Adopting the Specific Operations Risk Assessment Methodology for Drone Inspections at Industrial Sites

Unmanned Aircraft (or Aerial) Systems (UASs) are attracting an increasing attention from diverse fields (e.g., agriculture, logistics) since they are able to decrease pollution and road congestion. To assure the optimal functioning of these air mobility systems, it is necessary to assess both air and ground risks and manage them for achieving tolerable safety levels. The Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) methodology was developed specifically for such purpose with respect to UAS operations. Although such methodology has been recently applied for assessing risks related to various operations and environments, it has not been employed for operations related to industrial plants. In such a context, this paper investigates a safety risk assessment for drone operations dedicated to inspections in areas within and close to industrial plants. The SORA application to inspection activities in areas within and close to a large refinery allowed determining a medium Specific Assurance and Integrity Level (i.e., the level of confidence that the UAS operation will stay under control), and identifying containment requirements and Operational Safety Objectives. In particular, the involvement of trained and competent operators, and the definition of operational procedures for addressing normal, abnormal, and emergency situations represent necessary measures to ensure safe UAS operations in the setting investigated. The proposed investigation provides only preliminary results that require an in-depth methodological investigation to ensure safe operability of drones in real industrial contexts.