Multiple-Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Improved Physical Security, Source Recovery, and Emergency Response

Uses of and improvements to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS/drones) are one of the fastest growing technology spaces in the global commercial market. Many organizations are seeking ways to evaluate the potential for new operational applications as well as the possibility of integrating UAS technologies into existing physical security system operations. Higher quality, more robust, and lighter sensor payloads will become commonplace and support growing efforts to streamline autonomous UAS flights, which will further both safety and security use cases for drones at critical infrastructure. In addition, costs for UAS continue to decrease as their availability, ease of use, and adoption grow. There are numerous commercial manufacturers marketing UAS for visual inspection and/or radiological survey in hard-to-reach, hazardous, or dangerous environments to reduce worker doses and improve worker safety during those operations. In most cases, drone payloads can be easily swapped out to accommodate optical or other sensor uses. Various chemical sensors are also available to cover industrial hygiene survey needs. Advancements in 3D mapping capabilities, joined with live GPS and radiological data acquisition, are now assisting operators in orphan source recovery and emergency response situations. As facilities consider practices to help reduce overall site operations costs and duration, UAS show promise as an adaptable, multi-use tool capable of enhancing site physical security via improved situational awareness as well as payload adaptability to perform facility inspections and radiological surveys. This paper will explore the UAS use cases and operational realities of adapting various UAS types in physical security source search and recovery, and emergency response applications at nuclear facilities.