Rapid Rise in Drone Use Presents Risk to Higher Ed

As the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prepares to release regulations governing drones, the use—and concerns about risks—of these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) continue to grow rapidly, and educational institutions are paying attention.

Response to a new federal law that requires drone owners to register their aircrafts with the FAA’s UAS registry or face civil and criminal penalties demonstrates their popularity. Nearly 300,000 owners registered their UAVs in the first 30 days after the registration system went online in December 2015, and registrations have continued steadily, the FAA reported. The registration rule applies to small unmanned aircraft that weigh between 0.55 pounds and 55 pounds and are flown outdoors.

Educational institutions use drones for a variety of reasons, such as recording aerial views of campus for promotional use or athletic team practices for coaching. In addition, some campuses use them to conduct inspections and map building sites. These campuses are developing rules and training for official usage, but the rapidly growing personal use raises risk management concerns. More students and visitors will fly their devices on campus, increasing risks of privacy invasion and property damage or personal injury, and making it more difficult for institutions to monitor and regulate use.

Drones are among the fastest-growing technology categories, according to the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which estimated market revenue would increase by 52 percent from 2014 to 2015—with approximately 400,000 units sold in the 2015 holiday season. A study from AUVSI, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, estimates that once UAS are integrated into U.S. airspace, the drone market could create 100,000 jobs and $82 billion in economic impact by 2025. That growth will also affect colleges and universities.

“From an educational standpoint, UAS is seen as the next chapter in American aviation and aerospace,” said Tom McMahon, vice president of advocacy and public affairs for AUVSI. “Many schools are starting curriculum for unmanned systems, and it is a promising career for students.”

While universities and colleges are anticipating dramatic growth in personal use, federal regulations, and the need for campus policies and training, they’re also considering how to expand drone usage in research, education, and risk management. Cornell, Auburn, and Harvard universities, and the Stevens Institute of Technology are among those monitoring regulatory requirements and determining best practices for UAVs in their unique campus environments.

From Agricultural Research to Safety Inspections

Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., has been flying UAVs for more than a decade for research projects, such as investigating the nitrogen content of soil and crop disease. Students also participate in national student unmanned air systems (UAS) competitions, designing, building, and flying their own drones at event sites.

Cornell requires a review of UAV projects. In addition to FAA compliance, risk management administrators examine the type of activity, purpose, location, and type of aircraft. “We want to understand what they are doing and what their outcomes are,” said Craig R. McAllister, director of Cornell’s Office of Risk Management and Insurance. “We want to make sure, as with any tool, that the use is appropriate and that it’s not being used just because it’s the newest thing.”

Students and researchers must complete training appropriate to their drone-related projects. Students participating in competitions, for example, enroll in the internal training program at the off-campus model-aircraft airport where they fly their UAVs.

To the FAA, educational institutions are commercial entities and must apply for an exemption to fly drones—usually Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA), which allows research, training, and flight demonstrations. It requires extensive paperwork and, in most cases, the expense of legal counsel with expertise in UAVs and FAA regulations.

Many institutions partner with a third party with the necessary federal approvals. Cornell, for example, works with governmental entities and a UAV operations center at Griffiss Air Force Base, a former U.S. Air Force installation in Rome, N.Y. The university maintains the liability for the drone operations, McAllister said.

McAllister hopes Cornell can open up new opportunities for research and risk reduction. For example, he envisions using drones to take over activities that could potentially injure a university employee or contractor, such as inspections of roofs and steep gorges.

As drones become more popular among consumers, McAllister said he is more concerned about the potential injury and property damage associated with outside parties flying drones over university property than university-sanctioned UAV activity. “Anyone can buy one on Amazon,” he said. “They may be inexperienced."

The upcoming FAA rules should enhance safety, McAllister said. “Most people want to do the right thing, but they don’t know what the right thing is.”

A History of Flight Education

At Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., the Department of Public Safety & Security banned all unauthorized drone flights on football game days. First-time offenders receive a written warning of violation from university police. A second offense means confiscation of the drone and possible criminal charges.

The university is also developing a campuswide drone policy. The move reflects Auburn’s 80 years of aviation education and 75 years of manned flight training. Auburn’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight School opened in 2015 after the university received an FAA Section 333 exemption, which also allows researchers to conduct aerial data collection. The school offers a three-day training program for budding drone pilots among students and the general public.

More than half the flight school coursework focuses on safety, said Bill Hutto, director of the Auburn University Aviation Center. In the classroom, trainees go over topics such as preflight checklists, flight regulations, and authorizations and approvals. Outside, in the field, they learn about the drone’s safety features and maneuverability. “Because of our long history and approach to manned flight training, we want to be sure that the people who fly on behalf of Auburn are properly trained,” he said.

Eager to Take Flight

In addition to FAA restrictions, some higher education institutions have to deal with restricted airspace regulations and the risks of operating in densely populated areas. Harvard University, for example, has limited experience with drones, in part because of its proximity to Boston’s Logan International Airport, said Walter Pizzano, director of risk strategy and insurance.

In October 2015, the university sponsored a drone rally during its annual HUBweek, an event that showcases science, art, and technology initiatives by area universities and businesses. Harvard hired a third party with an FAA exemption and experience sponsoring drone rallies.

“We vetted them to see whether they had the necessary controls, experience, and personnel,” Pizzano said. “Once we determined that they did, the university’s event organizer designed a plan for the event. I was the risk adviser in the background.” Precautions for the rally, which took place in Harvard Stadium, included covering the spectator seating area with netting.

Each of Harvard’s individual schools has the authority to seek an exemption to use drones. The proposed FAA regulations could open new opportunities for Harvard’s various academic departments. “We would like to see more,” Pizzano said. “The risk is certainly manageable. We are risk-tolerant. We ask that they do their research and contact us. We want them to be prepared about the risks.”

Focus on Personal Safety

Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J., bans all recreational use of UAVs on its campus, which sits across the Hudson River from New York City. Any Stevens employee or student who wants to operate a drone must obtain authorization from Stevens, which will seek FAA approval. The policy is designed to mitigate the risks associated with Stevens’ small campus and its urban location.

“Our location makes us an attractive institution for technology but not for drone use,” said David Fernandez, director of environmental health and safety. “Because of that, when we do use drones, we are going to use them at alternate sites.” Stevens collaborates with people or companies that have FAA approvals or exemptions for research projects and student competitions.

The main concern is personal safety, rather than property or privacy issues, said Chuck Shaw, Stevens’ chief risk and compliance officer. With the popularity of drones for recreational use, administrators were worried about students flying drones on campus—or even in dorm rooms. For that reason, the university instituted the ban. “There are all kinds of exposures there. We don’t know if the people using them can control them well. Then it gets into who is responsible,” he said.

The current FAA system—that is, the lack of rules—might increase risk. “There are a lot of universities in the U.S. and only a handful have exemptions,” Fernandez said. “We are left to assume that people aren’t using (drones) or are using them without complying with the law.” The proposed rules will “make the whole process safer and help protect people and property.”

By Donna Davis, a freelance business and education writer

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