Natural Resources
UAV Benefits
- Establish a conservation plan
- Identify problem areas in a particular ecosystem
- Locate and quantify the damage from invasive species
- Identify disease in canopy coverage
- Geotag trees for timber removal or to save neighboring trees
- Faster, safe determination of canopy structure than with human climbers
- Assess existing conservation areas for biodiversity
- Monitor and modify soil conservation practices with reduced environmental impact
- Check surface water for potential contaminants
UAV Challenges
Forests: Flying a UAV near timber stands is inherently risky. Signal strength also weakens within a forested area.
- Tip: Fly above the canopy when possible and choose low-density areas.
Water: Most UAVs are not waterproof and a crash could destroy the aircraft.
- Tip: Fly around water – not over it – when possible.
Natural Resources Examples
![Image of a tree plantation the VARI algorithm](_media/vari-map.jpg)
A demonstration trial of methods to control the invasive winged burning bush was conducted in the...
![Image a drone flying over a field with snow](_media/fs1-scaled.jpg)
This project was completed at Ivy Tech in Lafayette, Indiana and in collaboration with Ivy Tech...
![Aerial RBG image of a shallow section of Bass Lake](_media/bass_rgb.jpg)
Bass Lake is a 1,345-acre lake in Starke County, Indiana and has problems with invasive Eurasian...
![Image of a river and a forest](_media/forest-river.jpg)
This project was initiated to create a State Parks Virtual Field Trip program, geared for use in...
![Image of image of the wetland from above](_media/risenserwetland_commonreed_acreage.jpg)
Common reed (Phragmites australis) is an Indiana native, but invasive, weed. It’s...
![Image aerial of wooded areas with invasive plant species](_media/do_rgb_before-r1x1.jpg)
UAV use in wooded areas can identify invasive plant species for removal along as well as track...
![Image of a Heavy invasive areas are outlined in blue](_media/do_vari_nrcs.jpg)
Invasive species control flights provided wood rating for EQIP application in partnership Ripley...
![Image of a forest with a fatal disease in red and black oak trees](_media/do_rgb_oakwilt-landscape.jpg)
UAVs were used to locate known trees at Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center (SEPAC) affected by...
![Image dead trees cause by the Emerald Ash Borer](_media/deadash_john-scott-r1x1.jpg)
The Emerald Ash Borer killed all dead trees in this orthomosaic image. This woodlot is...
![RGB images allow identification of specific tree species upon color and texture](_media/pw_rgb_totalforest.jpg)
To explore UAV uses in forestry applications, several forests were flown over the course of 2019....