Application of Drones in Environmental Monitoring

Protection and monitoring of the environment are being revolutionised increasingly with the help of drones. From monitoring deforestation to counting birds, advanced equipment is slowly but surely finding its way into the hands of the custodians and scientists. In this chapter, we will explore how drones like ordinary DJI drones are revolutionising environmental monitoring and why drones have been the lifesaver that environmentally friendly practices have been waiting for.

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Why Drones Are Such a Fundamental Part of Environmental Monitoring

Drones or unmanned aerial systems (UAS) provide such an amazing combination of cost-effectiveness, versatility, and accuracy. Drones are different from traditional methods because they can reach remote or hazardous areas without disturbing the environment.

For example, drones carry cameras and sensors that capture high-definition images of oceans, forests, and wildlife close to the earth. Statistics enable scientists to identify illegal acts like poaching, track long-term transformation, and even predict natural disasters.

Major Benefits of Drone Environmental Monitoring

• Cost-Effective Options: Drones cut costly manned flights or on-foot surveys.
• Precise Information: Sophisticated sensors on drones gather data for comprehensive analysis.
• Ecologically Friendly: Drones are silent aircraft and never disturb wildlife.
• Live Video Input: Drones can provide live video input and enable real-time decision-making.

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Applications of Drones in Environmental Monitoring

1. Forest Clearance Monitoring

Drone technology is also common in real-time deforestation tracking. In the Amazon forest, for instance, DJI drones equipped with thermal cameras can be used in identifying illegal deforestation. Drones are used to scan large areas within a short time and provide actionable intelligence to the authorities.

2. Wildlife Conservation

Drones are a blessing for wildlife conservationists. Drones assist in tracking the population of animals, migration, and even anti-poaching. Drones, in Africa, have been used in guarding endangered species such as elephants and rhinos by tracking the wildlife sanctuaries around the clock.

3. Disaster Management

In natural disasters like forest fires or floods, drones are used to survey the damage and perform rescues. For example, DJI drones are used to track the fires so that they can help the fire department plan how they will put out the fire.

4. Marine Ecosystem Monitoring

Drones, other than in the conservation of deserts, are also being used for ocean conservation. Drones find their application ranging from coral reef monitoring to sea life monitoring and oil spill detection. Technology comes in handy where inaccessible areas of the ocean are concerned.

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How DJI Drones Are Leading the Way

DJI drones are the most reliable drones to utilise in conducting environmental monitoring since they are of high quality. DJI Phantom and Mavic drones, for example, are GPS and HD-fitted with cameras as well as batteries, thus the ability of suitability in conducting fieldwork.

For example, the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise is utilised in conducting thermal inspection as well as mapping, while the DJI Matrice 300 RTK is utilised in ruggedness as well as accuracy in enemy-held territory.

Drone Application Barriers and Limitations

Despite the fact that there is immense value to drone applications, there are some limitations to their utilization:

• Regulatory Barriers: Regulations forbidding the use of drones are very stringent in most countries, especially in protection zones.
• Short Battery Life: Except for long-endurance military drones, all other drones have a 20-30 minute battery life, which might not be suitable for large-scale surveillance.
• Data Overload: Drones produce a tremendous amount of data, which needs to be managed by sophisticated software and technical know-how.

The Future of Drones in Environmental Monitoring

Drone environmental monitoring has a promising future. Artificial intelligence and machine learning functionalities and the fact that now data can be processed in real time by drones only make them stronger. Solar-powered drones would also resolve the issue of battery life.

With continuous tech innovation, drones would be doing an even bigger part in saving our planet.