New photogrammetric test facility for UAS opens in Denmark in 2015
Hans Christian Andersen Airport, Danish Geodata Agency and COWI on the 1th of December has signed an agreement to build a special so called photogrammetric test facility for UAS in the airport’s national test center – UAS Test Center Denmark.
The increasing use of civil drones for mapping purposes has attracted Danish Geodata Agency as an active partner in the project: “The drone in itself is not so interesting – but rather the data it can collect. With the photogrammetric test facility in UAS Test Center Denmark, it will now be possible – as one of the only places in Europe – to ensure and test the quality of the data collected by drones used for mapping of an area.” Said special consultant Niels Henrik Broge from Danish Geodata Agency.
environment where it is possible to experiment with drone technologies. The photogrammetric test facility
is a step in that direction.
Test facility with international dimension
It is expected that the test facility is going to be of interest also to international users and companies that
currently have to use a few suitable alternatives in Europe. According to Jesper Falk, Head of Sector for land surveying at COWI, there is a great potential in the test facility:
“With more than double the tasks from 2013 to 2014 and increasing demand for better sensors and
professional map products, is COWI looking forward to get tested and approved the various products in a
controlled test environment as the one UAS Test Center Denmark is building.”
UAS Test Center Denmark is also looking forward to that test facility for UAS is ready for use in spring 2015.
“We are well underway with the development of the photogrammetric test facility. The facility is a single
step in the development of the national test center, which should ultimately be one of Europe’s leading
facilities for the industry. The aim is to attract both Danish and foreign companies, “says UAS Test Center
Denmark project manager, Michael Larsen.
Good test facilities can provide Danish companies and research institutions a boost in an industry where
the European Commission has estimated that by 2050 there will be over 150,000 European jobs.
Correspondingly a US report shows that until 2023 drone market will globally convert 500 billion DKK. A
Danish interdepartmental working group will by the end of 2014 publish a long-awaited report on the use
of drones in Denmark. A national survey indicates a potential of 750 new UAS jobs in Denmark in 2017.Danish drone report recommends new initiatives for the Danish industry
UAS Test Center Denmark is also highlighted in the 100-page drone report, published in the summer by the Danish Board of Technology, which indicates a need for both a national strategy and support for the test center’s continued development.
UAS Test Center Denmark provides the primary funding for the test facility, while the Danish Geodata
Agency and COWI co-finance’s the project through precision measurements and installation of objects and design. Furthermore, the national union Geoforum is a part of the project in order to create a stronger link between the members of the union and the new test facility.
The parties are now in the process of detailed planning of the test facility, after which the draft will be send for consultation with the industry, so specialists and future users can give their input on how the facility should be best designed to accommodate their needs. The test facility is expected to be ready for opening 1st of March 2015.
UAS Test Center Denmark
From commercialization of research projects to hub for international companies, UAS Test Center Denmark, is a unique spot for UAS and UAS-related businesses. In close cooperation with the Danish CAA we have developed an airspace at Hans Christian Andersen Airport in Odense for testing and operating UAS. Due to this close cooperation we are able to offer a short and effective approval process. UAS Test Center also offers UAS ground school, runs a UAS incubator. Odense Municipality and Nordfyn Municipality own Hans Christian Andersen Airport. The airport runs both the mentioned test center, UAS Test Center Denmark and the national industry network, UAS Denmark, with over 70 members at this moment.
Contact:
UAS Test Center Denmark
Michael Larsen, Head of UAS
Tlf. + 45 40 46 91 02
Mail: lml@hca-airport.dk
www.uastestcenter.com
Danish Geodata Agency
Niels Broge, Consultant
Tlf. + 45 72 54 52 13
Mail: nihbr@gst.dk
COWI
Jesper Falk, Head of land surveying sector
Tlf. + 45 56 40 1095
Mail: jxf@cowi.dk
