DOT&PF Awarded $12.4 Million SMART Grant for Use of Drones in Rural and Remote Alaska
(ANCHORAGE, Alaska) – Improving the safety of Alaskans in rural and remote areas took a significant step forward this week with a $12.4 million SMART Grant award from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). This funding will enable the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) to implement the Scalable Operations and Advanced Remote Technologies (SOAR) Initiative. The SOAR project will use advanced drones that can fly long distances to improve safety and transportation in places where roads, trails and other infrastructure are hard to access.
“Improving safety for Alaskans living and traveling in rural and remote areas of our state is part of Alaska DOT&PF’s mission,” said Commissioner Ryan Anderson, Alaska DOT&PF. “This project will help modernize community decision-making through advanced technologies, information gathering, and communications about surface conditions, weather, temperatures, and information on special situations such as such as floods or fire.”
