Engineering Applications of Unmanned Aircraft System
With the advent of reliable small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), commonly referred to as “drones”, a number of industries are now capitalizing on the commercial potential of these devices previously marketed for aviation hobbyists and panoramic “selfie” seekers. The size, access limitations, and potential hazards of many active construction sites and existing buildings provide ample opportunity for the implementation of sUAS for data collection. This presentation will summarize currently available technology, regulatory hurdles, and practical applications and limitations of sUAS technology to the engineering and construction fields. The presentation will conclude with brief case studies demonstrating the use of sUAS for engineering data collection on existing and historic structures.
Event Schedule:
6:00 - 7:00 PM: Social Hour
7:00 - 8:00 PM: PresentationSpeaker Bio
Robert Kraus, PE
Senior Associate, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
Robert Kraus, P.E. is a Senior Associate at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE) in Emeryville, California, an interdisciplinary firm of engineers, architects, and material scientists focused on solving unique problems in new and existing structures of all types. Robert holds a BS in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University and a MS in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
Since joining WJE in 2012, Mr. Kraus has focused on the investigation, evaluation, analysis, and retrofit of a variety of structures, ranging from historic buildings to modern, high-rise construction. As a FAA Part 61 and Part 107 pilot, Mr. Kraus increasingly relies on sUAS among other technologies to overcome the challenges of data collection on existing structures, including those in varying states of distress or failure.