Design of a process model for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in emergencies

The electricity network is one of the most important infrastructures in modern industrialized societies. In the case of power outages, the society becomes aware of their dependence on electricity and organizations responsible for recovery work need precise information about the location and the type of the damage, which are usually not available. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, are aircrafts without a human pilot on board and may help to collect this information. While many technical approaches for UAS exist, a systematic process model for using UAS in emergencies based on the organizations needs is still missing. Based on the presentation of current types of UAS, approaches of using UAS and workshops with organizations responsible for recovery work (police and fire department, public administration, power supplier) this paper presents a process model for UAS in emergencies, especially power outages, which takes both theoretical findings and human experiences into consideration.