# Quantitative Data Analysis: CRASAR Small Unmanned Aerial Systems at Hurricane Ian

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.14577 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.14577/

## Key facts

- Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 28 Aug 2023.

## Built on by (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [CRASAR-U-DROIDs: A Large Scale Benchmark Dataset for Building Alignment and Damage Assessment in Georectified sUAS Imagery](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.17673/) (2024)
- [Non-Uniform Spatial Alignment Errors in sUAS Imagery From Wide-Area Disasters](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.06593/) (2024)
- [3DAeroRelief: The first 3D Benchmark UAV Dataset for Post-Disaster Assessment](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.11097/) (2025)
- [Now you see it, Now you don't: Damage Label Agreement in Drone & Satellite Post-Disaster Imagery](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.08117/) (2025)
- [Deploying Rapid Damage Assessments from sUAS Imagery for Disaster Response](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.03132/) (2025)
- [A Benchmark Dataset for Spatially Aligned Road Damage Assessment in Small Uncrewed Aerial Systems Disaster Imagery](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.12128/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

This paper provides a summary of the 281 sorties that were flown by the 10 different models of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) at Hurricane Ian, and the failures made in the field. These 281 sorties, supporting 44 missions, represents the largest use of sUAS in a disaster to date (previously Hurricane Florence with 260 sorties). The sUAS operations at Hurricane Ian differ slightly from prior operations as they included the first documented uses of drones performing interior search for victims, and the first use of a VTOL fixed wing aircraft during a large scale disaster. However, there are substantive similarities to prior drone operations. Most notably, rotorcraft continue to perform the vast majority of flights, wireless data transmission capacity continues to be a limitation, and the lack of centralized control for unmanned and manned aerial systems continues to cause operational friction. This work continues by documenting the failures, both human and technological made in the field and concludes with a discussion summarizing potential areas for further work to improve sUAS response to large scale disasters.