Drone Operations Certificate Archive 2019-2020

Drone Operations Certificate Archive 2019-2020

Learn more about this certificate

Certificate Requirements: 3 courses with corresponding laboratories, 9 credits

Core Requirements (2 course and corresponding laboratory, 5 credits)

Prerequisites:

UES-L107 must be taken concurrently.

Credits:

3

Description:

Unmanned autonomous systems (UAS) or Drones are high-tech, intelligent machines capable of traveling by air, land, or sea via a remote connection. This course presents concepts and practical methods of using Unmanned Vehicles in a professional context, particularly for environmental projects. UAVs are increasingly being used in a professional capacity such as cinematography and filming, real estate, construction, surveying, mapping, agriculture, industrial inspections, utilities inspections and many more. The course covers mission planning, operations, field data collection, data processing, legal implications, data analysis and data deliverables. The course and laboratory will include learning flying micro-drones and preparing to pass the Federal Aviation Administration's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Airmen (Part 107) exam. The course will have an associated Laboratory component in which students will learn how to properly plan effective flight missions, fly safely and legally, develop risk management strategies, analyze the data captured and convert it into a useful data deliverable.

Prerequisites:

UES-107 must be taken concurrently.

Credits:

1

Description:

Unmanned autonomous systems (UAS) or Drones are high-tech, intelligent machines capable of traveling by air, land, or sea via a remote connection. This course presents concepts and practical methods of using Unmanned Vehicles in a professional context, particularly for environmental projects. UAVs are increasingly being used in a professional capacity such as cinematography and filming, real estate, construction, surveying, mapping, agriculture, industrial inspections, utilities inspections and many more. The course covers mission planning, operations, field data collection, data processing, legal implications, data analysis and data deliverables. The course and laboratory will include learning flying micro-drones and preparing to pass the Federal Aviation Administration's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Airmen (Part 107) exam. The course will have an associated Laboratory component in which students will learn how to properly plan effective flight missions, fly safely and legally, develop risk management strategies, analyze the data captured and convert it into a useful data deliverable.

Credits:

1

Description:

Building on the theory and skills learned in UES 107/L-107, UES-L108 is a one credit course which allows students to learn the hands-on skills necessary to safely and effectively operate a drone. This is a skill only learned by focused practice and flying drones on a regular basis. Techniques, tips and best practices will be examined and practiced repeatedly. Successful completion of this course will require passing a practical examination which will consist of flying a micro drone and demonstrating all the various skills that drone pilots need to employ in order to fly safely.

Electives (1 course and corresponding laboratory, 4 credits)

Choose one of the following courses with the corresponding laboratory, where applicable:

Prerequisites:

By Instructor Permission Only. UES 107/L107, UES L108. CJN L2080(concurrently). Must have a valid FAA license.

Credits:

4

Description:

This course studies and practices the usage of unmanned aerial systems from the perspective of the filmmaker. Students will study existing drone footage to explore how it is incorporated into professional video productions, primarily focusing on non-fiction. They will also learn to create appropriate pre-production industry-standard paperwork and produce footage for various contexts themselves, again primarily focusing on non-fiction work, such as 'house hunting programs'.

Prerequisites:

UES-L226 concurrently. UES 107/L107 and UES L108.

Credits:

3

Description:

This course deals with project based drone based mapping from the perspective of an environmental scientist or planner. Students will identify a need for geographic data on an environmental project, plan a drone mission, analyze the data and present the visualization through a GIS Map.

Prerequisites:

UES-226 concurrently. UES-107, UES-L107 and UES-L108.

Credits:

1

Description:

This lab accompanies UES-226 and allows for hands on work in both gathering data via drone flight missions and then taking that data and creating a map product. Work will follow Project Management protocols.

Note: To enroll in an advanced course (200-level) requiring independent drone flights, a student must have proof of an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate prior to course registration. In addition, to enroll in an advanced 200-level drone course, a student must be able to demonstrate his or her ability to fly a drone in accordance with all pertinent regulatory and University requirements.

Drone Operations Learning Goals & Objectives

Learning goals and objectives reflect the educational outcomes achieved by students through the completion of this program. These transferable skills prepare Suffolk students for success in the workplace, in graduate school, and in their local and global communities.
Learning Goals Learning Objectives
Students will understand the scientific principles that are evident in drone flight
  • Students will be able to recognize physical, chemical processes that can affect drone flight
  • Students will be able to assess, predict and explain these scientific principles
Students will understand the FAA requirements under which they will fly.
  • Students will be able to take the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate exam and obtain a passing score
Students will master drone flight techniques
  • Students will be able to prepare to fly a drone within prescribed checklists, fly the drone safely, fly within all applicable laws and regulations and will be able to assess, adapt to and/or avoid emergency situations
Option A – Environmental Mapping
Students will understand professional aerial data gathering techniques
  • Students will be able to plan a drone mission with flight planning software in order to collect useful and accurate environmental data.
  • Students will be able to take aerial data and create orthomosaic maps and 3D models that accurately represent reality
Option B – Aerial Videography

Students will understand professional aerial videography techniques
  • Students will be able to plan and execute a successful videography flight mission which safely gathers video footage
  • Students will be able to take video footage gathered on a mission and create a fully edited video using professional editing software