The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) was honored this week by the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) for its drone program, which it has used for hurricane response and the delivery of medical supplies.
NASAO labeled the program as 2019’s Most Innovative State Program. They lauded it for its use of drones to monitor and document flooding, road conditions and traffic impacts in a way not previously seen and to respond to Hurricanes Florence, Michael, and Dorian. The program also won accolades for forming the first for-revenue drone delivery service in the United States, which NCDOT is using — in conjunction with UPS and Matternet — to deliver medical supplies and samples to WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The award builds on the collection NCDOT’s drone program has already grown. They had previously been given awards by the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the Southern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The state’s drone program is also a finalist for an award from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.