UAVs for Conservation Work

[David Williams]

Are any NASCA members aware of any conservation districts or conservation agencies who’ve obtained or used a UAV (aka, “Drone”) to assist with conservation? If so, please briefly describe how it is being used and provide a contact.

North Carolina’s State Association is planning a symposium at its upcoming annual meeting called, “Unmanned aircraft, conservation, and agriculture” that will feature the director of the Next Generation Air Transportation Center (NGAT) at N.C. State University. At least one of our districts is interested in obtaining a UAV to help its customers with field scouting, fence inspections, etc.

Thank you!

[Mark Bostrom]

A demonstration of the technology was provided at a CD area meeting in September but we haven’t heard of UAVs being used in Montana by CDs for conservation work as a result of that demo.

Mark

• This reply was modified 8 years, 4 months ago by Aaron.

[Vince Sitzmann]

The Iowa Abandoned Mine Land Program has utilized UAV’s for observation on reclamation activities. The program has contracted with external engineering consultants to obtain the UAV video and photos – we currently do not have our own UAV. The video and photos are excellent to supplement and enhance existing on the ground photos. We are currently using the technology at one project to document site conditions before, during and after construction. This will be a valuable visual to explain our program and the environmental benefits to someone that isn’t able to visit the site in person. At another project, the engineering firm is using UAV technology to observe the site post-construction to identify erosion or design concerns. They are also using GPS data to confirm as-built elevations on the project versus proposed design elevations. It is amazing how much data can be collected in very little time. This could be a valuable time and money saver to confirm designs are built as proposed. Contact person for the program is Susan Kozak, Bureau Chief, at susan.kozak@iowaagriculture.gov.

Susan K. Kozak
Mines and Minerals Bureau Chief
Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
Division of Soil Conservation & Water Quality
(515) 281-6147
susan.kozak@iowaagriculture.gov

[Johan Berger]

The Bradford County Conservation District has utilized UAV’s for conservation planning through a pilot program. I would suggest contact the following at the conservation district:

Nathan Dewing, Ag Team Leader nate.dewing@pa.nacdnet.net (570) 265-5539, or
Cathy Yeakel, District Manager Cathy.yeakel@pa.nacdnet.net (570) 265-5539

[Deborah Ward]

Within the State of Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, our Division of Aquatic Resources is working with the University of Hawaii on a project to use a drone to photograph all shorelines of our main Hawaiian islands to identify and map locations with heavy concentrations of marine debris. This information will be used to plan future operations that may involve our Land, Boating, Aquatic Resources staff as well as Counties and NGOs to categorize and remove accessible marine debris, some of which may be from the Japan tsunami.

[Deborah Ward]

Within the State of Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, our Division of Aquatic Resources is working with the University of Hawaii on a project to use a drone to photograph all shorelines of our main Hawaiian islands to identify and map locations with heavy concentrations of marine debris. This information will be used to plan future operations that may involve our Land, Boating, Aquatic Resources staff, as well as Counties and NGOs to categorize and remove accessible marine debris, some of which may be from the Japan tsunami.

[Author]

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