As Drone Hizmetleri we support many sectors, including those of agriculture, security, construction, education, and consulting. Our goal in Turkey is to offer solutions to companies in order to provide the most innovative and up-to-date drone solutions. We continuously strive to create opportunities in new sectors or in the formation of conceptual projects.

The devastation of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that occurred in southern and central Turkey on February 6, 2023, and its barrage of strong aftershocks, saw a Turkish government-led response through coordination by AFAD (Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management) and the Turkish Red Crescent. State authorities declared a level-4 emergency, leading to a call for international assistance. The Turkish President declared a three-month state of emergency in 10 of the country’s provinces, which resulted in the flocking of organised search and rescue teams, as well as a multitude of individual volunteers willing to help. We, as Drone Services, were in the field as well with our experienced operators and a DJI Mavic Enterprise Dual 2 drone, mounted with a thermal camera, in order to facilitate the task of finding people buried under rubble. Below, the further efficiency in this task is elaborated.

Abstract

Drone use has revolutionised the way in which natural disasters are handled. In particular, the drone industry has had a significant impact on the workflow in earthquake areas. This paper examines the benefits and challenges of using drones in earthquake areas, including their ability to capture high-resolution imagery, deliver medical supplies and rescue materials, and provide real-time data on the extent of damage caused by earthquakes. We also discuss the challenges that arise with the use of drones in earthquake areas, including privacy concerns, air traffic regulations, and limited battery life. Finally, we suggest some ways in which the drone industry can continue to improve the workflow in earthquake areas.

Introduction

Earthquakes are one of the most devastating natural disasters that can occur. They cause immense destruction, resulting in loss of life, property, and infrastructure. Over the years, the drone industry has become an essential tool for emergency responders, providing them with valuable information and assistance during natural disasters. The use of drones has significantly impacted the workflow in earthquake areas. This paper explores the benefits and challenges of using drones in earthquake areas and how they have transformed the workflow.

Benefits of Using Drones in Earthquake Areas

The use of drones in earthquake areas has several benefits. Firstly, drones can capture high-resolution imagery of damaged buildings and infrastructure, providing emergency responders with a detailed assessment of the situation on the ground. This information can be used to prioritise rescue and relief efforts and to allocate resources effectively.

Secondly, drones can be used to deliver medical supplies, rescue equipment, and other essential materials to affected areas quickly. This is particularly important in situations where access to the affected area is limited or where it may be dangerous for human responders to enter.

Finally, drones can provide real-time data on the extent of damage caused by earthquakes, helping emergency responders to make informed decisions about how to allocate resources and respond to the disaster.

Benefits of Using Thermal Imaging Drones in Earthquake Areas

The use of thermal imaging drones has several benefits in earthquake areas. Firstly, thermal imaging technology allows emergency responders to locate survivors who may be trapped in collapsed buildings or other dangerous areas. The drones can quickly scan large areas and identify heat signatures, helping rescuers to prioritise their efforts and focus on areas where there is a high likelihood of finding survivors.

Secondly, thermal imaging drones can identify areas of high temperature, which may indicate a fire or other potential hazards in the aftermath of an earthquake. This information can be used to develop strategies to mitigate these hazards and prevent further damage or loss of life.

Finally, thermal imaging drones can operate at night or in low-light conditions, providing continuous monitoring of the affected area. This can be particularly useful in situations where rescue efforts need to continue around the clock, ensuring that no survivors are overlooked.

Challenges of Using Drones in Earthquake Areas

Despite their many benefits, the use of drones in earthquake areas also poses several challenges. Firstly, privacy concerns may arise when drones are used to capture images of affected areas. It is essential to ensure that the privacy of individuals is respected and that any data collected is used only for emergency response purposes.

Secondly, air traffic regulations may limit the use of drones in earthquake areas. In some cases, airspace may be closed to drones, preventing emergency responders from using them to assess damage or deliver essential supplies.

Finally, limited battery life may pose a challenge when using drones in earthquake areas. In some cases, it may be challenging to recharge or replace drone batteries, limiting their usefulness in prolonged emergency response operations.

Challenges of Using Thermal Imaging Drones in Earthquake Areas

Despite the many benefits of using thermal imaging drones in earthquake areas, there are also some challenges to their use. Firstly, the technology requires skilled operators who are trained in interpreting thermal images. This can be a challenge in situations where emergency responders may be overstretched or have limited experience with drone technology.

Secondly, thermal imaging drones are limited by their battery life, which may be affected by the temperature of the environment in which they are operating. This can make it challenging to keep drones in operation for extended periods, particularly in hot or cold conditions

Finally, privacy concerns may arise when using thermal imaging drones, particularly if they capture images of individuals who are not involved in the emergency response effort. It is essential to ensure that any data collected is used only for emergency response purposes and that the privacy of individuals is respected.

Conclusion

The use of drones has significantly impacted the workflow in earthquake areas, providing emergency responders with valuable information and assistance with the addition of thermal imaging. However, the use of drones in these areas also poses several challenges, including privacy concerns, air traffic regulations, limited battery life, and coming short of skilled operators. However, as we all know, the benefits of drones with and without thermal imaging outweigh these challenges. It is essential for the drone industry to continue to work towards addressing these challenges to ensure that drones remain a useful tool for emergency responders in earthquake areas.

Setting up a national or local policy for drones and Urban Air Mobility requires specific knowledge, not only about the aircraft but also about aviation legislation and procedures.

Drone technology is moving fast and we are looking at a future where packages will be delivered to us through the air and where the transportation of cargo and people in the lower airspace above urban area's will be a common service. So how do you keep as a national legislator or policy maker in an industry that's innovating at such a pace?

AirHub provided us with a comprehensive vision to shape our national roadmap for drones and UAM.

To keep up with the pace of the drone industry you will need a partner that has extensive experience and has specific knowledge available to guide and support you in the development of your policies and regulations.

Implementation of European regulations

At AirHub we are legal aviation experts and we have extensive technical and operational knowledge of (unmanned) aircraft. With our experience and expertise we support Civil Aviation Authorities (#CAA)with setting up their drone policies legislation or guidelines and we help them with the national implementation of the European regulations for drones in the Open, Specific and Certified category.

In the Netherlands for example, we are supporting the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management with the development of their national Drone Roadmap and we are the preferred consultant to the Expert Group on Drones, developing all Specific Operations Risk Assessments (#SORA) and Standard Scenario's for #BVLOS operations, operations above congested areas, railways and more.

Development of technical and operational standards

When developing national drone legislation, policies and guidelines you want to set operational standards and limitations for operations in certain geographical zones such as nature areas and other sensitive areas such as around military installations and prisons. You will also want to set technical requirements to the drone and supporting equipment and services.

At AirHub we can help you with the implementation of European guidelines for CE-marking in the Open category in accordance with the EU Delegated Act and the development of requirements for the technical assessment of drones in the Specific and Certified category. You might even consider setting up a Qualified Entity that can give recommendations to your Competent Authority or pilot training, #airworthiness of aircraft and operational #authorization.

Training and checking requirements

When operating drones in the subcategories A1 to A3 in the European Open category the pilot (or operator) will have to verify his/her theoretical knowledge on subjects like legislation and weather before being authorised to operate their drone. At AirHub we can support you in setting up the required question-databank and curriculum for these subcategories. For operations in the Specific category we can provide you with guidelines and standards on theoretical and practical training for operations on all six #SAIL (Specific Assurance and Integrity Levels) levels.

U-Space, e-registration and e-identification

The introduction of U-Space or #UTM will have an enormous impact on our low level airspace. U-space is a set of new services and specific procedures designed to support safe, efficient and secure access to the airspace for large numbers of drones. These services rely on a high level of digitalisation and automation of functions, whether they are on board the drone itself, or are part of the ground-based environment. U-space provides an enabling framework to support routine drone operations, as well as a clear and effective interface to manned aviation, ATM/ANS service providers and authorities.

Many Civil Aviation Authorities and Air Navigation Service Providers struggle with this new concept. At AirHub we have extensive knowledge about U-Space/UTM principles and architecture and we can provide you with a Concept of Operations (ConOps) - including requirements and guidelines for e-registration and e-identification - for the implementation of U-Space in your national airspace.

How AirHub can help

At AirHub we have guided national and local authorities with setting up a legislations, policies and guidelines for drone operations under the European Open, Specific and Certified category. Contact us to take advantage of the experience and expertise of our consultants. They will guide you through all the specifics of this innovative industry.

The rapid growth of the drone industry brings forth substantial social and economic benefits, but it also introduces challenges related to the escalating number of drones in our airspace. The complexity of drone operations raises concerns encompassing safety, security, privacy, environmental impact, and more. Addressing these concerns, the implementation of U-space might be a potential solution.

AirHub Consultancy conducted a study on behalf of the Municipality of Amsterdam which is the first step towards developing a plan for the roll-out of U-space above Amsterdam. With the development of U-space above Amsterdam and a potential roll-out, the Municipality of Amsterdam will become a frontrunner at (inter)national level when it comes to the safe integration of drones in the city to enable (new) social and commercial applications.

Objectives

The main objective of the project was to describe the process of implementing U-space airspace above Amsterdam, to identify the potential roles of the municipality and to make a first step with setting up the U-space Airspace Risk Assessment. 

About the Municipality of Amsterdam 

The Municipality of Amsterdam covers the city of Amsterdam as well as a number of small towns. With the growing number of drones, the municipality founded a public-private network organisation; Amsterdam Drone Lab (ADL) to adequately organize the sustainable and safe integration of drones in the city of tomorrow. ADL is constantly looking for cooperation in sustainable and safe applications for unmanned aviation. ADL takes the lead in shaping drone policies within the city and devising urban layouts that facilitate unmanned flights. AirHub Consultancy is partner within this network. Discover another success story showcasing our collaboration with ADL.

Exploring U-space above Amsterdam

Amsterdam wants to integrate drones above the city in a safe and manageable way. U-space can be a means for this. However, this requires proper preparation, in which the municipality can play a central role in the designation of U-space airspace. This exploration includes the formulation of the reasons for designating U-space airspace over Amsterdam and a first step towards performing a U-space Airspace Risk Assessment. 

Reasons for U-space

There are various reasons for Amsterdam to explore the added value U-space offers and therefore reasons to designate U-space. These reasons can be divided into different categories, namely: safety, security, privacy, environment, social and economic. Together with the municipality, we identified the main drivers for Amsterdam to explore the designation of U-space. 

Coordinating the U-space designation

After a request to designate U-space has officially been approved by the competent authority, thereby establishing the so-called Coordination Mechanism, the Municipality of Amsterdam must determine its role. It should be possible for a government, authority or entity to fulfil multiple roles and responsibilities within this mechanism. It is important to guarantee independence, for example by separating departments or teams within the entity. The Municipality of Amsterdam can therefore take on one or more roles during the U-space designation process. AirHub Consultancy identified the different roles and responsibilities of the initiator, U-space coordinator, member of the assessment team but also as a local stakeholder. This will form the basis of moving forward to establishing U-space and particularly the role of the municipality. 

U-space Airspace Risk Assessment

AirHub Consultancy also elaborated the hearing process and started working on a high-level U-space Airspace Risk Assessment. The risk assessment starts with the preparation before moving to the reference scenario and assessment. During the study, the potential of drones has been mapped out and elaborated in a first version of a Concept of Operations. The risks have been identified with a view to this future situation in the airspace above Amsterdam. It follows that without a structured approach, and the eventual roll-out of an air traffic control system such as U-space as a mitigating measure, drones above the city can potentially cause nuisance and danger. The careful development and implementation of U-space is therefore seen as a suitable means of reducing the potential risks to an acceptable level.  

In 2024 AirHub will further explore the potential of U-space with ADL. Stay tuned! Do you want to know more about this case or U-space in general? Contact our U-space consultant Toby Enzerink via toby@airhub.nl