NAGS HEAD – With drones able to do more
than ever before, the N.C. Department of Transportation wants to help educate
local government agencies and businesses on some of those potential practical
applications.
A capacity crowd was on hand Thursday as NCDOT’s Division of
Aviation Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Program Office hosted a free workshop for
government and commercial drone operators in Nags Head.
More than 130 attendees learned about the use of drone technology
in emergency response and erosion monitoring, as well as tips on data
management, safety, and other practical applications of drones. The day ended
with live flight demonstrations over the beach.
“Drone technology is quickly advancing, and so are the
possibilities for a business or government organization interested in using
one,” said Basil Yap, UAS Program Manager for NCDOT. “Attendees should now have
a clear understanding of how they can use the technology, and what it takes to
effectively implement drones into their organization.”
NCDOT hopes to use these free workshops to show how safe this
emerging technology can be, and to encourage businesses and government entities
to explore how drones can be beneficial to their activities.
This was the sixth such workshop NCDOT has hosted across the state,
starting in August of 2017. The next NCDOT drone event will be the 2018 NC Drone Summit and Flight
Expo in Greensboro, August 5-7.