University of North Dakota and Insitu use AltiCam Vision systems to conduct Red River aerial flood plain surveillance.

Hood River, OR., April 23, 2010

The University of North Dakota's (UND) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Center of Excellence and Insitu Inc. , are using AltiCam Vision imaging systems to conduct aerial flood plain surveillance along the Red River.

In preparation for the flood, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty enlisted the help of UND to monitor rising river levels along the Red River, which threaten communities along the North Dakota and Minnesota border.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Certificate of Authorization (COA) permitting AltiCam Vision equipped ScanEagle UAVs to be flown over the flooded area during this operation. UND is directing the effort with assistance from an Insitu flight operator team. This is the first time a university and a federal agency have collaborated on a project where a UAS has been used for flood plain research.

"We appreciate the support of NOAA, Govs. Hoeven and Pawlenty and the FAA for recognizing this critical need and allowing us to fly the ScanEagle in the national airspace. We are gathering important data that will provide scientists and first responders with real-time imagery of the flood progression, which will help facilitate future flood forecasting," said Jeff Kappenman, director of the Unmanned Aircraft System Center of Excellence at UND.

While AltiCam Vision equipped ScanEagles have logged more than 290,000 hours on successful military missions, UAS have not seen wide domestic use. State and county officials are beginning to recognize the vast potential and cost benefits of using UAS as an alternative to manned aircraft.

"We have long envisioned the benefits that unmanned aircraft can offer communities. They provide safe, effective alternatives to manned aircraft, offering continual surveillance, particularly when it is impractical to put a pilot in the air," said Insitu Business Development Executive Paul McDuffee. "We thank the FAA, NOAA and UND for enabling the Red River operation."

Professor Doug Marshall at UND is excited about this opportunity and the teaching tool it will provide his students. UND launched its UAS program because the university recognized the future role UAS would play and the opportunities they would provide for students interested in aviation. Marshall expects to use data from this operation to teach students. Data will also be shared with the FAA and NOAA, providing information that will be useful for future UAS operations.

 The University of North Dakota, located in Grand Forks, N.D., is at the forefront of UAS education, research and training. UND recently initiated the first and only undergraduate program offering a bachelor's degree in UAS Operations. The center is a key player in ongoing efforts to facilitate the integration of unmanned aircraft into the national airspace. Leveraging its 40 years of success in commercial aviation education UND is developing a national UAS training center in North Dakota. For more information on UAS activities at UND, visit www.uasresearch.org.

The AltiCam Vision Corporation, located in Hood River, Oregon, designs, builds, and sells stabilized turrets that incorporate electro-optical cameras, infrared imagers, laser markers and designators, and many other sensor payloads.  AltiCam Vision(tm) imaging systems offer sophisticated capacities developed to address a full range of military and civilian needs. The systems can accurately lock onto a target and carefully observe it while mounted to a constantly moving, high performance platform. To date, these AltiCam Vision systems have accumulated more than 290,000 operational flight hours and 35,000 sorties. For more information, visit www.AltiCamvision.com.