Expert Insights: Launching Your Career Using Drone Technology

Not long ago, people viewed drones as emerging technology. Today, they've become essential, helping organizations inspect infrastructure, improve safety, respond to emergencies and make smarter decisions across industries ranging from public works to logistics and agriculture. With the global commercial drone market projected to reach nearly $58 billion by 2026, demand is increasing for professionals who understand not only how drones work, but also how to use the data they collect to solve real-world business challenges.

In this recorded webinar, our expert instructors TJ Abbenhaus, David Edwards, Peter Keum and Ryan Richardson explore how organizations use drones today and where they see the field heading next. You'll gain insight into drone technology, FAA Part 107 certification requirements, and the ways drones integrate with GIS, mapping software and geospatial data workflows.

The panelists also share lessons learned from building and managing drone programs and along with practical considerations for launching your own operations. Whether you're exploring a new career path or looking to expand your technical skill set, you'll gain a better understanding of industry opportunities and how to prepare for them.

About the Speakers

TJ Abbenhaus

TJ Abbenhaus is a senior solution engineer with more than a decade of experience in geospatial technology, remote sensing, drone operations and enterprise GIS. He specializes in helping organizations leverage drones, imagery, reality mapping, AI and spatial analytics to improve operational efficiency and decision-making.

Throughout his career, Abbenhaus has worked with government agencies, utilities and private sector organizations to implement innovative workflows for infrastructure inspection, environmental monitoring, emergency response and asset management. Abbenhaus is a frequent presenter and educator on emerging technologies, including drone data collection, photogrammetry, GeoAI, digital twins, and reality mapping, helping professionals understand how modern geospatial tools can address complex real-world challenges.

David Edwards

David Edwards is a retired U.S. Air Force instructor pilot and airline captain with more than 30 years of aviation experience. He owns an aviation consulting company with a strong focus on teaching current and aspiring remote pilots to think like aviators. Edwards is also a consulting forester, and he employs small drones to photograph, map and model forest attributes.

He uses open-source GIS tools like QGIS, GRASS, PostGIS and OpenDroneMap to turn drone imagery into actionable data for his forestry clients. Edwards studied forest management at Oregon State University and holds a master of military operational art and science from Air University.

Peter Keum

Peter Keum is the drone program lead and GIS analyst for King County Wastewater Treatment Division, blending a longstanding love of maps with a growing passion for drone technology. With more than 27 years of GIS experience in the wastewater sector, Keum earned his GISP certification in 2008 while exploring how spatial technology could support the division's work.

Keum began flying drones out of curiosity in 2015 and earned his FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certification in 2018. Since then, he has built a drone program for King County WTD that has operated internally since 2021 and enjoys sharing what he's learned with colleagues across the county. He is also a founding member and monthly facilitator of the Washington GIS Association's Drone Special Interest Group, which he values for its collaborative spirit and shared enthusiasm for emerging technology.

Ryan Richardson

Ryan Richardson is a GIS professional who thrives on leveraging technology to tackle intricate challenges. With a strong commitment to problem-solving, Richardson currently serves as a solution engineer at Esri, a leading provider of geospatial software solutions. Based out of Esri's regional office in Olympia, Washington, Richardson supports the state and local government team. In addition to his role as a solution engineer, Richardson is an Esri Certified UAV pilot and holds an FAA Part 107 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Pilot Certificate. His expertise in UAVs allows him to harness drone technology for mapping and analysis.

Richardson is passionate about education and knowledge sharing and serves as an instructor for a drone mapping certificate program at the University of Washington and The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.

Keep Learning

Visit our UW Certificate in Drone Technology page to learn how to enroll in our programs.