UAS Applications and Use Cases 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which UAS application is most commonly used for monitoring crop health across large agricultural fields?
- Multispectral imaging (Correct answer)
- RGB photography
- Thermal mapping
- LiDAR scanning
Correct answer: Multispectral imaging
Multispectral imaging captures wavelengths beyond visible light to reveal plant stress, disease, and nutrient deficiencies not visible to the naked eye.
Question 2: A utility company wants to inspect power lines in a remote, rugged area. Which UAS capability makes this task safer than traditional methods?
- Ability to fly at night
- Elimination of the need for human workers to climb structures (Correct answer)
- Lower operational cost than helicopters
- Real-time video streaming to the ground station
Correct answer: Elimination of the need for human workers to climb structures
UAS can inspect elevated infrastructure like power lines without requiring human workers to climb dangerous structures, significantly reducing injury risk.
Question 3: When using UAS for search and rescue operations, which sensor provides the greatest advantage for locating missing persons at night?
- High-resolution RGB camera
- Thermal infrared camera (Correct answer)
- Multispectral camera
- LiDAR sensor
Correct answer: Thermal infrared camera
Thermal infrared cameras detect body heat signatures, enabling operators to locate people in darkness or through light vegetation.
Question 4: A construction company uses UAS to track project progress over time. What type of deliverable is most useful for comparing site conditions across multiple survey dates?
- Single orthomosaic images
- Time-lapse orthomosaic comparisons (Correct answer)
- Individual raw video recordings
- Single point cloud files
Correct answer: Time-lapse orthomosaic comparisons
Time-lapse orthomosaic comparisons allow construction managers to overlay georeferenced maps from different dates and measure progress quantitatively.
Question 5: Which UAS application involves deploying drones to release beneficial insects or apply targeted treatments to specific crop zones?
- Variable rate application
- Precision agriculture spraying (Correct answer)
- Crop scouting
- Yield mapping
Correct answer: Precision agriculture spraying
Precision agriculture spraying uses UAS to apply pesticides, herbicides, or beneficial organisms at exact locations, reducing chemical use and increasing efficiency.
Question 6: In filmmaking, what term describes the regulatory authorization that allows a production company to fly a UAS beyond standard Part 107 limitations?
- COA (Certificate of Waiver or Authorization) (Correct answer)
- Letter of Agreement
- Special Flight Rules Area permit
- Temporary Flight Restriction waiver
Correct answer: COA (Certificate of Waiver or Authorization)
A Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) is issued by the FAA to allow operations that deviate from standard rules, commonly sought by film productions for BVLOS or flying over people.
Question 7: Real estate photography using UAS is regulated under FAA Part 107. Which of the following real estate UAS flights would require a waiver?
- Shooting a property during daytime in Class G airspace
- Flying over a moving crowd of people attending an open house (Correct answer)
- Capturing footage below 400 feet AGL
- Operating within visual line of sight of the remote pilot
Correct answer: Flying over a moving crowd of people attending an open house
Flying over moving people not directly involved in the operation is prohibited under standard Part 107 rules and requires a waiver.
UAS Applications and Use Cases 2
Which UAS application is most commonly used for monitoring crop health across large agricultural fields?