It is an interesting question. Can drone imaging assist in resolving issues related to environmental monitoring? In this article, we will take a closer look at what drones can do for this unique method of tracking conditions and review a paper recently published on the topic.
Drones And Environmental Monitoring
Here is the scenario. You work for a mining company. There has been a breach of a tailings pond, and your department has been on standby. Finally, a crew arrives on-site to get a better look at the spill. Still, due to accessibility issues – steep, rough terrain – the team cannot get close enough to the location of the breach to assess the damage properly. Nor can they get down to the creekbed at the bottom of the canyon to monitor how much of the spill has ended up there.
With drone technology, a drone can be dispatched to the spill site every hour, daily, or weekly. With high-definition cameras and video equipment, the drones can capture images and videos from positions that would take hours for a human to reach, if possible. A drone can also do a flyover of the surrounding area to provide visuals of damage already caused and potential sites that may receive further damage. In addition, drones offer a much cheaper and quicker alternative.
The History of Drones and Environmental Monitoring
The use of drones for environmental monitoring is not new. It has been a reliable method of gathering crucial data for many years. For example, wildfires destroy thousands of timber annually in the Iberian Peninsula. A drone surveillance system by the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) automatically detects wildfires. In addition, the Mara Elephant Project in Kenya uses drones to push elephants away from areas known for poaching the animals.
The Paper Published In Remote Sensing
The lead author of a paper recently published in Remote Sensing is Adrian Martinez Fernandez. Fernandez is the technician in charge of the Digital Mapping and 3D Analysis Laboratory in the Centro Nacional de Investigacion Sobre la Evolucion Humana (CENIEH). His report focused on the properties of drone images and how they influence the monitoring and understanding of high elevation environments during photogrammetric surveys.
According to Dickson Data, the study examined potential issues resulting from images collected by budget drones and how to best manage the situation. With the cooperation of CENIEH, geologist Alfonso Benito Calvo conducted the study. In addition, other participants in the study included researchers from the Research Group Natural Heritage and Applied Geography (PANGEA) located at the Universidad de Valladolid, the Universidad de Extremadura, and the Natural History Museum of London, England, and the Universidad de Leon.
The Location of the Study
The rocky glacier La Paul was where the study data came comprised—located on the glacier in the Pyrenees in Aragon. It is a massive piece of ice that continues to experience movement. Choosing the site included the generated movement through various melting processes within the body of the ice. In addition, the glacier is helping researchers gain an understanding of how it impacts climate change at both the regional and global levels.
What They Had To Say
According to Fernandez, “While drones have become tools of great utility in studies relating to the geosciences, it is a good idea to possess some knowledge of the principles of photogrammetry and to analyze the resulting models judiciously.” He says it’s required because the main component of the technique, the images, “can affect the results and how we interpret them later.” In other words, good-quality drone images provide better data.
More on the Study Results
The study found that the quality of the images produced by many of the most popular drone models did not harm the maps produced by them. But, if the drone images measure the movement of the surfaces photographed several times over a specific timeline, some variables influence the quality of the resulting maps. One such issue is differing lens profiles of the images under review. However, the future of drone technology continues to be bright.
Final Thoughts
Drone imaging can be an effective tool for identifying environmental issues. However, the quality of the drone’s camera or video equipment is what makes the difference. There is no doubt that drones can get photographic equipment to places that humans may struggle to reach. The real issue comes from the recording instruments in use. As there is no standard, drones come with various types of cameras. Costs related to drones are primarily associated with the camera gear. A more expensive drone will have better quality photography and video apparatus. This study verifies that to be fact.
