National Highways’ route to BVLOS
Introduction
Over the years, National Highways have increasingly been operating drones for a variety of use cases, including asset inspection, construction monitoring, surveying, and incident management. Managing our strategic road networks, National Highways’ routes are long and linear, and drones play an essential - yet at present untapped - role, enabling more effective planning, design, construction and operations of the Strategic Road Network.
Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) has been increasingly successful in supporting organisations responsible for managing linear infrastructure. For example, Network Rail in the UK has recently established a regular BVLOS operations capability, achieving up-to six times the inspection speed of railway assets in comparison to traditional Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) operations.
The Challenge
National Highways were aware that to continue all of the vital work across their network, they needed to unlock the full benefits of drones - by achieving BVLOS drone operations. With the regulatory landscape advancing and the UK experiencing increased numbers of BVLOS UAS approvals, they required a clear route forward to reaching BVLOS.
The solution
A ‘Future of Drone Capability Vision’ summarising National Highways’ future of operation desires and goals, aligning to wider organisation initiatives.
This document (and supporting infographic) was created by engaging with many stakeholders within National Highways and the wider supply chain, including leading construction and engineering companies.
Crucially, discussions covered the possible use cases that would be unlocked by BVLOS and the impacts these would bring.
3. A Concept of Operations (ConOps) providing a detailed overview of how BVLOS operations could take place across National Highways.
Here we sought to demonstrate how the proposed core capabilities would unlock BVLOS, highlighting a high-level overview of the intended framework for each type of operation.
There were four core BVLOS capabilities identified in the ConOps as being most beneficial to National Highways: 1) on-site deployment, 2) drone in a box, 3) long endurance and 4) tethered.
For each of the BVLOS capabilities, the ConOps identified the systems and crew required, along with the operating environment, key risks and appropriate mitigations. In doing so, we answered both the 'what' and 'how' regarding effective BVLOS operations for National Highways.
Design: Drones remotely operated for long range mapping of topography through a fixed wing system with high-resolution camera.
Build: Automated progress monitoring and security patrolling of construction sites through a remotely operated drone docking station.
Operate: Persistent long endurance monitoring of incidents and traffic flow through a remotely operated tethered drone and drone tether station.
Maintain: Faster and safer inspection of assets across the network through on-site deployment of systems with capability to fly behind structures, greatly increasing the operational flexibility of the drone and the data that can be captured.
2. A detailed roadmap outlining potential future drone operations across the network.
In creating the vision document, the appetite for BVLOS was clearly demonstrated within National Highways and their extended network. The natural next step was a five-year roadmap which was created to provide the organisation with a staged route to implementing and maximising the future use of drones through BVLOS operation.
This was completed through a series of workshops to capture National Highways’ goals in developing their drone capability, as well as their need for BVLOS operation, establishing how and where they seek to expand their drone capability.
The impact
The potential advantages for National Highways BVLOS drone operation are extensive. From an organisation standpoint, leveraging BVLOS operation means drones can be operated remotely, unlocking a plethora of new use cases.
We brought together critical stakeholders, enabling an understanding of the BVLOS opportunity (i.e. the potential returns for BVLOS for National Highways) and the pathway to realise them, giving them confidence in the routes forward to maximise the following impacts across our strategic road network.
From a broader perspective, for UK residents BVLOS would result in a smart, safer and efficient strategic road network throughout the country - meaning reduced congestion and improved road safety.
Design - Greater efficiency of mapping large areas, provisioning valuable visual and topographic data for route and major construction planning.
Construction - Enhanced security of construction sites; reduction for the need to travel to sites; and safer inspection of assets by reducing the need for working at height, removing people from potential harm.
Operations - Improved incident management and monitoring during power outages or major incidents; continuous surveillance capability for key parts of the network; and enhanced data capture of incidents.
Maintenance - Greater efficiency of inspection, enabling proactive asset management; improved scope for media campaigns; and access to new areas and assets for inspection.
