Case Study: Ohio DOT Uses AirData Live Streaming for Safe, Effective Emergency Management
Summary and Objectives: Emergency Responses in State of Ohio
In March 2024, two dozen tornadoes tore through the state of Ohio. The Ohio Department of Transportation mounted a swift disaster response in Logan County that involved the coordination of multiple state departments.
A month later, the Ohio DOT put years of planning into action to manage a massive influx of traffic due to a historic solar eclipse that crossed North America from April 8-9. The department again worked with multiple state agencies to manage traffic and civilian safety at multiple points along the route of the eclipse, putting measures in place to head off dangerous road conditions.
These scenarios presented chaotic and unpredictable conditions, with highly limited access to information. With numerous roadways blocked, the Ohio DOT opted for the use of unmanned aircraft to provide surveillance and vision of emergency sites and congested corridors. UAVs were critical for safely routing resources and increasing the reach of state personnel. It was also incumbent on ODOT to provide information and real-time monitoring for a multi agency response.
The objectives for both efforts were to:
Provide safe passage for civilians and first responders through damaged or congested road systems.
To survey and monitor areas that had been damaged by the tornadoes or blocked off by eclipse spectators.
Provide reliable, real-time information from multiple sources to a number of multi-agency command centers.
Challenges: Geography and Multi-Agency Coordination
Updating Streaming Solutions
The department was transitioning from an older system that provided streaming from a single source. They were in the process of transitioning to a new live streaming service when the tornadoes hit. ODOT needed to get new live streaming and UAV workflows in place in a very short period of time, making sure that users were sufficiently trained in the new system.
Inter-Agency Communication
In both response efforts, the ODOT team had to provide visibility of large areas of the state to help safely allocate resources and provide timely assistance. The team coordinated efforts with over a dozen other state agencies, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio EPA, Ohio National Guard, Ohio Fire Marshal’s Office, and numerous others.
Hazardous Roadways
The aftermath of the tornadoes also saw extensive property damage across the states. Many roads and highways were also hazardous and untraversable. Emergency response routes had to be carefully planned so as to avoid damage and obstacles.
Constant Video Uptime
A major challenge during the solar eclipse was the need to monitor multiple potential congestion hot spots. Managing multiple sites required the continuous uptime of video feeds going to multiple sites.
Solutions: AirData’s Lightweight, Low-Latency UAS Live Streaming
UAS Capabilities and Benefits
ODOT's Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Center helped provide key surveillance capabilities in both scenarios. UAVs allow pilots to establish a presence in a large area quickly, effectively, and while prioritizing their own physical safety. UAVs are also able to perform these functions at far lower costs than manned aviation.
Remote Activation of Live Streaming
AirData worked with ODOT to swiftly get multiple UAVs up and running with Live Streaming while the ODOT team was en route to the tornado damage sites. AirData’s Live Streaming has no additional hardware requirements, which allowed multiple aircraft to be remotely enabled for streaming in a matter of minutes.
Flexible Viewing Options
Live footage was streamed to multiple command centers through the use of AirData’s highly flexible viewing options. Video is streamed from a device running the AirData UAV mobile app and can then be viewed from another instance of AirData UAV, from the AirData web app, or via secure URLs. Video feeds can also be incorporated into custom dashboards.
Secure, Low-Latency Performance
AirData’s streaming feature was designed to target first responder needs. It therefore prioritizes low-latency performance for improved responsiveness between operators in the field and personnel in remote command centers. The app offers encrypted HTTPs connections as well as PIN codes to protect the security of operations.
Diverse UAV Fleets
In the aftermath of the tornadoes, Ohio DOT personnel streamed live video from two commercial drones to their Operations Center in Springfield, OH, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and ODOT’s Traffic Management Center.
During the solar eclipse, the Ohio DOT streamed from an even larger fleet comprising small recreational aircraft, high-end aerial photography drones, and drones designed for industrial use. The ODOT team managed five video outputs again going to their Traffic Management Center and the Ohio Emergency Operations Center.
Results
ODOT was able to keep multiple aircraft in the air and live streaming for the duration of both response efforts. AirData’s Live Streaming, designed for use on multiple platforms, facilitated quick setup and installation times on ODOT’s existing UAV equipment. Pilots were able to quickly grasp the Live Streaming workflow, and the team was fully enabled to provide video coverage in a matter of hours while en route to the tornado damage sites.
The live footage allowed officials in the Emergency Operations Center and Traffic Management Center to better grasp ground conditions and direct response efforts. During the aftermath of the tornadoes, ODOT flew “hub and spoke” style flights with pilots in one set location fanning out in different directions from that central point. This allowed cyclical coverage of a large disaster site. The solar eclipse required monitoring over extensive highway routes along the path of the eclipse. Pilots flew and streamed video over highways I70, I75, US33, and 190.
The ODOT team experienced limited LTE cellular connectivity due to tornado damage. AirData’s Live Streaming was designed to operate under difficult cellular conditions, minimizing interruptions, and maximizing streaming efficiency. Downed cellular infrastructure made consistent connectivity a challenge, which tested the resiliency of the AirData streaming solution in adverse conditions. The ODOT team is currently investigating the use of Starlink in future emergencies to provide better connectivity and further optimize the use of AirData Live Streaming in the field.