ODOT to conduct $5.9 million drone study as way to monitor traffic

DUBLIN, OH. — DriveOhio has partnered with the Ohio State University's College of Engineering to study unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also called drones, as a way to monitor traffic and respond to emergency situations, according to our partners at WBNS-TV.

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"They gather data... video type of information," said David Gallagher, chief of staff for the Ohio UAS Center. "ODOT's traffic management center can see video real time to see the severity of an accident, [and] see if there is any casualties."

The mini aircraft will show real-time road conditions, show traffic patterns and oversee bridges.

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"This is just to kinda assess the technology, see how it works over roads and bridges, see how it communicates with our existing transportation and infrastructure," said Gallagher.

The study, which will cost $5.9 million over three years to complete, is set to begin on July 1.

The research will occur along US 33, which is known as the Smart Mobility Corridor.