This presentation will present an overview of micro-economic subjects for setting up and adding sUAS technology to your GIS practice. It presents an overview of business models and what it takes to be profitable. Topics include market conditions, business opportunities, cost of owning & operating, and regulatory standards requirements.

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THE ECONOMICS OF AN SUAS BUSINESS PRACTICE
An overview of
business models and what it takes to be profitable
UAS Mapping 2014
Reno
October 21, 2014
Presented by:
Colin Snow
CEO and Founder

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Research
Not again!
Source: @QuantamPirate

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Topics
1.
Evaluation and integration planning
2.
UAS ‘system’
3.
Aircraft
4.
ROI case study: measuring stockpiles
Can I make money?
If so, how much?

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Enterprise planning
1.
Have a clear business case
2.
Introduce governance and stakeholder management
3.
Anticipate problems
4.
Draw up a solid business change program
User adoption
Review practices
Training
Immediate coaching post implementation
Review the measures and metrics
5.
Partner with an implementation expert

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What’s your plan?
1.
Concept –define the mission and an enterprise solution
2.
Requirements –perform financial assessments, develop RFP
3.
Acquisition –build, buy, lease?
4.
Integration –define the business process, data engineering, testing, and training
5.
Production –deploy and manage feedback requirements
6.
Maintenance –manage operations and the asset life-cycle
Concept
Requirements
Acquisition
Integration
Production
Maintenance
Start here

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Business process
Specifies area, flight time, resolution
Site analysis, Route and waypoints, Weather check
Map over X km2, Download images and telemetry file
Load into software, Generate point-cloud measurements
Send files ftp or cloud app
Customer Demand
Mission Planning
Flight
Processing
Delivery

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UAS ‘system’ considerations
1.
Aircraft (see example next slide)
2.
Sensor / payload
3.
Ground control station
4.
Communication systems
5.
Pilot and crew
6.
Regulations
Safety
Operational risk
System deployment risk
Privacy / data management
Security

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Multirotor

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Fixed wing

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Aircraft comparison
CATEGORY
MULTIROTOR
FIXED WING
Types
Quadcopter, Hexacopter,
Octocopter, Y-6,X-8
Small, Mid-size
Features
VTOL
Hand launch, ground launcher
Construction
Aluminum,carbon fiber, plastic
Wood, foam, carbon fiber,plastic, fiberglass
Propulsion
Electric
Electric,liquid fuel
Advantages
Portability
Range
Size
14 –45”
30 –106”
Weight(+ payload)
< 25lbs.
< 15lbs.
Cost range
RTF Model: $1 –$10K
RTF Model: $1.5-$5K
Enterprise: $15K -$60K
Enterprise: $12 -$60K

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Limitations
Most aircraft
are not waterproof
Operate properly in
winds speeds below 20 knots
Battery range; maximum 40 minutes aloft
Little or no
onboard computer operating capacity
400
ft. max, VLOS, regulations pending

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Case study
Subsidiary of Noble Group
Frances Creek Mine, Northern
Territory, Australia
Haematite
IronOre -1.6 Million tons per acre
Product Railed 180 KM to Darwin
for Shipping
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/informaoz/darryn-dow

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Product pad
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/informaoz/darryn-dow

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Return
Platform selection
-Multirotorvs. Fixed Wing
Autonomous flight preference
Initial quotations varied between
AU $45K - $100K
Comparison
-GPS Rover –AU $50K, Scanner -$240k
Cost of purchase, training, certification
–AU $57K
Cost benefit
–EOM reduced from 100 to 12 hours
Return on investment
–10 months
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/informaoz/darryn-dow

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Thank you
Learn more:
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