On Friday, Oct. 19, Point Trotter Autonomous Systems Testing Area (Point Trotter ASTA) opened in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Point Trotter ASTA will offer businesses, industry and researchers in Calgary a “low cost and accessible” place to test a variety of innovative technologies, including UAS and autonomous vehicles.

“Point Trotter Autonomous Systems Testing Area is a great example of how the The City of Calgary is working with our community partners to support innovation and allow entrepreneurs to bring their big ideas to fruition,” says Mayor Nenshi.

“We’re committed to supporting investment in our economy and making Calgary more innovative and business friendly.”

According to the city of Calgary, it is one of the first major cities in North America to offer airspace for the mass testing of commercial UAS on municipal-owned land. Point Trotter ASTA offers approximately 125 acres of available land to companies and educational institutions that want to test UAS.

Point Trotter ASTA is part of the Living Lab strategy, which is an initiative that involves the city of Calgary and Calgary Economic Development working with the community to make public spaces, transportation corridors and land more accessible for the testing of technological innovation.

“In real estate, we develop, sell, lease and license municipally-owned land for the benefit of all Calgarians to support economic development, attract quality employers and grow jobs,” explains Doug Cassidy, director of Real Estate & Development Services at The City of Calgary.

“Our ultimate goal in making land in the future phase of our Point Trotter industrial park available is to support Calgary’s innovation ecosystem.”

The idea of providing city-owned space to test UAS started last year when Calgary staff looked at all of the emerging technologies, related societal trends, and what they could mean for the future of the city.

Staff identified that aerial delivery UAS and autonomous vehicle technology would have a “significant impact” on the future, so the city of Calgary began offering businesses airspace to test UAS at Shepard Landfill, when the facility was closed on Monday.

From there, demand grew, and a new location that was available throughout the week was needed, which led to the development of Point Trotter Autonomous Systems Testing Area to support businesses in the city.

In order for companies to test their technology on the site, they must meet several requirements, including, “Licensing fees: $250 fee for one week or less; $500 fee for a maximum of six months (interim insurance checks may be required); Insurance: Proof of $2M corporate liability insurance; and Certificate (if required): A Special Flight Operations Certificate is also required for drone technology.”

Calgary says that it is working with Calgary Economic Development to deliver a “simplified process” for users and producers to gain access to infrastructure (physical, digital and data) like the Point Trotter industrial park, to test and try ideas and products in a real-life environment that’s safe and secure.