UAVs for Rapid Storm Damage Assessment

Nearly one-half of the annual precipitation in the Phoenix metropolitan area occurs during the North American monsoon (NAM). While these convective events bring much-needed precipitation to the region, they are also associated with severe weather hazards, including lightning, microbursts (i.e., wind), hail, and flash flooding. In many instances, the effects of these severe events are highly localized, exhibiting differential impacts on neighborhoods. This chapter aims to highlight how cities and first responders can leverage the power of unmanned aerial vehicles and hyper-local imagery to assess storm damage rapidly. Using a combination of RGB imagery and a digital surface model, we explore the impacts of a moderate (but not severe) monsoon event on a neighborhood in Phoenix, Arizona. The resulting imagery highlights locations where city park managers and homeowner associations need to dispatch crews for tree cleanups and provides early warnings for locations where derelict infrastructure may pose a problem for public health and safety.