Drone technology is constantly advancing and is being used more and more in public services. One area where drones are gradually being adopted into workflows is forest management. It is portable, lightweight, covers large areas quickly, and can capture high-resolution images and videos for forest management. Drones can be used for various tasks in forest management. mapping and surveyingmonitor forest health, Forest fire Surveillance purposes to prevent illegal logging and other criminal activities. It can also be used to observe and track wildlife and assist in search and rescue operations.usage of Drones in forestry management is just beginning, but the results are promising and the applications will only grow as the technology becomes more sophisticated and accessible. Learn about the best drone types.
Benefits of using drones for forest management
There are various benefits that can be realized by utilizing drone technology for forest management. Some of the main ones are:
Faster data retrieval and lower costs
Due to their small size, light weight and ultra-portability, drones offer distinct advantages over traditional methods of collecting aerial data.
They are easy to deploy and can acquire data much faster than manned aircraft or satellites without compromising data accuracy.
Drones help reduce the time and costs associated with conducting forest surveys and managing forest resources. It can also help identify areas that need attention and can provide real-time information on the health of trees and other vegetation.
Early identification of health-related problems gives forestry professionals more time to plan courses of action and improve the situation.
Whether it’s finding pest-related diseases, identifying soil contamination, tracking wildfires, or monitoring illegal activity, many drones are equipped with multispectral or infrared cameras, without the cost of hiring a manned aircraft. You can easily identify these issues.
Improved safety
Forests are difficult to navigate on foot, rugged and dangerous, and land-based surveys and data collection are even more dangerous in the event of a disaster such as a forest fire.
Drones offer a much safer way of collecting aerial data, flying surveillance missions, and conducting search and rescue operations in forested and wooded areas.
Because drones are easy to fly and highly portable, they can be deployed very quickly and can perform missions more regularly without endangering personnel.
Increased flexibility
Drones are flexible in scheduling activities and can move freely within a given area. This makes it easier to use than conventional vehicles for managing forest resources on a daily basis.
Reduced use of fossil fuels
Another advantage of using drones is that they do not use fossil fuels at all. This will not only help combat climate change, but it will also reduce the need for small manned aircraft, which are very expensive to operate and consume a lot of fossil fuel.
Application of drones in forestry
Drones are now being used in forestry to help manage forests and monitor tree health. It is also used to map landscapes, measure forest density, and collect data on tree characteristics.
One of the main reasons drones are such great tools for forestry is the precision and accuracy they can achieve with spatial data. This is because drones can fly very low to the ground and capture high-definition images and videos that are ideal for mapping purposes.
Drones are also effective in collecting data on tree characteristics such as height, diameter, age and location. This is information that helps you monitor the state of your forest and make informed decisions about how to manage your forest.
Drones are also used to fight forest fires. It can be used to gather data on the spread of fire, its intensity, where more resources should be allocated, and survivors found.
Drones are also being used to carry out controlled burnings to reduce the impact of forest fires and stop their spread.
Drones can also be used for surveillance and security purposes, being used to monitor illegal activities such as unauthorized logging and finding criminals and missing persons.
Emerging uses for drones in forestry and forestry Agriculture is sowing seeds, but drones are being used to sow seeds at a much faster rate than they can be done manually, countering the effects of deforestation. This will help mitigate the impacts of climate change and allow forestry professionals to replant trees much faster and on a larger scale.
A more comprehensive list on the use of drones in forest management can be found here. report.
Types of drones for forestry management
Multicopter drones are the most common type of drone used in forest management, but fixed-wing drones are better suited for surveying and mapping large forest areas.
Both multicopter and fixed-wing drones have their pros and cons, with multicopter drones being much more flexible and easier to operate. There are also many multicopter drones to choose from, and they are usually cheaper than fixed-wing drones. drone.
One of the main advantages of multicopter drones is their flexibility. It can take off and land vertically, so you don’t need a large area to start your drone mission. It can also hover with less drift, which has many advantages such as inspection of certain drones. To deliver some vital supplies to an area or tree or to people who are lost or stranded.
Another advantage of multicopter drones is that they are easy to operate and can be quickly mastered by beginners with no drone experience. This reduces the need for extensive training of forestry professionals, helps save costs, and speeds up the process of introducing drones into your workflow.
Many multicopter drones can also be fitted with different types of payloads. In some cases, multiple payloads can be attached to the DJI Matrice series drones.
This gives you the additional advantage of being able to retrieve different types of data depending on your mission objectives.
One of the drawbacks of multicopter drones is flight time compared to fixed-wing drones, but with advances in design and technology, this is no longer a big issue.
Fixed-wing drones are typically built to be more rugged, allowing them to operate in extreme weather conditions. They also have much longer transmission ranges and flight times, covering more land, BVLOS operation.
However, we believe that the best type of drone for forest management is the multicopter drone. Multicopter drones are inexpensive, easy to operate, and extremely versatile for a variety of mission objectives.
All drones listed below are enterprise level multicopter drones, all with high resolution RGB and infrared cameraWe believe that forestry thermal imaging cameras are particularly important for identifying health problems, identifying hotspots in case of forest fires, and identifying missing persons in search and rescue operations. increase.
DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced
One of DJI’s most powerful foldable drones, the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced comes with a dual camera system stabilized by a 3-axis gimbal.
The dual camera includes a high resolution RGB camera capable of capturing 48MP still images and 4k video footage. The infrared camera can capture images and videos at a resolution of 640×512 with a reading accuracy of ±2°C.
Other features include autonomous flight modes, an obstacle avoidance system, and DJI AirSense for safer flight.
Drones can be fitted with additional accessories such as RTK modules, beacons, speakers, and searchlights to provide additional functionality. The drone has a maximum transmission distance of 10 km and a flight time of 31 minutes.
DJI M30T
The most powerful foldable drone, the DJI M30T has many of the features of its sibling, the Matrice 300 RTK, in a compact design.
This is a well-designed drone built to operate in the harshest weather conditions thanks to its IP55 rating.
A revolutionary feature of the DJI M30T is its multi-sensor payload, making it a highly versatile drone that can be used for a variety of purposes.
The multi-sensor payload consists of a 12MP wide camera, a 48MP zoom camera, a 640×512 infrared camera and a laser rangefinder. There is also another FPV camera with night vision technology.
The drone has a maximum flight time of 41 minutes for a multicopter and has a range of up to 15km thanks to DJI’s latest OcuSync transmission technology.
The drone also comes with many safety features such as an omni-directional obstacle avoidance system, ADS-B receiver and advanced redundancy system.
DJI Matrice 300 RTK
The most advanced drone on this list, the DJI Matrice 300 RTK is an enterprise-level drone suitable for use in many commercial applications.
This is a rugged drone that can operate in all types of weather conditions and has a maximum flight time of 55 minutes, although this time can only be achieved without a payload.
Speaking of payloads, the Matrice 300 RTK is one of the few drones on the market that can be fitted with different types of payloads. This will allow the drone operator to retrieve different types of data from her one drone mission.
The Matrice 300 RTK is compatible with most Zenmuse payloads, including multi-sensor H20T, full-frame P1 cameras and L1 LiDAR sensors.
The drone has several redundant systems as well as an advanced obstacle avoidance system for safer flight.
Parrot Anafi USA
French company Parrot has two drones with dual camera systems, Parrot Anafi Thermal and Parrot Anafi USA.
US version is Blue UAS The standard focuses, among other requirements, on the security of data transmissions from drones, making it suitable for use by the US Department of Defense.
The Parrot Anafi USA is one of the lightest enterprise level drones and the lightest drone on this list.
IP53 rated small foldable drone with innovative design suitable for operation in all weather conditions.
The drone camera is equipped with multiple sensors, including a 21MP wide and zoom camera, and a FLIR Boson thermal imaging sensor.
The camera is stabilized by a unique 5-axis hybrid gimbal consisting of a 2-axis mechanical gimbal and a 3-axis electronic gimbal.
The drone comes with several autonomous flight modes, but it doesn’t have an obstacle avoidance system like the other drones on this list.
Autel Evo II Dual 640T
One of Autel Robotics’ few commercial drones, the Evo II Dual 640T comes with some impressive features.
The drone has a dual camera system consisting of a 48MP 1/2-inch sensor that can also record 4K video, and it also has a thermal imaging sensor.
Other advanced features include an omni-directional obstacle avoidance system, autonomous flight mode, 38 minutes flight time and 9 km transmission range.
final thoughts
As you can see from this article, drones offer a new, safer and more efficient way to collect data about forests. Their ultra-portable and easy-to-deploy design offers significant advantages over ground-based data collection methods.
Faster data acquisition leads to early identification of problems, enabling forestry professionals to develop action plans and resolve problems as quickly as possible.
But drones aren’t just being used to monitor tree health in forests, they’re also being used to count inventories, identify invasive species, monitor illegal activity, and assist in search and rescue efforts. .
