Section 1. Introduction

1.1 - Overview

The Center for Disaster Risk Policy (CDRP) at Florida State University established the Unmanned Aircraft System program to assess and improve the usability of small unmanned aircraft systems in the context of state, local, and federal disaster management and public safety. This program examines UAS hardware, software, policies and procedures, data collection methodologies, and crew training and education to develop best practices for UAS applications in emergency management and public safety. The UAS program is an extension of the Disaster Incident Research Team (DIRT). DIRT focuses on applied and academic emergency management research across disciplines.

Governments at all levels continue to expressing interest in how UAS can be applied to emergency management processes, including mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

1.2 - Purpose of this Document

This Standard Operating Guide includes all non-aircraft specific information and operational guidelines for CDRP personnel operating a small UAS. This includes DIRT members, FSU faculty and staff, FSU academic students, and external students in professional training courses.

Further, this document may be used as a template for any entity conducting UAS operations in support of public safety or emergency/disaster response agencies.

1.3 - Published Location

This guide and all supporting documents is published at cdrp.net/uasrms