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Economic Sustainability,�Advanced Air Mobility &�Remotely Piloted Aircraft

Dr. Derek T. Robinson

Department of Geography and Environmental Management�University of Waterloo��dtrobins@uwaterloo.ca

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Economic Sustainability

  • “The business of staying in business” (Sigma Project 2001)
  • Triple bottom line ~ to 3 pillars of sustainability
    • Social, Environmental, and Economic
  • "sustainable development requires maintenance �of the environmental and human resource base �that is essential for long-term economic growth.“� World Bank (Lee 1985)

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https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/0*MlgHOkWU23krNzvg.

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Grouping of applications…

  • RPAS efficiencies relative to on-board pilots
  • New areas of air space use and aircraft applications that can improve triple bottom line of a business or organization and make economic, social, and environmental gains that can lead to sustainability.

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Economic Sustainability

  • Remotely piloted aircraft (BVLOS) versus �traditional aircraft
    • Smaller payloads (non-military)
      • e.g., package delivery, image/data acquisition�search and rescue, among others
      • Typically for
        • just-in-time delivery (e.g., health care)
        • low population density areas (e.g., far north)
        • but everything is changing quickly…

https://www.jouav.com/blog/long-range-drone.html

https://www.aft-dev.com/sites/default/files/actualites/DRONE%20DDC.jpg

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Economic Sustainability

  • Remotely piloted aircraft (VLOS) versus traditional aircraft
    • Reasonably small payloads
    • For small areas (100s of acres/ha)
      • Lower fuel costs
      • Targeted applications
        • Higher resolution data
        • Less materials deployed
      • Less flight time

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https://www.quikwayair.ca/

https://farmingfortomorrow.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/iStock-1302200957.jpg

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Infrastructure inspection

  • View and analyze infrastructure with�increased safety
  • Reduce down time / closure
  • Archive for future reference
  • Proof for warranty or insurance
  • Imagine this being done while a plane �is taxing to or stationed at a gate

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Stormwater Management

  • Origins and destinations of runoff
  • Localized susceptibility to flooding
  • Relationship between vegetation�and stormwater management
  • WISA 🡪 ROWIA

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Added value of these data…

  • Very-high resolution 3D digital twin
  • Virtual laboratory for scenario testing

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Multi-copters coordination for monitoring

  • Roberto Guglielmi & Gennaro Notomista
    • Assist with the long-term management and monitoring of airport landscape and infrastructure
    • Test in virtual 3D environment, �which is also immersive for the user
    • Test in rural environmental contexts
    • Test operation at airport

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Risk assessment for solar installation at aerodromes

  • Costa Kapsis
    • Evaluation of visual glare for pilots and ATC�from potential solar photovoltaic installation

https://www1.djicdn.com/cms_uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4381/content_f487f023d8fa7514787f67e81633412a.png

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Economic Sustainability

  • Varity of operations at local scales that could be done via RPA
  • A large number of new activities that are possible in airspace due to RPA

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  • Reduce the costs of operations (limiting shutdowns)
  • Facilitate maintenance and inspections
  • Provide added value to multiple projects

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  • Dr. Derek T. Robinson
  • Department of Geography and �Environmental Management�University of Waterloo��dtrobins@uwaterloo.ca

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