Within the last few years, drone technology has advanced significantly while becoming economically accessible to the general public. This new technology has enabled ‘beginner’ users to become competent in flying operations within a relatively short timeframe, increased safety and improved the optics.
Given these advancements, it makes sense that these devices would be used for work purposes as well as pleasure, accessing areas that would otherwise be difficult if not impossible to reach in person. Studies have already been carried out to determine their effectiveness as a surveying tool within the conservation sector. As part of his Phd thesis ‘Filling the sensor gap: Applying UAS technology to land-use research’, Gibson-Poole (2019) noted that height data of crops or plants was easily obtained through the use of multiple cameras to achieve orthomosaics, in a similar way to how our eyes use stereoscopic vision to see depth. This form of surveying however, requires specialist cameras and drones which still carry a considerable cost implication.
Surveying with a standard, commercially available drone is still able to render great results. These drones are light which makes them portable as well as allowing a longer flight time on a single battery charge, powerful which enables them to be used in breezy conditions, optically advanced producing excellent photography as well as high definition video and affordable making them obtainable to charitable and non-government organisations.
The utilisation of this technology by this type of organisation can reduce the already overburdened man-hours required for a survey. Although the collection of data from ground level is likely to yield more accurate and detailed information, the use of drone footage is ‘close enough’ for many surveying requirements. Coupling this with advancing computer technology such as AI (artificial intelligence) and GIS (mapping software) facilitates powerful operations to be undertaken by the majority of operators if given basic training.
The drone employed by the trust has the ability to zoom, giving the user a close up of the field being observed. This equips the viewer with clear images in order to make maps of invasive species locations. With these maps, monitoring can be undertaken as well as programming any eradication to be carried out.
This month I have been testing the trust’s drone, getting used to its limitations and how it handles as well as capturing imagery for basic social media posts.
