that someone should know within the industry or before entering. Technician duties, geospatial duties, maintenance, flight operations and communication are the rest. All of these are generally learned in classes, but need to be clarified. An example would be communication. Communication can include customer interaction with the seller, it also includes flight crews that need to talk to each other before, during, and after mission.