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! Questions?sengelbourg@llnf.org

DJI Phantom 4 Pro Demo