IN-PERSON CLASSROOM SEMINARS

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UAS for Utilities: Building a Use Case for Drones and UAVs- In Partnership with Kinetic


A One-Day Classroom Seminar

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, commonly called UAVs or drones, have the potential to revolutionize the electric and gas utility industry. UAVs are proving to be be powerful tools for utilities in the areas of maintenance inspections and operations, storm recovery evaluations, construction surveying and land surveying/GIS. Utilities and their service providers have begun to evaluate and use drones for a variety of business units to reduce costs, improve responsiveness, enhance safety and foster environmental compliance.

This conference provides a comprehensive overview of the issues electric and gas utilities need to know when evaluating the why and how of developing a drone program. Discussion includes relevant policy and regulations, utility experience with building use cases for UASs and important considerations when deciding how to structure a drone program within your organization.

What You Will Learn
  • Overview of UAS Technology
  • New FAA Regulations
  • Utility UAS Case Study: Westar Energy
  • Utility UAS Case Study: Duke Energy
  • Drones and Utility Easements: Who Has the Airspace Rights
  • Utility UAS Case Study: Hawaiian Electric Company
  • Utility UAS Case Study: Pacific Gas & Electric
  • Data in a Day
Seminar Agenda
Untitled Document

7:00-8:00 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00-8:15 a.m. Welcome

Jeff Greig, Senior Vice PresidentBusiness & Technology Services, Burns & McDonnell

8:15 - 9:00 a.m. Overview of UAS Technology

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) is an emerging technology poised to revolutionize the way data is captured and applied to solve problems. This overview dives into the value UAS technology currently affords from a construction and engineering consulting perspective and will provide a glimpse into the future usage of UAS.

Steve Santovasi, Manager, Geospatial Services Department, Burns & McDonnell

Earnest McCoy, Business Analyst, Burns & McDonnell

9:00 - 10:00 a.m. New FAA Regulations

On June 21, 2016 the Obama Administration unveiled new regulations for small, commercial drone use covering drone flights for agriculture, research and development, educational and academic use, and powerline, pipeline and antenna inspections. This presentation will cover these new regulations and the process for approval moving forward.

Robin Carlson, Partner, Stinson Leonard Street

10:00 - 10:30 a.m. Morning Networking Break 

 10:30 -11:15 a.m. Utility UAS Case Study: Westar Energy

Westar Energy has had a collaborative effort working with UASs since 2013. In early 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration granted Westar Energy an exemption allowing the utility to utilize unmanned aircraft commercially. This presentation will discuss Westar’s UAS program with respect to use case identification and field experience is the areas of T&D Inspection and Maintenance.

Tim Vice, Transmission Maintenance Analyst, Westar Energy

11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Utility UAS Case Study: Duke Energy 

Duke Energy has identified multiple use cases for UAVs. This presentation will cover Duke's drone program for Generation, Renewable Energy and Transmission & Distribution. Jacob will also discuss the rationale to employ "Drones as a Service" from an outside company.

Jacob Velky, Senior Sourcing Specialist, Duke Energy

12:00 - 12:45 p.m. Group Luncheon with Keynote Presentation by

Bob Brock, Director of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Kansas Department of Transportation

12:45 - 1:30 p.m. Drones and Utility Easements: Who Has the Airspace Rights?

Utility companies may see great benefits from using drones to inspect utility lines along existing easements or rights of way. Since drones can carry thousands of dollars of sensitive equipment, companies cannot risk having a drone shot down by an angry landowner or having operations shut down by a lawsuit or regulatory action. This presentation will explore several of the legal issues that utility companies might face if they want to use drone technology in low airspace over private property or wildlife areas.

Daniel Wennogle, Attorney, Stinson Leonard Street

1:30 - 2:00 p.m. Utility UAS Case Study:  Hawaiian Electric Company

Hawaiian Electric's companies, HECO/HELCO and MECO, are in process of examining and building the various elements of a drone program. This presentation will share some of their successes, more of their challenges, and experiences as they move into the Part 107 rules.

Joanne Williamson, Lead Land Surveyor, Survey Section/Structural Division, Hawaiian Electric Co.

2:00 - 2:15 p.m. Afternoon Break 

2:15 - 2:45 p.m. Utility UAS Case Study: Southern Company

Southern Company has a robust effort to research the use and integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).  This presentation will cover Southern Company’s UAS Policy and Strategy and also Southern Company’s UAS Transmission Inspection Project.

Dexter Lewis, Sr. Research Engineer, Southern Company

2:45 - 3:15 p.m. Utility UAS Case Study:  Exelon

Exelon’s family of companies includes three utilities that deliver electricity and natural gas to more than 8 million customers in central Maryland (BGE), northern Illinois (ComEd) and southeastern Pennsylvania (PECO). Exelon is building a foundation to incorporate Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)/drones, and robotics, across the company by performing pilots/proofs of concept, running tests, and establishing lessons-learned and procedural documentation. By aligning simultaneous efforts in drone/robotics usage amongst business units/organizations, Exelon can improve efficiency and demonstrate cost savings and value across the company.

Maria Riggio, Sr. Manager, Emerging Technology, Drones and Robotics Initiatives Lead, Exelon

 3:15 - 4:00 p.m. Data in a Day

One of the benefits of using UAS is the ability to access, process and analyze data quickly. The Burns & McDonnell UAS team will demonstrate and provide use cases for data outputs that can often be produced within 24 hours, from UAS flight to deliverable.

Steve Santovasi, Manager, Geospatial Services Department, Burns & McDonnell

Earnest McCoy, Business Analyst, Burns & McDonnell

4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Live Drone Demonstration and Closing Cocktail Reception Hosted by Burns & McDonnell

Hotel and Seminar Information
The seminar will start promptly at 8:00 AM and will finish at 4:00 PM. The program includes continental breakfast, lunch and a cocktail reception. Dress is casual for all seminars.
COVID 19 Information: Please click here for the PGS Covid-19 policy. You can confirm each hotel's specific COVID 19 policy using the link(s) provided below.
Registration Fee and Discounts
The price for this comprehensive two-day seminar is $895 (USD).
Register online or Call (440) 853-1038.
  • Additional attendees and government employees receive a 10% discount.
  • Register 4 or more attendees and receive 20% Off. Special pricing is available for groups of 5 or more.
    If you want attendees to pay with separate credit cards or have other questions, please call (440) 853-1038 for assistance.
Payments and Cancellations
Payment is due prior to the start of the seminar by Visa, Master Card, American Express, or corporate check. Seminar fees will be charged to your credit card at the time of registration unless other arrangements have been made. Please make checks payable to "PGS Energy Training" 26 Teal Lane • Hilton Head Island, SC 29926. Cancellations will result in a credit that is good for 2 years which can be transferred to a colleague. Substitutions may be made at any time. For more information on PGS policies regarding administrative matters and complaint resolution, please contact our offices at (440) 853-1038.
Who Should Attend

Engineering; Operations, Maintenance and Inspection Managers; Right of Way, GIS and Land Agents ; Aviation Program Staff ; Regulatory/Compliance Engineers and Managers ; Counsel; Attorneys; Energy Services Companies and Consultants; Regulators, Lawmakers and their staff

Prerequisites and Advance Preparation

There are no prerequisites.

Why Choose PGS?

PGS seminars are known for their clear explanations and in-depth content. Register for a PGS class today, and join the over 10,000 energy professionals who have already attended one of PGS's proven programs.

Program Level & Delivery Method
Basic level. This fundamental course begins with basic material and then proceeds to the intermediate level. Delivery method is "Group-Live.”