​​The Center for Regional Disaster Resilience (CRDR) and the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation Division, organized a workshop geared towards working professionals in the local and state government and the private sector. The workshop focused on applications of unmanned aerial systems (UAS)/drones in Washington State and featured expert speakers, UAS users, and interactive discussions. Read the report here.  

Development of a regional UAS working group

• Users Group Proposal 
• Join Users Group 

Inventory of activity in Washington State

• Survey (click here to participate)
• Inventory Summary

Identify policy, legislative and regulatory opportunities and hurdles
​Technical guides and references for attendees by Northeastern University's Global Resilience Institute

• In development- technical information HERE

Press Release from Washington State Department of Transportation 
July 5, 2018

• Exploring the possibilities of drones: Workshop brings together UAS experts and interested parties from public and private sectors

Using LAANC For Unmanned Aerial System Pilots

• Garth Bruce, June 2018

UAS / Drone Capabilities and Washington's Emergency Ecosystem

• Tom Hagen, June 2018

FirstNet is Here! Smart Communities, Smart Public Safety

• Bill Schrier, First Net

The Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) and its Center for Regional Disaster Resilience (CRDR) in partnership with Northeastern University’s Global Resilience Institute (GRI) were awarded a 2017 National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) Security and Resilience Challenge grant for critical infrastructure. The project sought to develop technologies for UAS (drone) employment to technically inspect critical infrastructure in post disaster scenarios. Read the project description here. 

​There is a need for rapid damage assessment of critical infrastructure immediately following a disaster. Emerging UAS technology is allowing for an expedited and detailed damage assessment of infrastructure such as bridges and other steel and concrete structures within the built environment.

​This project investigated the technical capabilities of UAS to enhance the efficiency, fidelity, speed and safety of current critical infrastructure inspection methods by using machine intelligence. The policy, legislative and regulatory opportunities and hurdles were also identified.

Technical guides and references for attendees by Northeastern University's Global Resilience Institute

• Rapid Automated Damage Detection with Autonomous Robots Project

Project Wrap-up: Critical Infrastructure Inspection Project
Using Drone to Detect Damage to Bridges Workshop
When: December 13, 2018
Where: Puget Sound Area
More information HERE
Report HERE

Establishing a Professional Micro-Aviation (Drone) Program
When: October 23, 2018
Where: Webinar
More information HERE
Report HERE

Exploring Government and Private Sector Applications of UAS/Drones in Washington
When: June 28, 2018
Where: Lakewood, Washington
More information HERE
Report HERE

2018 Pacific Northwest Disaster Resilience Symposium
When: July 23, 2018
Where: Spokane, Washington
More information HERE
Report HERE

​Eric Holdeman, Director, CRDR, 
253-376-6683,  [email protected]

​Philip Anderson, PhD, Associate Director for Research and Innovation, GRI, 
(703) 772-0132, [email protected]