INTERDRONE 2018 CONTENT. CHECK BACK SOON FOR THE 2019 PROGRAM!
See how UAVs can streamline the construction industry through data collection, imaging, BIM integration, and resource management with these 60-minute sessions and panels, which will also include discussions on aggregates and mining. Discover how drones are reshaping the way work sites are surveyed and how stockpiles are measured with increasing accuracy as drone technology and solutions are refined each year.
Tuesday, September 4th
Pre-Conference Workshop: Part 107 Training
Full-Day Workshop
11:00 AM – 5:30 PM
All
Speakers: Enrico Schaefer, Tony Sauerbrey
This all-day training session will focus on the essential areas to study for the Part 107 Knowledge Test. Course content and objectives will include Part 107 rules and regulations, aeronautical charts, weather patterns and National Airspace System (NAS), as well as eligibility requirements to be able to take the FAA written knowledge test.
This session will cover more than just the fine details of what you need to know for the Knowledge Test, but also provide you with insight on how to think and operate like a professional commercial drone pilot and provide you with everyday examples that remote pilots may encounter when out performing commercial flight operations for themselves or their clients. This session will be a comprehensive overview to assist you with preparation for taking the Part 107 Knowledge Test and think about the next steps beyond the Knowledge Test.
THOSE OTHER TOPS/TIPS TO INCLUDE:
• Following policies and practices such as pre-flight and post-flight checklist for every drone flight operations
• Online test prep resources (handout)
• Industry Standards
• FAA Past Practices and the direction they are moving forward with
YOU WILL WALK AWAY WITH KNOWLEDGE REGARDING:
• Understanding Part 107 Regulations
• Understanding and identifying the various classes of controlled, uncontrolled, and Special Use airspace.
• An understanding of how to read and interpret aeronautical chart symbology.
• Planning methods to translate a location on street/satellite maps into an aeronautical chart.
• Understanding of Aeronautical Decision Making and human factors affecting safe flight.
• Understanding basic weather principles.
• Interpreting weather reports and forecasts.
Pre-Conference Workshop: Drone Startup 101: Finding Your Fortune in the Drone Industry
Half-Day Workshop
2:00 PM – 5:30 PM
All
Speakers: Allen Scott Beach, Andrea Beach
This half-day workshop will focus on helping you find success in the drone industry. We will cover everything from deciding what kind of business to start to sales, marketing and the top 5 checklist. We will help you simplify the process of starting and running a successful drone company, and discuss simple strategies such as: “Do what you know,” “There is nothing more important than sales” and “Be willing to throw out the status quo.” While no one can guarantee your success, what is guaranteed is that there’s no chance of success if you never begin.
OTHER TOPICS AND TIPS TO INCLUDE:
• Drone Opportunities Abound: Selecting what’s right for you.
• Trail Blazers: Learn from those that have gone before you.
• How to build a competitive advantage
• Marketing on a shoestring
• The hunt for start-up capital
YOU WILL WALK AWAY WITH:
• The key components of starting a drone business
• A myriad of viable options for drone start-ups
• An understanding of what it takes to be successful
Wednesday, September 5th
Unlocking Real-Time Drone Insights on the Job Site
Class
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Track: Surveying and Mapping | Business | Precision Agriculture |Inspection | Construction, Aggregates and Mining
Speaker: Jono Millin
Drone mapping is an innovative and cost-efficient way to collect aerial data on projects in construction, agriculture, energy, and more. But in a fast-moving world, data needs to keep up with your operations. Your decisions and your bottom line depend on it. That’s why the future of drone mapping is in real-time. You can’t afford to wait a day or even hours for aerial insights.
Join experts from DroneDeploy to get a firsthand look at Live Map, the only real-time mapping solution that enables instant aerial insights and thermal inspections…no computer, SD card, or internet connection required.
You can expect to walk away with a better understanding of the many ways drones revolutionize industry workflows and the latest tools you can put to work to unlock the full potential of drones on the job site.
Construction Management with sUAS in Class B Airspace
Class
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Track: Construction, Aggregates and Mining
Speakers: Mark Blacklin, Maurice Clarke
Operating small unmanned aerial systems within any classified airspace is challenging to say the least. When managing construction, earthwork and site utilization for project managers, owners and other interested parties in Class B airspace at some of the busiest airports in the nation, these challenges can be amplified. This session will delve into how these challenges can be managed, what benefits sUAS offer for construction management, and what it takes for the teams at Hensel Phelps to complete missions safely. We’ll also explore processes related to obtaining airspace authorization, what a mission day looks like, and benefits of drone data for construction management.
Accelerating Needs for Spectrum Solutions for UAS
Class
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Track: All
Speaker: Jennifer Richter
Join this class for a discussion on the pending AIA proposal for new UAS C2 spectrum; how autonomy impacts spectrum needs; whether new spectrum is needed for ADS-B-like transponder functions; what the Commission is considering for collision avoidance spectrum; and increasing concerns related to using unlicensed bands.
FAA Regulations: The Latest Outlook
Panel
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Track: All
Moderator: Christopher Korody
Speakers: Bill Goodwin, Lydia Hilton, Bob Kirk, Anthony Zakel
This panel will immediately follow FAA Acting Administrator Elwell’s Keynote address. The panel will react to the speech – what was surprising, what was expected and what was missing. They will then discuss some of the many legislative and regulatory issues that need to be resolved, including: 336, Remote ID, UAS IPP, LAANC, waivers, BVLOS and the proposed ULC Drone Tort Law. They will also take your questions from the floor.
How to Prove Safety: Gaining BVLOS and Part 107 Waiver
Class
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Track: All
Speaker: Adam Robertson
This session will address the key ways to establish proof of safety in your drone program, and discuss how to achieve BVLOS for UAV and steps for securing a Part 107 Waiver. An autonomous drone revolution is underway to tap the economic potential of the vast and largely empty airspace overhead. Drones are already an indispensable part of the daily workflow in many industries, including search and rescue, construction, mining, agriculture, real estate and film making. Emerging UAV capabilities such as large infrastructure inspection, border patrol and package transport require safe beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) services to be economically viable. So, what’s the best solution to achieving BVLOS?
Many solutions claim to enable safer flight and detect-and-avoid capabilities; however, radar is proven to be a superior solution to help UAV and operators achieve BVLOS. The FAA has prioritized radar as the key technology for development in achieving optimal safety and security in the airspace. This talk will discuss key developments to radar solutions, including machine learning, AI, software enhancement for data mapping and more, all which can be deployed and applied to most any kind of drone.
The class will also outline the steps necessary to secure the critical Part 107 Waiver for operation in controlled airspace, helping companies to save time and resources on the process. While the FAA has attempted to streamline the application process through its DroneZone portal, there are some key things you will learn that can facilitate the process. The 107 Waiver allows for UAVs to operate at night, over people, flight from a moving vehicle or truck, operate multiple aircraft with a single pilot, fly beyond visual line of sight, flight above 400 feet, and fly near airports and other protected airspace.
You will walk away knowing how the use of radar and gaining a Part 107 Waiver can help unlock the many benefits that a world of drone commerce can offer.
Utilizing UAS in Construction
Class
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Track: Construction, Aggregates and Mining
Speaker: Paul Wheeler
Contractors across the nation are seeing the value of utilizing Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) on their projects due to the detailed data that can be collected easily and at low cost. The deliverable from UAS can be used for a myriad of uses within construction. This session will discuss utilizing UAS for construction monitoring, quantities, as-built models, and the best practices to achieve the desired results.
Learning Objectives:
• What can be accomplished utilizing UAS for Construction
• How to utilize UAS in construction for the best return on investment
• What is required to fly within FAA UAS Part 107 rules
• Hardware needed to get started
• What software is needed for UAS data collection and processing
• QC/ QA on UAS data
• Cost savings realized on Utah SR20 project utilizing UAS
Partnerships and the Future of the Commercial Drone Industry Landscape
Panel
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Track: All
Moderator: Michael Blades
Speakers: Derek Lyons, Joshua Ziering, Bill Chen, Basil Yap
The commercial drone ecosystem is changing almost as rapidly as the technology that drives it. This panel will discuss, from both a US and global view, how the commercial drone services market has transitioned from a stove-piped development approach to a race to provide a one-stop shop for all-in-one services supporting various industries. However, not all partnerships are as beneficial as they seem while others hit solution services out the park. This panel will cover what these partnerships mean for the commercial drone ecosystem as well as the opportunities they may produce or possibly eliminate through their synergies.
Digitizing the Job Site with Drone Data
Solutions Showcase
2:15 PM – 2:45 PM
Track: Construction, Aggregates and Mining
Speaker: Jono Millin
The construction industry has historically been one of the slowest adopters of new technology. But that is all changing as builders seek to better understand what’s happening on the job site. In the process, drones have emerged as the go-to tool for real-time site intelligence. Drone use has skyrocketed in the last year as contractors of all sizes race to digitize the job site with drone-generated photos, maps, and 3D models. And the results are exciting. Drones cut costs, improve communication, and increase safety—making them a must-have tool for every project. Join DroneDeploy’s co-founder and COO as he takes a deep dive into the role drones play in the wave of digitalization sweeping the entire industry.
3D Mapping with UAS in Construction: Aircraft, Software, and Managing Data
Class
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Track: Construction, Aggregates and Mining
Speaker: Douglas Spotted Eagle
The ability to create a timeline of aerial images on a construction site is not only affordable, it will offer insights to the jobsite that is sure to save money and efforts. Collecting aerial data on a construction site with the use of a UAS can offer digital elevation maps, point clouds and other useful data.
This class will present real-world examples of how this technology has changed the face of surveying and mapping for construction and engineering analysis. The session will encompass the practical steps necessary to acquire suitable images in the field and how those images may be processed to generate data that is extremely valuable and useful to a variety of clients.
This presentation will be of great interest to any drone pilot wishing to expand operations beyond photography and video applications.
This session will include:
• Construction jobsite integration with UAS Overview
• Overview of orthomosaics and 3D Modeling
• Advantages of utilizing orthomosaics
• Programming the Flight Grid & capturing the data
• Mapping the construction site (orthomosaic and 3D models)
Moving Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management Forward: The Current Landscape
Panel
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Track: All
Moderator: Jim Williams
Speakers: Biruk Abraham, Mark Aitken, Marke “Hoot” Gibson, Joseph Rios
In the first half of this 120-minute panel, the current landscape of UTM will be discussed from policy and regulatory standpoints. With programs like Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) rolling out, the path to flying quickly, legally and safely is becoming more streamlined. But what’s the state of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations? Where does UAS remote tracking and identification currently stand? This panel of industry-leading experts with discuss these topics as well as the reality of implementation and integration into our National Airspace System (NAS).
Moving Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management Forward: The Future Landscape
Panel
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Track: All
Moderator: Jim Williams
Speakers: Eric Ringer, Ben Marcus, Paul McDuffee
The second half of this 120-minute panel will cover the path forward for UTM from a technical, real-world implementation standpoint. You will hear from the companies that are facilitating the advancement of UTM through their solutions and programs, and learn what resources are available to you now for flying quickly, legally and safely. The future vision for fully integrating drones into our National Airspace System (NAS) will also be discussed.
Harnessing the Power of Your Drone Data
Panel
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Track: All
Moderator: Colin Snow
Speakers: Amit Ganjoo, Marty Scholl, Pat Lohman
Drones gather a trove of information and data, but how do you turn that data into actionable business insights? From the collection process to analysis and decision making, this panel will cover the best ways to harness the data in your pipeline while increasing productivity and your bottom line.
Best Practices for Scaling and Streamlining Your Drone Ops
Class
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Track: All
Speakers: Tom Owen, Joshua Ziering
If you are looking to start a drone program or already have one in place within your enterprise, then this class is for you.
Tom Owen and Josh Ziering will present actionable insights and tips for streamlining and growing your drone program, based on years of experience working with diverse enterprise and public-sector partners.
Tom will delve into best practices he sees during his field trips meeting customers across the country. Josh will discuss how to effectively and safely manage your pilots and scale your fleet, from pre-flight to in-flight to post-flight. You’ll learn how to put repeatable processes in place so your team will be able to collect data and create insights that can move seamlessly back into your organization.
By attending this class, you will get answers to questions like:
– What kind of standard operating procedures work at scale?
– How can you help mitigate the risk a drone program poses to your organization?
– How do you build a culture of safety and accountability?
– How do you manage increased accountability around LAANC operations?
– When is the right time to call the FAA/NTSB after an accident?
Understanding Airspace: UAS, GA and Airspace COAs
Class
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Track: All
Speaker: Michael W. den Hartog
Airspace can be complicated, and the fixed wing or rotor craft have owned the sky for years. But, drones are here to stay, so where can they and cannot fly? What airspace is what, and what is the alphabet soup of airspace? Understanding the Sectional charts and working together to integrate drones is a must. Most are willing to cooperate but who is responsible for what? Being on the same page or map is very important, thus understanding what we are looking at is imperative. Join us for a look into sectional charts and the symbols on them and an overview of what airspace is, and why. We will also briefly chat what is forecasted to come and how LAANC changes the game. We will talk about the airports not in LAANC and what it takes to get an Airspace Authorization. We will also talk about how to increase your chances of getting those hard to obtain COAs for military airspace.
Enterprise After Hours
Enterprise After Hours
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Track: All
Speaker:
Looking for a place to socialize with your peers by industry? Then attend InterDrone’s very first Enterprise After Hours!
The Enterprise After Hours will take place in the evening on Wednesday, September 5, and are concurrent special networking events with dedicated rooms and discussion in the following verticals:
– Construction, Aggregates and Mining
– Inspection (which will include both energy and infrastructure inspection)
– Precision Agriculture
– Public Safety
– Surveying and Mapping
This new show feature is designed to foster interactions with fellow attendees, vendors and influencers in their commercial drone sector of choice.
Have your business cards ready!
*This session is open to all badge holders.
Thursday, September 6th
Managing Drone Data: Choosing the Right Data Service Provider
Class
8:45 AM – 9:45 AM
Track: All
Speaker: Colin Snow
Choosing a drone data service means choosing a trusted business partner. But with so many choices, it can be hard to know which one you should use. What advantage does one have over another? Unfortunately, the answers are not simple. A lot depends on your business model, your target market, what functions you need, and quite frankly how much you are willing to spend. The good news is the current wave of development and innovation in online drone data services is focused on mapping and analytic solutions that drone business service providers and enterprises can use to help solve real world problems – problems like infrastructure decay, crop yields, stockpile inaccuracies, improper construction sequencing, mining site logistics, etc. With that in mind, in this session I’ll outline the important criteria to help you evaluate the various web-based mapping and imaging services for drones.
In this session, you’ll learn:
• Who are the major providers and what’s their focus?
• How to determine the value of the services they provide?
• What questions should you be asking when comparing offerings?
• What’s the best way to integrating a service into your existing workflow so that it simplifies your operations and save costs?
Working with the FAA on Construction Projects
Class
8:45 AM – 9:45 AM
Track: Business | Construction, Aggregates and Mining
Speaker: Chan Ahn
It is an exhilarating experience to fly a drone within 800 feet of an active State airport while communicating with the air traffic control tower. Wind, air traffic, private planes, touring helicopters, multiple moving cranes and unexpected situations contribute to complications. This class will peak behind the scenes to learn what it takes to operate a drone near an airport.
Drones in Construction Startup Kit
Class
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Track: Construction, Aggregates and Mining
Speaker: Richard Lopez
Get started using UAVs to take measurements, conduct inspections, measure progress and communicate status more effectively with different stakeholders. Richard Lopez, Virtual Design and Construction Manager with Hensel Phelps Construction Company, will take you from A to Z ,starting with Flight Planning and which drones and software to start with and your Part 107 certification. You’ll move through getting approval from legal teams and managing risk, maintaining and using your equipment effectively, delivering data and training teams how to use it.
Drones in Construction, Aggregates & Mining: An End-User’s Perspective
Panel
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
Track: Construction, Aggregates and Mining
Moderator: Michael Blades
Speakers: Chan Ahn, Richard Lopez, Andrew Suozzo
UAVs are proving themselves as useful tools on a construction or mining worksite, but integrating them into an in-house team or drone service business can prove challenging. This panel will cover worksite management tools and technologies, ways to quickly and safely analyze stockpiles, and best practices for planning, reporting and auditing needs. You will also learn tools and tips for streamlining your projects, ensuring efficient resource management and ultimately saving time and money.
Drones in Construction, Aggregates & Mining: Cutting-Edge Technology
Panel
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Track: Construction, Aggregates and Mining
Moderator: Michael Blades
Speakers: Tom Zaiderman, Jesse Stepler, Paul Ross, Shaun MacIntosh
Drones and data analysis offer huge advantages in construction, aggregates and mining, including exploration, planning and operations. What tools are essential? Which technologies should you look out for? This panel features vendors targeting the construction and aggregates and mining markets with solutions that help with everything from stockpile analysis to creating maps and models for planning.
Growing Your Drone Service Business After Hours
After Hours
7:00 PM – 8:15 PM
Track: All
Moderator: Colin Snow
Speakers: Michael Singer, Ed Hine, Jerry Walton
So you have your drone service business, but how do you grow it? Hear from those who have made it in the booming commercial drone service provider market during this special after hours event. Hear which market segments will take off next and where drone service providers are making the most impact and having the most success. Learn about the pitfalls, best practices, and the sure-fire ways of taking your drone business to the next level!
DJI After Hours: The Future of the Commercial UAV Ecosystem
After Hours
7:00 PM – 8:15 PM
Track: All
Moderator: Romeo Durscher
Speakers: Bill Chen, Francisco Toro, Hai Vo
Join DJI and its partners for an after-hours session, discussing the future ecosystem of unmanned aerial systems. DJI will host an intimate Q&A session, where audience members have an opportunity to ask experts from DJI and its select partners some pressing questions.
Friday, September 7th
Do Drones Disturb Wildlife?
Panel
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Track: All
Moderator: David Bird
Speakers: Dr. David Johnston, Jeff Sloan, Courtney Smith
Drones are being embraced more and more by biologists and conservationists all over the world as a useful tool to count, detect, track and observe wildlife. However, not all agree with their use. Some feel that these sometimes noisy machines can pose a hazard to wildlife and they want their use curtailed through stricter regulations or even banned in some places. This panel, composed of experts using drones to study wildlife, will discuss the pros and cons of adopting these machines for this purpose and what steps we must take to make more effective use of the technology. During the discussion, you will also learn about the latest successes (and failures) in their use.
Drones and the Power of Artificial Intelligence
Panel
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Track: All
Moderator: Christopher Korody
Speakers: Jaime Machuca, Kraettli L. Epperson , Nitin Gupta
Drones and Artificial Intelligence seem to go hand in hand now, and it’s easy to see why. With computer vision technology capable of collision avoidance, and systems smart enough to learn and operate on behalf of the human operator, AI could be the conduit for safely and reliably integrating drones into our National Airspace System (NAS) and the path to expanding flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). The use cases are endless as are the opportunities. Learn about them and more in this panel.
Insights from Images: How Drones and Image-Based Mapping and analytics are Transforming the Mining Industry
Class
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
Track: Construction, Aggregates and Mining | Business
Speaker: Matthieu Lefebvre
The mining industry is being rushed by a challenging macroeconomic environment, pushing the C-suite and managers to transform their businesses to mine smarter. The digital can help in this matter as it unlocks real business value by empowering executives to make better decisions, faster, safer and cheaper. Drones and image-based mapping are proving to reinvent the day-to-day businesses on mining sites. Smart mines in practice with drones and images are impacting asset lifecycle management, operational risk and compliance management, as well as supply chain management. Higher business impact can be achieved through in-house drone and image-based end-to-end solutions fully integrated into the enterprise systems. Going this way to the next level with a scaled enterprise-wide integration can help driving the competitive advantage and secure the profitability for businesses in this challenging mining industry.
Project Management Fundamentals For Your Commercial Drone Operation
Class
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Track: All
Speaker: Brett Hoffstadt
Commercial drone operations, to be effective, must deliver quality results within business constraints of cost, schedule, staffing, regulations, and other organizational factors. How can you ensure that your scope is feasible within these constraints? What are your biggest risks? How can you be proactive to prevent them from becoming real issues? How best to delegate, assign, and track roles and responsibilities so that every necessary task is completed? Who are the key stakeholders in your organization? What are effective strategies to influence and manage them, including the nay-sayers? This class will give you an accelerated overview of the 10 knowledge areas of project management through best practices, essential tools, strategies, and actual lessons learned (the good, the bad, and some ugly) from industry. The 10 areas are:
– Project integration
– Scope management
– Time management
– Cost management
– Quality management
– Human Resources
– Communications
– Risk management
– Procurement
– Stakeholder management
If you have realized that the soft skills and nontechnical aspects of commercial drones are the sources of your biggest challenges, you will gain a lot from this course. Whether you are a one-person operation trying to manage a business yourself or you are building a drone operation for your organization, you will leave with a comprehensive introduction into the fundamentals of planning and executing this effort as a viable project. Those with a Project Management Professional certification (PMP) will receive 1.0 PDU for attending.