The Sky's the Limit: Using Drones for Environmental Education Seth Engelbourg Naturalist Educator and Program Manager Linda Loring Nature Foundation
The Sky's the Limit: Using Drones for Environmental Education
Seth EngelbourgNaturalist Educator and Program Manager
Linda Loring Nature Foundation
Uses of Drones
Aerial Photography/CinematographyReal Estate Surveying
ConstructionPackage Delivery
FirefightingEnvironmental Monitoring
PoliceAgriculture
Search and RescueRecreation
+ Flown on demand+ Extremely high resolution+ Cheaper than airplane-based sensing+ Multiple fly-overs: space-time trends
- Sensors limited by weight, cost, other logistics
- Wildlife, human interference, seasonality concerns
Benefits of Drones for Aerial Imagery
Markowitz, Danylchuk, Nisbet, & Engelbourg, 2017
Involving Students
Trillium Learning’s Tsunami Debris Project
Train to FlyTrillium Learning
UAS – Scientific Applications Curriculum
8 Levels using different aircraft, challenges, missions
Levels 1-4 “Trainer drones” up to beginning First Person View piloting
Level 5Entry-level professional with GPS, HD cameras, gimbal stabilization systems, software mission programming, and FPV
Levels 6-8 Highest-end imaging platforms with next-generation sensing equipment: dSLR cameras, LiDAR, spectral filter thermal cameras, NDVI
Syma X5SW FPV Training Demo
Learn Rules for Safe Drone Flying
1. DO NOT fly higher than 400 feet
2. MAINTAIN visual line of sight
3. DO NOT fly directly over people
4. CONTACT and receive permission to fly from all potential stakeholders
5. DO NOT fly within 5 miles of any airport without authorization; coordinate
with radio control tower before, during, and after flight
ASSESS wildlife and ecological concerns by conducting a biological opinion
assessment, in order to minimize risk
For more information visit:
knowbeforeyoufly.org or the B4UFLY App
Acquire Proper Authorization
If you wish to fly drones for business, research, education, or any other non-recreational reasons, you MUST receive authorization under Part 107 of the Small
UAS Rule. Requires taking a knowledge test and vetting by TSA
Plan Mission
Fly Survey
Take Aerial Photos
Construct 2D OrthomosaicExample UCF Arboretum
True Color RGBTrillium Learning & UMass Amherst
15.66 Acres13,454 x 15,041 pixel TIFFResolution: 2.14 cm pixel size
Long Pond 1
Define appropriate datum (e.g., WGS84) and projection (e.g., UTM 17N)
→ Ready for analysis in GIS!
The Brickyard, Westfield MATrillium’s DJI Inspire 1
GIS Image Interpretation
Water Chestnut (Trapa natans)
Results for Water Chestnut (Trapa natans)Red areas: Definite, Yellow areas: Possible
GPS Centroid Points for Pulls
GPS Tracking for Pulls
Nantucket Surveys for Phragmites November 2016
Long Pond 2 Hummock Pond 4 Miacomet Pond 2
Classroom Educational Programs
Nantucket Lighthouse School5th Grade
Nantucket High SchoolAP Environmental Science
Nantucket Flying Association June 2017
Presentation on drone aeronautics and flight demonstration for aviation campers
Saltmarsh Center September 2017
Presentation on using drones for environmental surveying and flight demonstration for seniors
Public Outreach for Drone Education Presentations
• LLNF Science Picnic, 2017• Maria Mitchell Association Speaker Series, 2016• National Wildlife Refuge System Region 6 Conference, 2016• MA Envirothon, 2015
Writing• What's That Buzzing Noise? Public Opinion on the Use of Drones for Conservation Science (Markowitz,
Danylchuk, Nisbet, & Engelbourg, 2017)• Local and regional news articles• Social media
Partners
Thank You! [email protected]
DJI Phantom 4 Pro Demo