This list of publications reflects the U.S. DOT Volpe Center’s activities related to the topic of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including our capabilities and experience. Learn more about the capabilities that the U.S. DOT Volpe Center brings to UAS integration in partnership with FAA, DOD, NASA, and others.

2023

Alternative Approaches to Inspections for Federal Land Management Agency Roads: Using Uncrewed Aircraft Systems to Support the Road Inventory Program
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Carson Poe, Scott Gilman, Jake Butler, Remi Work, Ben Rasmussen, Eric Bergey, Katie Lyon, and Peter Tomczik

Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the Design, Construction, Inspection, and Maintenance of Transportation Infrastructure
FHWA
James Gray, Zekial Rios, Aaron Chamberlin, Thomas Walls, and Jason Lu

2022

Multi-Vehicle (m:N) Operations in the NAS – NASA’s Research Plans
NASA 
Vanessa V. Aubuchon, Kelley E. Hashemi, R. J. Shively, and Jacob M. Wishart

Noise Modeling Methods for Urban Air Mobility Vehicles in FAA’s Aviation Environmental Design Tool
NASA 
Nicholas Bradley, Sarasina Tuchen, and Eric Boeker

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and Total Mobility Innovation Framework and Analysis Case Study: Boston Area Digital Twin and Economic Analysis
NASA
Sarasina Tuchen, Dawn LaFrance-Linden, Brian Hanley, Jason Lu, Seamus McGovern, and Max Litvack-Winkler

Estimating Unmanned Aircraft Takeoff Noise Using Hover Measurement Data
FAA
Chris Cutler-Wood, Michael Barzach, Robert Downs, Chris Hobbs, and Susumu Shirayama

2021

Line-of-Sight Analysis Using Drones and Photogrammetry (Research Results)
FRA
Francesco Bedini Jacobini and William Baron

Software Scoping Document for Integration of Urban Air Mobility Vehicles into FAA’s Aviation Environmental Design Tool
NASA
Bradley Nicolas, Theodore Thrasher, and Sarasina Tuchen

2020

Blockchain for Unmanned Aircraft Systems
U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT)
Seamus McGovern

Global Benchmarking Study on Unmanned Aerial Systems for Surface Transportation: Domestic Desk Review
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Stephanie Fischer, Jason Lu, Kirsten Van Fossen, and Emily Lawless 

Multimodal Transportation Operational Scenario and Conceptual Data Model for Integration with Urban Air Mobility
NASA
Sarasina Tuchen, Ken Leiden, and Tim Bagnall

Noise Measurement Report: Unconventional Aircraft - Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; July 2019
FAA
David Read, David Senzig, Christopher Cutler-Wood, Eric Elmore, and Hua (Bill) He

Research to Support New Entrants to Public Airspace and Aircraft Noise Certification
FAA
David Read and Christopher Roof

Safety Assessment Process for UAS Ground Based Detect And Avoid (GBDAA)
U.S. Air Force
Jason Glaneuski, Dylan Hasson, Stephen J. Lloyd, Chris A. Wargo

Use Cases for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in Public Transportation Systems
FTA
Jacob Wishart, Tracy Lennertz, Dylan Hasson, and Max Litvack-Winkler

Visual Detection of Small Unmanned Aircraft System: Modeling the Limits of Human Pilots
Journal of Intelligent & Robotic Systems
Gregory Woo

2019

Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to Produce Accurate Grade Crossing Profile Data 
FRA
William Baron, Marco daSilva

Trespasser Detection on Railroad Property Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles 
FRA
William Baron, Marco daSilva

Advances in the Use of NAS Infrastructure and GBDAA for UAS Operations
U.S. Air Force
Jason Glaneuski, Peter R. Kennett, Robert J. Stamm, John M. Belange

2018

Monitoring Risk Associated with Operations of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System: Models for Analysis of Mandatory Occurrence Reports involving UAS-Manned Aircraft Encounters 
FAA
Kim Cardosi, Jason Lu, Megan France-Peterson, Tracy Lennertz, Aaron Hoffman, Thomas B. Sheridan

Pilots’ Estimation of Altitude of a Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS)
FAA
Tracy Lennertz, Andrea L. Sparko, Kim Cardosi, Alan Yost, Andrew Kendra, Jason Lu, Tom Sheridan

Quantitative Model to Support Automated Approval Processes of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations
FAA
Jason Lu

Role of Aviation in Seamless End-to-End Mobility
NASA
Sarasina Tuchen

Sound Exposure Level Duration Adjustments in UAS Rotorcraft Noise Certification Tests
FAA
David Senzig, Mehmet Marsan, Christopher Cutler-Wood, David Read

Ubiquitous Surveillance Notional Architecture for System-Wide DAA Capabilities in the NAS
U.S. Air Force
Jason Glaneuski, Dylan Hasson, Chris A. Wargo, George Hunter, John DiFelici, Pete Carros, Terry Blumer, Robert J. Kerczewsk

Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) by State DOTs – February 27, 2018, Peer Exchange
FHWA
Drew Quinton, Terrance Regan

2017

Human Factors Considerations for the Integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the National Airspace System: An Analysis of Reports Submitted to the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS)
FAA
Kim Cardosi and Tracy Lennertz

Preliminary Risk Assessment for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
NASA
Larry Barr, Richard L. Newman, Ersin Ancel, Christine M. Belcastro, John V. Foster, Joni K. Evans, David H. Klyde

UAS Flight Test for Safety and for Efficiency
NASA
Seamus McGovern

UAS Noise Certification and Measurements Status Report: Tigershark UAS Measurements, Tracking System Development, and Certification Metrics Status
FAA
David Senzig, Mehmet Marsan, Robert S. Downs, Aaron L. Hastings, Christopher J. Cutler-Wood, Robert Samiljan

Visual Detection of Small Unmanned Aircraft: Modeling the Limits of Human Pilots
Dissertations and Theses - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Gregory Woo

2016

Small Unmanned Aircraft and the U.S. Forest Service: Benefits, Costs, and Recommendations for Using Small Unmanned Aircraft in Forest Service Operations
U.S. Forest Service
Alexandra Markiewicz, Logan Nash