Approved by the Transportation Policy Committee on January 29, 2025
Approved by the Public Policy Committee on March 28, 2025
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 10, 2025

Policy 

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports the safe, and responsible use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, laws, and ordinances in the research, planning, design, construction, operation, inspection, and maintenance of civil engineering infrastructure projects and facilities. 

Furthermore, ASCE encourages the inclusion of features in UAS technology that support stronger planning, design, design, operation, and maintenance of our infrastructure, including transportation and human safety. UAS should not be used where they are incompatible with their operating environment. 

Issue

The civil engineering profession continues to leverage new technology to enhance public health, safety, and welfare, while advancing innovative practices. As technology advances and infrastructure projects become more complex, UAS usage can make workplaces safer and provide more cost-effective delivery of civil engineering services. Federal, state, and local governments have taken steps to regulate the UAS industry. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates the airspace of the United States and has the primary authority to regulate UAS and their use in the national airspace. The FAA has issued regulations for the commercial use of UAS. As new and innovative uses for UAS emerge, the FAA evaluates these developments and will continue to monitor the industry, issuing additional regulations as needed to ensure the safe use of UAS across recreational, commercial, and government sectors. 

While UAS have many promising civil engineering applications, their use can give rise to various challenges that will need to be addressed. These include concerns about public safety and security, privacy, property rights, noise pollution, visual pollution, wildlife harassment, nuisance, and general annoyance.

Rationale 

The applications of UAS in civil engineering are expanding and include surveying, mapping, monitoring, data collection, facilities inspections, and delivery services. The list of UAS services includes, but is not limited to:

Safety and emergency response

  • Damage assessment
  • Search and rescue
  • Real time monitoring
  • Increased safety in hazardous inspection scenarios
  • Initial damage assessment during natural disasters
  • Accident analysis
  • Thermal/infrared mapping 

Design, surveying, and planning

  • Engineering and geospatial technologies 
  • Public education and outreach
  • Broad perspective of features 
  • 3D elevation and aerial image and mapping information
  • Bridge and railroad modeling 
  • LIDAR systems for data collection 
  • Conduct peak hour traffic inspections that do not disrupt the traveling public
  • Traffic engineering queuing verification at intersections and along roadways
  • Lane weaving patterns
  • Vehicular turning movements and traffic patterns

Construction

  • Construction engineering and inspection
  • Site monitoring support

Maintenance

  • Inspection and monitoring of structures and facilities
  • Inspection of electrical transmission systems and other high-voltage electric system infrastructure and thermal/infrared mapping

Commercial

  • Deliveries of food and supplies

Use of UAS for civil engineering and other applications must be conducted under a protocol that is safe and compliant with federal, state, and local community standards and regulations. However, standards and regulations need to be flexible to fully realize the benefits of UAS technology and use.

ASCE Policy Statement 549
First Approved in 2016