Approved by the Transportation Policy Committee on April 7, 2022
Approved by the Public Policy Committee on April 27, 2022
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 22, 2022

Policy

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports the appropriate, safe, and responsible use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, laws, and ordinances in the planning, design, construction, operation, and inspection of civil engineering infrastructure projects and facilities.

Furthermore, ASCE encourages the inclusion of features in UAS technology that support stronger planning, design, operation, and maintenance of our infrastructure, including transportation and human safety. UAS should not be used where they are incompatible with their operating environment.

Issue

The civil engineering industry continues to leverage new technology to enhance public health, welfare, and safety, and to improve current means and methods. As technology advances and infrastructure projects become more complex, UAS usage can make workplaces safer and provide more cost-effective delivery of civil engineering services. Federal, state, and local governments have taken steps to regulate the UAS industry.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates the airspace of the United States and has the primary authority to regulate UAS and their use in the national airspace. The FAA has issued regulations for the commercial use of UAS and will continue to monitor and issue additional regulations in the future to ensure recreational, commercial and government use of UAS are safe.

While UAS have many promising civil engineering applications, UAS can create social and legal issues. These include concerns about public safety and security, privacy, property rights, noise pollution, visual pollution, wildlife harassment, nuisance, and general annoyance.

Rationale

The applications of UAS in civil engineering are expanding and include surveying, mapping, monitoring, data collection, facilities inspections, and delivery services. The list of UAS services includes, but is not limited to:

Safety

  • Inspection and monitoring of structures and facilities
  • Construction engineering and inspection
  • Engineering and geospatial technologies
  • Site monitoring support
  • Inspection of electrical transmission systems and other high voltage electric system infrastructure and thermal/infrared mapping
  • Increased safety in hazardous inspection scenarios
  • Public education and outreach

Surveying

  • Broad perspective of features
  • 3D elevation and aerial image and mapping information
  • Initial damage assessment during natural disasters
  • Bridge and railroad modeling
  • Thermal/infrared mapping
  • LIDAR systems for data collection

Traffic-Transportation Studies

  • Peak hour traffic inspections – less disruptions to traveling public
  • Traffic engineering queuing verification at intersections and along roadways
  • Lane weaving patterns
  • Vehicular turning movements and traffic patterns

Use of UAS for civil engineering and other applications must be conducted under a regime that is safe and also compatible with federal, state, and local community standards and regulations.

ASCE Policy Statement 549
First Approved in 2016