Game Management Research Program

The CONOP below shows a mission to support Game Management research program. Your task is to finish the incomplete parts of the CONOP. You will need to research and analyze regulatory information in producing applicable elements identified in this CONOP, and most importantly, that will provide professional results. Incomplete components are identified with [brackets] that you must adequately complete. There may be other elements not bracketed that you will need to include.

CONOP

In using this CONOP, you will need to integrate the information directly into your submission. Use the correct formatting from APA 7 (below is not an APA portrayal). You may copy and paste these elements below and, in most cases, may need additional narrative. The body of your CONOP should be less than three pages. Refer to the Appendix items below (and use them in your submission unless you want to build your own).

The CONOP Template identifies elements that are a part of each section:

1. Operations Project/Mission Description. Our company, Eagle UAS, was contracted by HPDSU to provide imagery on a watershed spanning approximately 15 square miles. This initial CONOP kicks off a monthlong preparation window that will update just prior to deployment. The data collection plan is to capture plant health and big game populations in low-lying areas along creeks and streams of the watershed. The HPDSU research program is sponsored by the state in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, and Game and Fish Department. a. Assigned Crew. [X ea. Remote Pilot in Commands (RPICs) / X ea.Visual Observers (Vos)] b. Location. The center of the area is near the intersections of Petes Creek, Ranch Creek, and Russian Creek west of the Killdeer Mountain State Game Management Area in North Dakota. You will move to and operate from three distinct bases of operation; 47°27’03.0″N 103°05’28.2″W
   47°28’22.1″N 103°05’53.9″W
   47°27’12.9″N 103°07’15.6″W
2. Project/Mission Execution. The team will conduct pre-deployment, deployment, and post-deployment operations to support the mission described. Thorough planning will further define pre-deployment and deployment tasks as there are more extensive elements of coordination and movement considerations. a. Intent. The team will utilize the necessary hardware and software from our inventory to perform this operation. This will be a complex operation that will require [detailed coordination and remote access by off-road capable vehicles on public and private lands]. Our monthlong pre-deployment time has been busy. b. Concept of Project/Mission. Our SOP supports deployment phase movement, establishment, and flight operations, which need fine details. [Data Collection requirements include 1) capturing plant health with NDVI imagery in low-lying areas along creeks and streams, and 2) obtaining general animal populations of antelope, deer, and larger game in these same areas]. Coordination in pre-deployment must ensure proper (federal, state, county) regulatory compliance, as well as with landowners. Potential hazards are obstacles on site, weather, and public/private access (roads and trails) [conduct analysis with Web App tools and regulations]. Confirm the flight planning and airspace coordination that supports our operation [separately for both types of data collection], as the aeronautics commission has recommended, we submit a DROTAM/NOTAM [show the process without submitting]. Additionally, [determine] locations of VOs, [show details of the launch and recovery locations, and the routes to get to them]. Derive a detailed timeline that adequately considers mobility with mission requirements. The coordinate movement, regulatory assessment/coordination, and communication [this may be a table, tables, or charts that show parameters for ALL regulations, movement, and communications]. c. Timeline. [Complete a timeline as an appendix entry]
3. Administration/Logistics. Crews will utilize time in Pre-Deployment to select proper aircraft from our inventory and to coordinate support requirements upon arrival. Our safety standards will be followed. a. Safety/Human Factors. Based upon the factors found in your assessment, [construct a Preflight Risk Assessment] based upon all parameters. Compile a hazard analysis for this area and mission requirements [construct a table that identifies the hazard (physical) in one column, with the mitigation in the next column]. We will lodge in Killdeer through the deployment. b. Equipment (UAS, Flt Ops Gear, etc.). Identify equipment needed to support all of the assigned aircraft for this operation [Compile a table for these elements as an appendix entry] and consider redundancy. Platforms that support these missions from our inventory are as follows: - Sensefly eBee Ag (3 systems available) - Parrot Disco ProAg (2 systems available) - DJI M30 (2 systems available) with 30T sensors - Parrot Anafi USA (2 systems available) - Autel EVO II Dual 640T (2 systems available) c. Transportation (vehicles and routes). All personnel will conduct standardized deployment from the home station (Omaha, NE). Identify proper vehicles to support this specific operation [the organization has whatever platforms (and supporting equipment) are required and identify these elements as an appendix entry]. As much of this area is remote with some public land and private lands to traverse, a detailed route of on-road and off-road imagery is needed for each of the bases.
4. Communications. Our SOP guides us to use the FRS radio systems for team communications, and the VHF handheld transceiver to monitor local airborne traffic. a. Inner-Team communication plan b. Aviation communication plan. Monitor the appropriate VHF [frequency] during flight operations. c. External coordination requirement. [Identify additional coordination elements] after review of applicable federal regulations, and state statutes. [Create a table with all of the applicable land access needed to each base of operation location]. d. Customer Communication plan. HPDSU Research Coordinator (J. Schmedlap @ 701-555-5555). State Game & Fish Department (G.Imgood 701-328-5555).

Tools for Your Analysis

Using the CONOP Template as your content format will help your analysis of this fictional sUAS mission whereby you are to utilize a system, sensor, equipment, operate in an environment, and conduct missions.

Your organization’s SOP identifies setup strategies, mobility, operational gear, communications, weather detection, maps and navigation gear, day/night operational equipment, seasonal gear, team survival, medical gear, etc. You will identify that these elements were placed into your CONOP.

Show flight planning and performance considerations for any autonomous flights using applicable flight control software. Additionally, identify other tools and considerations to support the successful performance of this operation. The North Dakota Game & Fish Department website Links to an external site. is invaluable for planning, and especially for coordination Use forecasted Sunday weather at assigned locations for each activity unless the weather is specified.

Build and export KML files of the watershed in Google Earth or Google Maps and import them into DroneLogbook. The more accurate the KML, the easier it is to assess any airspace conflicts. Explore DroneLogbook mission planning videos where you will find references to creating and exporting KML files.
Your Appendices should include similar types of Appendix artifacts as you used for the first CONOP, but configured for this scenario.