UAS Sightings Report Power BI Tool
Document Type
Website
Publication/Presentation Date
7-2025
Abstract/Description
Since November 2014, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has collected more than 20,000 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) sighting reports from pilots, air traffic controllers, citizens, and law enforcement, documenting potentially hazardous drone activity. Using Power Query to analyze UAS sighting narratives and leveraging interactive Power BI dashboard capabilities, this tool visualizes estimated sighting locations by state, county, city, and nearby airport. Key report elements include: altitude, aircraft type, evasive actions, and year-over-year trends, all dynamically displayed to support contextual analysis. The tool also includes the capability to apply custom filters and search criteria, allowing users to explore specific subsets of UAS sighting reports. To enhance situational awareness, the dashboard integrates publicly-available geospatial layers such as airspace classification, UAS Facility Maps, FAA Digital Obstacle Data, Recognized Identification (FRIA) areas, and Recreational Flyer Fixed Sites, offering a comprehensive view of UAS activity across the National Airspace System. This database is offered in an open-access format for researchers, industry members, regulators, and the general public to improve understanding of UAS sightings within the National Airspace System.
Scholarly Commons Citation
Scallon, N., & Wallace, R. (2025). UAS Sightings Report Power BI Tool. , (). Retrieved from https://commons.erau.edu/db-aeronautical-science/6
