DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION

B.SC AERONAUTICAL SCIENCE (2021-2024)

Research on Utilizing UAVs for Airport Surveillance

and Runway Inspection

GROUP MEMBER: PROJECT GUIDE :

AATHIF MUZAIN C (21153153) Mr. V. VINOTH (M.E)
Mr. ADHIL SHARIEF (M.E)
LUKHMAN K (21153124) Ms. PRIYANKA S (M.E)
SATHVIK K (21153161)
MOHAMED ASHIQ S (21153126)
ALEENA JOSEPH (21153104)
 ABSTRACT
The objective of our research paper delivers into the utilization of advanced
technologies in Drones and methodologies in runway inspection and airport
surveillances to enhance airport safety. The study explores traditional runway
inspection procedures and highlights their limitations, especially in adverse
weather conditions ,during low-visibility scenarios and warning system . It
investigates innovative technologies such as drones, remote sensing, and
automated inspection systems, which have the potential to revolutionize
runway inspections and airport surveillances by providing real-time data and
improving inspection accuracy.

KEYWORDS : Aviation, New Technologies, Drone, Airport Surveillance,

Runway, Risk Assessment, Safety.
 OBJECTIVE
• Utilization of Drone Technology in Runway Inspection and airport opertion
is a pioneering and transformative endeavor that addresses critical
challenges within the aviation sector.
• Runways, as the lifeblood of airports, are central to ensuring the safety
and efficiency of air travel.
• Regular and meticulous inspection of runways and airports premises is
essential for the early detection and mitigation of potential hazards,
safeguarding the well-being of passengers and the integrity of aircraft.
• Traditional methods of runway inspection, airport surveillance
predominantly reliant on manual visual checks and pavement condition
assessments.
• We are employing UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) technologies to create
an environmentally friendly, faster, and safer airport operations
 INTRODUCTION
• This research endeavors to explore and innovate the airport
operations and runway inspection to elevate airport safety to
new heights.
• It explores the potential of emerging technologies, including
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), remote sensing, and
automated inspection systems, to revolutionize runway
inspection processes.
• The overarching goal of this research is to enhance airport
operations in critical areas like runways, parking bays, aprons,
and ramps while also mitigating potential safety hazards.
 PROJECT BACKGROUND
• Runway inspections and airport surveillance are
essential for aviation safety, ensuring that runways
are free from debris, wildlife hazards, and other
potential risks.
• Manual inspections are labor-intensive and may not
detect issues promptly.
• The project builds upon the need for more efficient
and accurate inspection methods using UAV
(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle).
 IMPACT
Enhanced Airport Safety:
• Improved runway inspection and airport surveillance techniques can
directly enhance airport safety by providing more accurate and timely data
about runway conditions and airport operations.

Reduced Operational Disruptions:

• More efficient and accurate runway inspections and airport surveillance

Economic Benefits:
• Reduced economical budget to airport, aerodrome ,reduced disruptions
and improved safety can result in increased passenger satisfaction and
timely operations
 METHODOLOGY
Assess Current Practices: Review existing airport surveillance ,runway
inspection methods and identify limitations.
1. Drone Selection :
Drone Type :Fixed Wing
AERIUM Micro Drone md4-1000

2. Data Collection :
Surface cracks, Foreign Object Damage (FOD), Pavement Wear
lighting system conditions Using Sensor Such as
ACCELEROMETER and LiDAR
3. Data Analysis :
The Data Analysis section will encompass data preprocessing, feature
extraction, Image Classification, Statistical Analysis and recommendations for
Optimizing Runway and Airport Inspection based on the analysis

4. Safety And Compliance :

Comprehensive safety protocols, continuous risk assessments, data
security measures, privacy considerations, equipment maintenance,
stakeholder communication, and ongoing protocol improvement.

5. Cost Benefit Analysis :

We will conduct a cost-benefit analysis to assess the economic
advantages of utilizing drones for inspections, weighing the investment in
drone technology against potential savings in maintenance and safety
improvements such as Fuel for vehicles while doing manual inspection
 DRONE PRINCIPLE
Drone Mapping, also known as aerial mapping or photogrammetry, is a
process of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as
drones, to capture aerial images or data from the Earth's surface and then
process this information to create detailed and accurate maps, 3D models, or
other geographic representations.

1. Data Collection
2. Aerial Photography
3. GPS and Geo Reference
4. Image Stitching
5. Point Cloud Generation
6. Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and 3D Models
7. GIS Integration (Geographic Information System)
 DRONE PREFERED FOR INSPECTION

AERIUM Micro Drone md4-1000

TYPE: Fixed Wing Drone

The AERIUM Micro drone MD4-1000 is a

cutting-edge micro UAV designed for a wide
range of applications. Its ability by lightweight
and portable design, making it suitable for
various industries, including aviation sector,
agriculture, surveying, and environmental
monitoring. Its impressive flight endurance
and stability, coupled with precise GPS
navigation, allow for efficient and accurate
data acquisition.
 PARTS OF THE DRONE AND SENSOR

SENSOR TECHNOLOGY USED IN DRONE FOR INSPECTION

1. LiDAR
2. ACCELEROMETER
3. VIFLY BEACON (Sound Buzzer)
 SPECIFICATION OF
AERIUM Micro Drone md4-1000
UAV specification Value
Climb rate 7.5 m/s
Cruising speed 15.0 m/s
Peak thrust 118 N
2.65 Kg approx. (depends on
Vehicle mass
configuration)
Recommended payload mass 0.80 Kg
Maximum payload mass 1.25 Kg
Maximum take-off weight 5.55 Kg
Dimensions 1.03 m between opposite rotor shafts
Up to 45 min (depends on payload and
Flight time
wind)
Material Used (COMPOSITE) Carbon Fiber, Plastic, and Aluminum
 OPERATION CONDITION
AERIUM Micro Drone md4-1000
UAV specification Value
Temperature −10°C to 50°C
Humidity Maximum 90%
Wind tolerance Steady pictures up to 6 m/s
Minimum 500 m using radiocontrol, with
Flight radius
waypoints up to 40 km
Ceiling altitude Up to 1,000 m
Take-off altitude Up to 4,000 m about sea level

Performance of MD4-1000It operates at a speed of 12m/s, and can climb at a rate of

7.5m/s. The drone can reach altitudes of up to 1km, and has a range of 500m in fly-by-
remote control mode. Range can be extended up to 40km using GPS waypoint
navigation, and flight endurance is 88 minutes.
 TECHNOLOGY
LiDAR SENSOR

A LiDAR sensor, which stands for Light Detection

and Ranging, is a remote sensing technology that
uses laser pulses to measure distances and create
precise 3D maps or models of objects and
environments. LiDAR operates on the principle of
emitting laser beams toward a target, measuring
the time it takes for the laser to bounce back
(return) after hitting an object, and using this data
to calculate distances and create detailed, highly
accurate spatial representations. LiDAR sensors
are used in various applications, including
autonomous vehicles, topographic mapping,
forestry, and archaeology, due to their ability to
provide precise and high-resolution data about the
shape and structure of objects and landscapes.
SPECIFICATION OF LiDAR
 ACCELEROMETER
An accelerometer sensor is a device that measures acceleration,
which is the rate of change of velocity of an object in motion. It is a
sensor commonly used in various electronic devices, such as
smartphones, tablets, fitness trackers, and automotive systems, to
detect and quantify changes in speed, direction, or tilt of the
device.

Acceleration Measurement: Accelerometer sensors detect

changes in acceleration along three orthogonal axes: X, Y,
and Z. These axes are typically aligned with the physical
dimensions of the sensor.

Gravity Detection: Accelerometers also measure the

acceleration due to gravity, which allows them to determine
the orientation of the device with respect to the Earth's
gravitational field. This information can be used for screen
rotation, and more.

Aerospace: In aerospace and aviation, accelerometers are

essential for navigation, stability control, and monitoring
structural stress.
 SPECIFICATION OF ACCELEROMETER
Specification Desired value Simulated value
Acceleration Range +10g +10g
Bandwidth DC-400 Hz DC-400 Hz
Sensitivity 10 fF/g 3.83 fF/g
Resolution 100 µg/√Hz 2.41 µg/√Hz

Quality factor 10 10
Operating voltage 5V 5V

Cross-axis sensitivity 1% 0.47%

 VIFLY BEACON
The VIFLY Beacon is a drone accessory
designed to enhance safety and
compliance with aviation regulations.
It is often used to make drones more
visible to other aircraft and help
prevent collisions. The VIFLY Beacon
typically attaches to the top of a
drone and emits a bright light that can
be seen from a distance, especially
during low-light conditions or at night.
This makes it easier for pilots of other
aircraft to spot the drone in the
airspace, reducing the risk of
accidents, bird strike.
 SPECIFICATION OF VIFLY BEACON
SPECIFICATION VALUE
Size (L x W x H) 25x14x15 mm
Weight 6 grams
Volume Up to 105 dB
Working Time Up to 30 hours
Charge Time 1.5 hours
Battery 80mAh LiPo
Input Voltage 4.5 - 5.5 V
CONTROLLER
SPECIFICATION OF CONTROLLER
 BENEFITS
• Improved Safety Regular and detailed
inspections can detect issues early, reducing
the risk of accidents.

• Cost Savings Drones can be more cost-

effective than traditional runway and airport
inspections, reducing operational expenses.

• Efficiency Runway and airport Inspections

can be conducted more quickly and
frequently, minimizing downtime.

• Data-driven Decision Making The collected

data can inform maintenance schedules and
prioritize repairs.
 CHALLENGES
Regulatory Hurdles Compliance with aviation
regulations can be complex and time-consuming.

Weather Dependency Weather conditions can

affect drone operations, requiring contingency
plans.

Data Security Ensure the security and privacy of

the collected data.

Technical Challenges Developing and

maintaining the drone and software systems can
be technically challenging.
 RISK ASSESMENT
3
2.5
2
FREQUENT
1.5
OCCASIONAL
1 REMOTE
0.5 IMPROBABLE

0 EXTREMELY IMPROBABLE
 LITERATURE SURVEY

S.NO JOURNAL NAME AUTHOR YEAR INFERENCE

1. Runway Inspection by David hulek, 2015 The basic concept is that the
RPAS Hana drone is equipped with a camera
Treslova and image transmission system. It
flies over the runway or other
movement area and captures
images. The images are
http://www.flir.com/co transmitted to the pilot on the
res/display/id=54717 ground, who evaluates them to
determine whether the runway is
contaminated or damaged. The
pilot can then take the necessary
corrective actions.
S.NO JOURNAL AUTHOR YEAR INFERENCE

2. THIRTEENTH AIR CHINA 2018 This paper presents a flight inspection

NAVIGATION system installed on large-size, fixed-wing
CONFERENCE unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) platforms to deploy at civil airports
and execute flight inspection of ground
https://www.icao.int/Mee communications,
tings/anconf13/Document navigation, and surveillance (CNS) facilities.
s/WP/wp_311_gen_en.pd With its compact, light-weight, highly-
f integrated design,
UAV flight inspection system (UFIS) will be
operating with lower cost as well as other
advantages

3. THE USE OF DRONE TK MALOKA 2022 The using drone technology to aid the
TECHNOLOGY TO inspection and maintenance of airport
EVALUATE AND pavements in South Africa. The research
REPORT PAVEMENT paper is about how drones can be used to
CONDITIONS IN SOUTH inspect and maintain airport runway in
AFRICAN AIRPORTS south Africa. The researchers designed a
survey questionnaire to be administered to
http://www.caa.co.za/Pages/RPAS/ selected participants based in 20 major
Remotely%20Piloted%20Aircraft%
20Systems.aspx airports in South Africa.
S.NO JOURNAL AUTHOR YEAR INFERENCE
4. RUNWAY PAVEMENT Dragana 2020 The safety risks of using drones for runway
INSPECTIONS USING Macura inspections. It starts by discussing the need
DRONE - SAFETY to understand and manage these risks,
ISSUES AND ASSOCIATED especially in environments where drones
RISKS may interact with air traffic. Then uses a
SWOT analysis to assess the importance
http://www.eurocontrol.i and feasibility of implementing drone
nt technology for runway inspections.
5. Drone Stations in Rebecca 2019 It seems like you're providing a summary or
Airports for Runway and Sappington discussing a chapter that examines various
Airplane Inspection Using aspects of the events surrounding 9/11,
Image Processing including the departure of flights, the
Techniques hijackings, conspiracy theories, alleged
video evidence, insider trading, and profits
made by certain individuals or groups. If
https://www.researchgate you have specific questions or if there's a
.net/publication/3338064 particular aspect you'd like to discuss
02_Drone_Stations_in_Air further, please feel free to ask, and I'll do
ports_for_Runway_and_A my best to provide information or insights
irplane_Inspection_Using on that topic.
_Image_Processing_Techn
iques
S.NO JOURNAL AUTHOR YEAR INFERENCE

6. Involvement of ADEL 2022 Surveillance drones in smart cities provides

Surveillance Drones in GOHARI valuable insights into the diverse
Smart Cities: A applications and benefits of UAV
Systematic Review technology. It's evident that these
technologies have the potential to
significantly contribute to sustainability and
https://ieeexplore.ieee.or enhance the quality of life in urban areas.
g/iel7/6287639/9668973/ The integration of drones with other
09781426.pdf advanced technologies, as mentioned,
highlights their versatility and efficiency in
addressing various challenges.
7. Drones supporting Mr. Juan 2023 CANARD Drones' ability to execute 50
airfield system Diaz operations across 12 airports in record time
inspections using their comprehensive solution is
indeed remarkable. Their integration of
drones and a self-developed app for a wide
https://www.airtrafficman range of inspections, including visual aids,
agement.net/article/dron radio, and infrastructure, offers a valuable
es-supporting-airfield- and efficient approach to maintaining
system-inspections airport safety and functionality.
S.NO JOURNAL AUTHOR YEAR INFERENCE

8. Flight Testing Drone Gunnar 2023 The SESAR PJ34-W3 AURA project's
Contingencies during Schwoch investigation into a shared airspace
Runway Inspection in U- between U-space and controlled airspace,
space Shared Airspace along with dynamically reconfigurable
airspace for UAS and traditional aviation,
sounds like an interesting and forward-
https://ieeexplore.ieee.or thinking concept. The flight testing of
g/document/10124322 dynamic airspace reconfiguration during a
runway inspection operation using a
camera-equipped drone is a practical
application of this idea.
9. Runway pavement Paris 2016 Group ADP pioneers drone use at airports
inspections using air sight Charles for tasks like inspecting buildings and
drone-air sight calibrating navigation equipment. Initially,
they used tethered drones for safety. In
2016, they partnered with Air sight to
https://www.airsight.de/p inspect Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport with
rojects/item/runway- untethered drones. The aim was to see if
pavement-inspections- drone-based pavement inspections, used at
using-airsight-drone/ German airports since 2015, could
complement Group ADP's visual inspections
S.NO JOURNAL AUTHOR YEAR INFERENCE

10. Systematic review on Khalifa AL- 2023 Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or
civilian drones in safety Dosari drones, are rapidly expanding in civil
and security application applications like tracking, wireless coverage,
rescue missions, and more. Smart UAVs are
the next tech leap, promising costeffective
https://www.mdpi.com/2 solutions. Initially military, drones are now
504-446X/7/3/210 widely used by civilians. This study reviews
45 publications on civilian drone use in
safety applications, showing their
increasing role in areas like security and
surveillance, making them essential in the
civilian domain
11. UAS-Based Airport Sungjin Kim 2019 Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) can be
Maintenance Inspection used to collect visual assets such as 2D geo
referenced and infrared images. These 2D
images can be converted into 3D point
https://ascelibrary.org/doi clouds through the UAS photogrammetry
/10.1061/9780784482445 process. Such point clouds can then be
.049 utilized to detect obstructions around
airports. This research describes the
process of data collection, using UAS at
airports to analyze point cloud data and
document the potential implications of
UAS-based airport inspections.
S.NO JOURNAL AUTHOR YEAR INFERENCE

12. Application of Unmanned Suriya Sarat 2022 Airports play a crucial role in
Aerial Vehicles for Chandra transportation, but their infrastructure
Monitoring Airport Asset Congress often needs maintenance. The ASCE 2021
Surface report highlighted the need for monitoring
and preservation. TxDOT inspects Texas
regional airports through visual surveys and
https://doi.org/10.1177/0 PCI estimates. This study explored using
3611981221115729 UAVs with optical cameras for airport asset
inspection. Both traditional and aerial
inspections produced similar asset
classifications.
13. Unmanned Aerial Jeremiah 2012 Unmanned aerial systems comprise a
Systems; Library of Gertler rapidly growing portion of the military
Congress budget, and have
been a long-term interest of Congress. At
https://sgp.fas.org/crs/nat times, Congress has encouraged the
sec/R42136.pdf development of
such systems; in other instances, it has
attempted to rein in or better organize the
Department of
Defense’s efforts.
S.NO JOURNAL AUTHOR YEAR INFERENCE

14 Civil unmanned aircraft Huttunen, 2019 It's true that drones have a wide range of
systems and security: The M. applications but can also pose security
European approach. threats if misused. The European Union has
recognized these challenges and has been
https://www.researchgate working on regulations to address them.
.net/publication/3359870 The new rules on drones in the EU aim to
02_Civil_unmanned_aircr strike a balance between enabling
aft_systems_and_security beneficial uses of drones and ensuring
_The_European_approac safety and security.
h
15. Airport Benefits of Drone Brandon 2019 The world of drones is changing rapidly, and
Technology Guillot as it continues to grow, more opportunities
for the use of this technology are being
https://www.aviationpros. developed. By unlocking the low-altitude
com/aircraft/unmanned/a airspace, drones can be used by airports to
rticle/12436848/airport- not only earn revenue but justify grant
benefits-of-drone- funding or even save on costs that would
technology otherwise be spent by the airport. Large
companies such as FedEx, Google, Amazon,
and Uber are investing heavily in drone
technology, and this will only lead to
further increase in drone operations around
airports.
 CONCLUSION
• Our research into the application of UAVs in airport surveillance and runway
inspection has substantial potential in enhancing the efficiency, safety, and
effectiveness of this critical aspect of aviation operations. By integrating cutting-
edge technologies like LiDAR , accelerometers, and Vifly Beacon, we can elevate
damage detection precision and data accuracy using this sensor technologies.

• The primary objective of this project has revolved around the creation of a user-
friendly, sustainable solution that caters to the evolving requirements of aviation
authorities.

• The successful adoption of UAVs technology for runway and airport inspections
presents a revolutionary approach capable of streamlining operations, reducing
expenditures, and reinforcing safety protocols within airports. Looking forward,
the incorporation of drones into runway inspections signifies a promising stride in
the realm of aviation maintenance and safety standards.

• Our research serves as a cornerstone for future advancements in this field of

aviation, aimed at ensuring the uninterrupted and secure safety operation of
airports and air travel with this new technologies.