Kathy Davis, Communications
Imagine dairy nutrient inspectors getting an aerial view of farms and manure lagoon conditions without riding up in an airplane.
Imagine our entomologists tracking radio-tagged pests like the Asian giant hornet to its nest without having to navigate difficult, dangerous terrain on foot. Or, pesticide compliance inspectors using chemical sensors to detect an off-target drift.
These types of work could be more precise and efficient with the use of drones, also known as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).
WSDA launched a formal project about five months ago to explore how the agency could use this tool. The project team is building the infrastructure needed to assure that our drone use is legal, secure, and coordinated.
The project has approved pilot use of drones by three WSDA programs – Dairy Nutrient Management, Pesticide Compliance, and the Pest Program, based on the proposed uses described above.
Project goals
Among the project team’s goals is to create a main agency policy. Divisions or programs will develop their own operations manual as guidance on specifics. In addition, each program will appoint a UAS coordinator.
The project will also produce operating procedure guidance, as well as orientation and training for staff and administrators responsible for drone programs.
Our Information Technology (IT) Office is involved to determine hardware and software requirements, data storage and backup needs, and security approvals from the state Office of Cybersecurity. The Contracts and Procurement Office will help with purchasing equipment.
Several WSDA staff attended a drone demonstration presented by the Department of Fish and Wildlife in Prosser in September 2021. (Read the Ag Briefs blog post: WSDA considers taking field work to new heights.) Since then, interest in drone use within the agency has grown as staff ponders how the technology could help them do their work.
Except for the three pilot initiatives mentioned above, no other agency drone use is authorized at this time.
The project team is working through many complex considerations, such as:
- What privacy concerns might our stakeholders or residents have?
- What if one of our drones crashes?
- How will resulting data be organized, used, and kept secure?
Agency employees who operate drones must obtain an FAA pilot’s license and all flight plans must be logged.
So, if you are excited about the prospect of using a drone to accomplish your WSDA work, hang in there! The drone project team is working through the steps and building the foundation.
The project team is comprised of:
- Jason Ferrante – Administrative Services (executive sponsor)
- Ron Hussung, Jason Gambill – Enterprise Risk Management (program administrators)
- Susie Olsen, Curt Secker, Jay Delozier, Harold Boggs, Caroline Alper – IT Office
- Hannah Flournoy, Janet Waeschle, Pam Potwin – Administrative Regulations
- Greg Haubrich – Pest Program
- Gary Buckner – Pesticide Compliance Program
- Kyrre Flege – Dairy Nutrient Management Program
- Laura Lowe – Contracts and Purchasing
- Kristin Rondeau, Nicole Wolf – Performance and Planning (project management)
If you have questions or comments, contact Jason Gambill, the agency’s UAS program administrator, or Nicole Wolf for project information.
In summary: WSDA launched a formal project about five months ago to explore how the agency could use drones, also known as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The project team is building the infrastructure needed to assure that our drone use is legal, secure, and coordinated. Learn more about the project’s goals and potential use of drones in this Insider blog post.
