City of Chula Vista
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Private sector R&D
The City of Chula Vista is home to a group of aerospace and communications technology companies researching unmanned aerial systems (UAS), also known as drones. A highly-sought after test site is a large area of vacant, city-owned land in the city's innovation district near Millenia. The 375-acre site will eventually be developed as a four-year university, but with significant development activity not expected to begin for several years, the city has made a portion of the area available for drone researchers. Some portions of the site are within controlled airspace, due to proximity to Brown Field Municipal Airport, while others are outside of controlled airspace. The entire site is currently unimproved vacant land.
Drone as First Responder
The Chula Vista Police Department began a pilot program to explore the potential public safety applications of UAS through its 'Drone as First Responder' Program in 2017. Equipped with a video camera, the small battery-operated device is controlled by a trained "pilot" on the ground using a handheld controller from a safe location. CVPD and the Chula Vista Fire Department (CVFD) are being trained to use these devices in response to critical incidents such as missing persons, crime scenes, traffic collisions, wildfires, or special events. Drones will be deployed in accordance with an established policy and will not be used for random surveillance activities. Like any other public safety tool, the use of drones by government agencies is subject to federal and state laws as well as the agency's policies.
In May 2019, SVPD was authorized to fly Beyond Visual Line of Sight- allowing the drones to fly up to 3 miles in any direction from the launch site, moving from a 1-mile flight radius to 3 miles.
In August 2019, CVPD partnered with Paradise Valley Hospital and Rush Properties to add an additional launch site. This area is roughly 30% of the geographic area of the city and is responsible for about 70% of the priority calls for service.
Also in August 2019, CVPD was able to purchase two new DJI Matrice 210 V2 Drones, thanks to the generosity of the Chula Vista Police Foundation. In September 202, the CVPD purchased seven new DJI Matrice M-300 Drones. The M-300's are currently being deployed from all launch sites daily.
In March 2021, CVPD again made history as the first in the US to obtain an FAA authorization to launch from anywhere in the city. CVPD formed partnerships with Southwestern College and Ayers Hotel in eastern parts of the city to add two additional launch sites. With this addition, DFR now has city wide coverage, CVPD also was the first in the nation to obtain a two-to-one waiver to which gives us the ability to launch two drones from each location.
DFR Program drones have responded to thousands of emergencies and the program will continue to serve the residents of Chula Vista. Chief Roxanna Kennedy has called DFR one of her most important tools in improving situational awareness and protecting her officers and the community.
Get more information on the Chula Vista 'Police Department's Drone as First Responder' Program
View a Presentation on the Police Department's 'Drone as First Responder' Program
View Frequently Asked Questions on the 'Drone as First Responder' Program
FAA Integration Pilot Program
In 2018, the Federal Aviation Administration designated Chula Vista and the broader San Diego region as one of 10 sites for the UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP), which is designed to accelerate safe UAS integration and help the FAA craft enabling rules that allow complex, low-altitude operations.
One of the five local airspaces designated by the FAA as part of this pilot program is the International Border Airspace, which includes the entire City of Chula Vista as well as a portion of the City of San Diego reaching south to the U.S.-Mexico border. Within this airspace, UAS testing may involve beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations, night operations, and operations over human beings. Technology to be tested includes detect-and-avoid, identification and tracking, unmanned traffic management, and cybersecurity.
Missions conducted within the local UAS IPP will be focused on five concepts of operations (CONOPS):
- International Commerce & Border Security, including explorations of unmanned traffic management, remote identification and vehicle-to-vehicle communications
- Medical Delivery, including the transportation of patient blood and pathology specimens over fixed routes
- Smart City & Autonomous Vehicle Interoperability, including the integration of UAS data feeds with on-the-ground infrastructure for pedestrian and traffic analysis, parking availability and detection of gunshots
- Package Delivery, with a focus on the movement of high-value, low-weight goods between businesses and homes
- Public Safety, including rapid deployment to crimes in progress, fires, traffic collisions and natural disasters, as well as routine inspection of infrastructure.
More than 20 partners participate in the UAS IPP including Qualcomm, AT&T, GE, Airmap, Uber, Intel, Cape, Matternet, ENVI, Verdego Aero, AUVSI, Infragard San Diego, the City of San Di
ego, Port of San Diego, San Diego Regional Economic Development Council, UC San Diego Health System, Palomar College and Coleman University.
The City of San Diego’s Office of Homeland Security is the lead coordinator for all local UAS IPP activities. Participants in the IPP have access to streamlined and expedited waivers and exemptions through the FAA. Learn more and provide feedback.
Drones in Engineering
Two City of Chula Vista engineering employees are trained to operate drones for land survey use, which requires a Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 Remote Pilot License, a three-month training, and vetting by the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA).
Last year, drones were deployed to document construction of the Willow Street bridge replacement project, identify topography of wastewater pump stations (a Measure P project), and identifying sink holes and deteriorating pipes. A drone was used on a recent sink hole because of its location on a steep slope between properties. The drone allowed staff to quickly identify how deep the hole was, how extensive, and how much material was needed to repair it. Sending personnel to the location for surveying would have taken longer and could have been dangerous for them.
Open Space and Land Development divisions have also requested use of the drone for photos and video of property. Information gleaned from the drone can be compiled faster than using standard surveying procedures, thus resulting in cost savings as well. One of the biggest benefits in using drones is the safety of surveyors who don’t have to be in the street trying to avoid traffic. Drones can also get to difficult areas easier and help complete a project quicker and more efficiently.
Start-up costs for the program totaled at $2,500 and included one drone and software. Program funds were allocated from the City’s operations budget. These drones are only used in the public right-of-way.
Chula Vista is the first city in the county to use drones in their engineering projects. Staff have been contacted by other departments and cities for advice on drone use and its capabilities.
Documents
UAS Integration Pilot Program Overview
Chula Vista Police Department Policy on UAS operations