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DOT defends drone program shift to highway funds, highlights statewide UAS coordination
Summary
DOT said it moved an unmanned aerial systems operator position from aeronautics general funds to the highway fund because the role largely supports federally funded project development work.
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation told the Finance Division II committee it is formalizing funding and operations for its unmanned aerial systems (UAS) program and expanding interagency coordination.
Why it matters: DOT said UAS capability improves project delivery, reduces inspection time and supports emergency assessments. Funding and constraints matter because where a position is paid from restricts the scope of work (for example highway‑funded positions must do highway‑eligible work under state constitutional limits).
How DOT explained the funding change: DOT officials said they shifted 1 UAS position from the Bureau of Aeronautics (previously general‑funded) to highway funds, noting the position “supports a lot of the project development activities, some of the surveys, some of the supporting, mapping,” which are linked to federally funded highway projects. DOT said the highway‑funded operator is restricted to highway‑related work (it cannot be used on turnpike or general‑funded activities), and the department plans to cross‑train existing employees so a broader pool can operate UAS without adding headcount.
Operational details and capabilities: Deputy Commissioner Andre Breyer and the commissioner’s presentation described multiple drones in DOT’s fleet (around five) ranging from small platforms to heavier wingspan systems and said DOT has used UAS for surveying, support of construction plan development, and for emergency storm damage assessments used in FEMA reimbursement packs. The department described innovative uses including infrared monitoring to detect poor construction in real time and estimates of material quantities.
Statewide coordination: DOT said it convened a first statewide UAS community of interest meeting last month that brought together state agencies that operate UAS platforms to coordinate acquisition, training, and best practices. DOT staff said that coordination aims to realize economies of scale in procurement and to share operational practices while maintaining mission separations (for example, law‑enforcement missions are separate from DOT mapping/engineering missions).
Budget context: The department identified the funding shift as an internal reallocation to meet executive budget targets while aligning the position to the funding stream most appropriate for its primary mission. Committee members pressed for clarity on usage restrictions and how cross‑funded positions will be tracked; DOT said it would provide further budget detail if requested.
Ending: DOT officials said they plan to cross‑train existing staff to increase the number of licensed UAS operators without adding positions, and they described the program as a growing enterprise capability for surveying, construction oversight and emergency response.
