Presenter Email
ddivakaran@gmail.com
Location
Mori Hosseini Student Union Events Center (Bldg #610) – Rooms 165 B/C
Start Date
3-3-2020 10:45 AM
End Date
3-3-2020 12:00 PM
Submission Type
Presentation
Keywords
community outreach, urban transportation, North Carolina, Utah, Ohio, unmanned, urban air, emerging technologies, states, IPP, aviation, airspace, UTM, connectivity, infrastructure, future of aviation, NCDOT, Airavat, public outreach
Abstract
Urban air mobility is an exciting next step in the area of urban transportation. While it faces many significant challenges, many states like Ohio, North Carolina, Utah, etc. are working hard to overcome them. With ground transportation in many cities stretched to the limit, UAM could provide a much-needed alternative. By utilizing 3D airspace, UAM could reduce congestion on the ground, lower pollution, cut travel times and even reduce traffic accidents. To operate in dense urban areas, vertical takeoff and landing capabilities are a must, eliminating the need for runways, making them ideal for short inner-city hops and deliveries. While wide-spread UAM flights may be a few years away, cities and states must begin preparing for them now. To take advantage of emerging technologies, states must begin analyses in their local areas.
Some of the challenges for states ahead are how to fully integrate UAM into an existing and future urban regional transportation systems. Another significant challenge for states to implementing UAM is achieving community buy-in. Before there is wide-scale UAM operations, states will also need to work with industry and focus on developing emergency landing sites and other safety procedures. The fact is creating a path forward will take collaboration among industry, communities, and all levels of government to navigate today’s challenging regulatory environment.
Presenter Biography
Darshan Divakaran is a technology evangelist, intrapreneur, aviator and keynote speaker with expertise in unmanned aviation, aviation development, flight operations, airborne safety, remote sensing, geospatial analysis and program management. He is presently an Executive Aviation Consultant for Aerospace Arizona Association. In this role, Darshan leads efforts to work with federal government, state & local agencies, public safety agencies, industries and academia to integrate a statewide UAS. Earlier he was an Executive Aviation Consultant for NC Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Division of Aviation. In his consulting role with NCDOT, Darshan was the subject matter expert on unmanned aviation for the state agencies and public safety organizations. He also led the flight operations and airborne safety during natural disaster and emergency response for the state with focus on post-hurricane infrastructure inspection and airspace deconfliction. In addition to his many roles he also overlooked the flight operations safety for North Carolinas UAS Integration Pilot Program that focused on medical & standard package delivery and infrastructure inspections under NCDOT.
Darshan has been recognized by Interdrone and Commercial UAV News as one of the top commercial drone visionaries in the world. His areas of expertise in unmanned aviation also include Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM), Counter-UAS (CUAS) and Urban Air Mobility. Darshan is also the founder and president of Airavat LLC, a company that provides UAS program management and training support to commercial companies and government agencies in the United States and abroad. He has conducted extensive research and outreach on UAS applications and has educated federal, state and local government agencies in the United States and abroad on its benefits. He currently serves on boards and committees of national organizations like TRB, UAST, AUVSI, ASTM, APSA, ANSI, NFPA, ASPRS, NASA etc. that create safety standards and best practices for unmanned aviation for both commercial companies and government agencies. In addition, he is a member of the US Transportation Research Board’s Standing Committee on Aviation Security and Emergency Management. He also serves as adjunct faculty at North Carolina State University. He is also the founding president of AUVSI North Carolina Chapter that focuses on all things unmanned for the state.
Darshan holds a Master of Geospatial Information Science and Technology degree from North Carolina State University and BS in Professional Aeronautics (with minor in Aviation Management) from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is also an FAA certified commercial pilot with multiengine rating and holds a FAA part 107 remote pilot certificate.
The Path Forward for States to Integrate UAM
Mori Hosseini Student Union Events Center (Bldg #610) – Rooms 165 B/C
Urban air mobility is an exciting next step in the area of urban transportation. While it faces many significant challenges, many states like Ohio, North Carolina, Utah, etc. are working hard to overcome them. With ground transportation in many cities stretched to the limit, UAM could provide a much-needed alternative. By utilizing 3D airspace, UAM could reduce congestion on the ground, lower pollution, cut travel times and even reduce traffic accidents. To operate in dense urban areas, vertical takeoff and landing capabilities are a must, eliminating the need for runways, making them ideal for short inner-city hops and deliveries. While wide-spread UAM flights may be a few years away, cities and states must begin preparing for them now. To take advantage of emerging technologies, states must begin analyses in their local areas.
Some of the challenges for states ahead are how to fully integrate UAM into an existing and future urban regional transportation systems. Another significant challenge for states to implementing UAM is achieving community buy-in. Before there is wide-scale UAM operations, states will also need to work with industry and focus on developing emergency landing sites and other safety procedures. The fact is creating a path forward will take collaboration among industry, communities, and all levels of government to navigate today’s challenging regulatory environment.
Comments
Presented during Concurrent Session 6A: Urban Air Mobility