Development of a Stackable Certificate Program for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Technicians

北达科他州于2013年建立了北方平原无人驾驶飞机系统（UAS）试验场。2015年，美国第一个以UAS为重点的商业园区Grand Sky在北卡罗来纳州的大福克斯开业。2020年，美国最大的全州UAS网络开始工作，使UAS飞行超越视线。在此期间，北达科他州的无人机行业已经从几十名工人发展到1000多人。无人机系统技术的发展，加上无人机系统在农业和自然资源管理中的应用，使得北达科他州农村地区需要熟练的无人机系统技术人员。位于Bottineau的达科他学院建议通过开发一个可堆叠的证书项目来帮助满足北达科他州对小型无人机系统（sUAS）技术人员的新需求，该项目将为毕业生进入sUAS劳动力市场做好准备。该项目将通过UAS技术推进科学教育，为北达科他州农民、牧场主、州政府机构和企业带来繁荣。通过教育和实践培训，拟议的项目将满足北达科他州对农业和自然资源管理方面持牌SUAS飞行员日益增长的需求。该项目的目标包括：（1）将当前的sUAS课程发展成为一个可堆叠的证书计划，旨在满足商业，工业和国家机构合作伙伴的需求;（2）培训sUAS，遥感，农业和自然资源软件应用方面的教师;（3）为工作场所的技术人员提供sUAS技术的继续教育。该项目将提高北达科他州农业运营和自然资源管理的效率和准确性，将无人机技术交给高素质的suAS飞行员。记录的学生工作和实习经验将有助于对农业和自然资源管理中的sUAS应用的研究机构。所收集的数据和项目结果将通过NCAT和ATE传播。该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于推动国家经济的先进技术领域的技术人员的教育。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

North Dakota established the Northern Plains Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site in 2013. In 2015 Grand Sky, the nation’s first commercial UAS-focused business park, opened in Grand Forks, N.D. and in 2020, work began on the nation’s largest statewide UAS network, enabling UAS flights beyond visual line of sight. During this time, North Dakota’s UAS industry has grown from several dozen workers to more than 1,000. Growth in UAS technology, coupled with advancements in UAS applications in agriculture and natural resources management, has created a need for skilled UAS technicians in rural North Dakota. Dakota College at Bottineau proposes to help meet North Dakota’s emerging need for small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) technicians by developing a stackable certificate program that will prepare graduates to enter the sUAS workforce. This project will advance scientific education and increase prosperity for North Dakota farmers, ranchers, state agencies, and businesses via UAS technology.Through education and hands-on training, the proposed project will address North Dakota’s growing need for licensed sUAS pilots in agriculture and natural resources management. The goals of this project include (1) growing the current sUAS curriculum into a stackable certificate program designed to meet the needs of business, industry and state agency partners; (2) training faculty in sUAS, remote sensing, and agricultural and natural resources software applications; and (3) delivering continuing education in sUAS technology to technicians already in the workplace. The project will enhance the efficiency and accuracy of North Dakota’s agriculture operations and natural resources management by putting drone technology into the hands of highly qualified sUAS pilots. Documented student work and internship experiences will contribute to the body of research on sUAS applications in agriculture and natural resources management. Data collected and project results will be disseminated through NCAT and ATE. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.