A Comprehensive Matrix of Unmanned Aerial Systems Requirements for Potential Applications within a Department of Transportation

The continuous improvement in the function and performance of unmanned aerial systems (UASs) promotes the need for specific research to integrate this leading-edge technology into various applications across Departments of Transportation (DOTs). DOTs of several states have started looking into using UAS technology for different purposes from tracking highway construction projects and performing structure inventories to road maintenance and monitoring roadside environmental conditions, as well as many other traffic management or safety issues, albeit individually focusing on specific usage scenarios. This study investigates various divisions and offices within a Department of Transportation to determine the operational requirements for UAS usage in specific divisions that have the potential to implement this technology to aid and supplement their daily operations. Through a series of interviews with subject matter experts at the management and operational levels, a matrix of user requirements for tasks that have the potential to use UAS was developed. This matrix is mapped to a UAS technical matrix that embeds the technological and technical requirements for development of a potential UAS. These matrices can be used by other DOTs for defining the design specifications for UAS that can fulfill their construction-related operational requirements.