Joel Batters’ Post

Still not sure of the practical application of this if it only carries a few kgs of food and the operator needs visual line of sight of the drone. Maybe animals trapped on an island in flood. And in the application described in the link there is a lot of crewed aircraft low-flying around during and immediately after fires and flood. They don’t really want drones tangling in their airspace. In general, the drone industry get a little over zealous with what can practically be applied in wildlife. They speak of helicopters being dangerous, which is not true, and applications of drones that might look sexy but are simply not practical. Apart from a major limitation, that is, very few drone operators have drones capable of 2-3 hours of flying time, they also fail to let their clients know it takes weeks to get CASA approval to fly beyond visual line of sight, (BVLoS). This is even after the operator has passed the IREX examination and is qualified. We have two large endurance drones and much experience conducting long-distance thermal night flights. We have an IREX pilot. But we still can’t see as many practical and cost-effective applicants in wildlife as some drone industry people postulate. When asked at and ESA talk I said CASA regulations are and will continue to be a necessary limitation on drone applications. Air safety is vitally important. https://lnkd.in/g6cuE2sV reel/684586217182615?fs=e&s=cl

Drones have revolutionized the way ranchers and landowners can manage and optimize their operations, offering a bird's-eye view that's both comprehensive and precise #land #landmanagement #realestate #texasland

We will be installing power line markers also known as bird diverters on our electrical infrastructure using unmanned aircrafts, or drones, in the Launiupoko, West Maui area starting as early as Dec. 15, 2024, to Dec. 21, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and weather permitting. Electric service will not be impacted. We are installing the diverters in located areas on Maui identified as potential seabird flyways, which are intended to make the lines easier for the birds to see and avoid. Personnel conducting the work will be wearing a Hawaii Drone Professional company branded shirt and vest and will be accompanied by Hawaiian Electric personnel. The installations will be performed near the power lines and no one will request to enter a home or business. There may be instances where the drone operator may need to enter private property area, like a yard, to access the lines. In these instances, the operator will make their presence known before accessing the equipment on private property. For questions about this work, contact us at https://lnkd.in/g-XF8Wwi. The Hawaiian Electric Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) program is in full compliance and protection of all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and has developed safety, training, operating and privacy procedures to make sure the unmanned aircraft are flown with the highest regard for the safety of the public and crews. Drones performing scheduled flights in support of utility and infrastructure projects are regulated by the FAA. Tampering with or damaging drone equipment or interfering with drone operations could be subject to federal enforcement or citing. In addition to installing bird diverters to benefit the uau (Hawaiian Petrel) and ao (Newell’s Shearwater), we will continue our ongoing commitment to secure permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and State of Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife to address the potential harm from power lines on Maui. As part of the permitting process, we also will continue to develop the habitat conservation plan (HCP) it committed to in 2022 to minimize and mitigate the impacts of potential power-line collisions on imperiled seabirds. Mahalo for your patience and understanding. 

https://lnkd.in/gUjNfuEi A few of things about their findings that I caveat or contend: 1. They have not come from the angle of aerial surveying on crewed platforms and the relative merits and problems with drones compared with this. For example crewed aircraft are still cheaper over larger areas and can be permitted to fly low over peri-urban areas (subject to distance rules), compared with tighter VLoS and BVLoS drone requirements. 2. On the main issue of noise: Noise will more often move animals and thus increase sightability, not decrease it. At night, with lights, it’s very different. They focus on day. 3. For positive identification on thermal or colour cameras, there is a balance between reducing ground blur and being too high for the resolution of the camera. This can be independent of frame rate. 4. If preflight safety planning is done right, the excuse drones are safer is rubbish. 5. Above all, animal behavior is the most important determining factor for the data capture method and the time of day or night one flies/drives/walks/traps. For example if the animal is in a nocturnal mode, as a general rule, a drone with good thermal technology may be best. Also some native and pest animals shift between crepuscular, diernal and nocturnal with temperature (so partially seasonal) and depending on their level of persecution. Rut etc plays a role. These issues are rarely covered by drone operators seeking to find applications in NRM but commonly known to behavioral ecologists. Other. 6. Thermal cameras fail over warmer ground or where there are warmer rocks/trunks.

Aerial Surveys | Getting a bird's eye view without the scaffold. The past few weeks have seen me carry out multiple drone surveys on buildings around the North of Scotland before nesting season. Seagull's nesting season in the UK can vary depending on the species of seagull and the location, but generally, it occurs from late April to August. During this time, seagulls build their nests, lay their eggs, and raise their young, which can make them more territorial and protective of their nesting sites. It is important to be aware of seagull nesting season when conducting any type of work in areas where seagulls are present, including drone roof inspections, to avoid disturbing the birds and their young. In some cases, it may be necessary to delay the work until the nesting season is over to avoid potential harm to the birds or legal consequences for disturbing nesting sites. If you are looking for more information on how a drone survey can help you then drop me a DM or send me an email to scott@flyingscotsmanuas.com #drone #droneinspection #dronesurvey #dronephotography

Steady flight of kerstels could help aerial safety soar. A joint study by RMIT (Australia) and the University of Bristol (UK) has revealed secrets to the remarkably steady flight of kestrels that could inform future drone design and flight control strategies. 08 August 2024. Excerpt: Making drones safer and more stable in turbulent conditions, or in cities where wind gusts from tall buildings make flying more difficult, enables applications such as parcel delivery, food delivery and environmental monitoring more feasible, and more often.  The study conducted in RMIT’s Industrial Wind Tunnel facility – one of the largest of its kind in Australia – is the first to precisely measure the stability of a Nankeen Kestrel’s head during hovering flight, finding movement of less than 5mm during hunting behavior.  Note: “Typically, aircraft use flap movements for stabilization to achieve stability during flight,” said RMIT lead researcher Dr Abdulghani Mohamed.   “Our results acquired over several years, show birds of prey rely more on changes in surface area, which is crucial as it may be a more efficient way of achieving stable flight in fixed wing aircraft too.” Kestrels and other birds of prey are capable of keeping their heads and bodies extremely still during hunting. This specialized flight behavior, called wind hovering, allows the birds to ‘hang’ in place under the right wind conditions without flapping. By making small adjustments to the shape of their wings and tail, they can achieve incredible steadiness. Advancements in camera and motion capture technology, enabled the research team to observe two Nankeen Kestrels, trained by Leigh Valley Hawk and Owl Sanctuary, at high resolution. Fitted with reflective markers, the birds’ precise movements and flight control techniques during non-flapping flight were tracked in detail for the first-time. “Previous studies involved birds casually flying through turbulence and gusts within wind tunnels; in our study we tracked a unique wind hovering flight behavior whereby the birds are actively maintaining extreme steadiness, enabling us to study the pure control response without flapping,” said Mohamed. By mapping these movements, the researchers gained insights that could be utilized to achieve steadier flight for fixed wing aircrafts. “The wind hovering behavior we observed in kestrels is the closest representation in the avian world to fixed wing aircraft,” said Mohamed.  “Our findings surrounding the changes in wing surface area could be applied to the design of morphing wings in drones, enhancing their stability and making them safer in adverse weather.” Direct link available in enclosed announcement Publication: Journal of Experimental Biology August 2024 Steady as they hover: kinematics of kestrel wing and tail morphing during hovering flights https://lnkd.in/eWpx8pSD

Revolutionizing Wildlife Conservation: the power of Anti-Poaching drones As poaching continues to threaten biodiversity worldwide, innovative technologies are emerging to combat this $14 billion criminal industry. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are proving to be a game-changer in wildlife protection efforts. Key benefits of anti-poaching drones include enhanced surveillance of vast areas, rapid response to incidents, improved ranger safety, cost-effective monitoring, and non-invasive wildlife observation. Our latest anti-poaching drone features:  • 24/7 autonomous operation.  • 45-minute flight time with 90-second battery swap.   • High-resolution cameras and thermal sensors.   • AI-powered detection and tracking.   • Integration with existing security systems. By combining UAV technology with AI and big data analytics, we're opening new horizons in wildlife conservation. It's not just about protecting animals; it's about preserving our planet's biodiversity for future generations. How do you see the role of technology in conservation efforts? Share your thoughts below. #WildlifeConservation #AntiPoachingTech #DroneInnovation #Biodiversity

Are you flying a drone over or near aquatic animals? We’ve produced a set of recommendations for responsible drone operation over aquatic life, which aim to reduce animal disturbance caused by the noise and presence of drones. These recommendations are directly informed by our drone noise research, hands-on experience and other key studies. It’s our collective responsibility to leave nature as undisturbed as possible 💙 Want to download the infographic and learn more about the research behind it? Link in bio or head directly to linktr.ee/dronesoverwater. Please share with anyone you know who intends to fly over aquatic life. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions. And remember that these are only recommendations – wherever you fly, always follow local regulations, laws and guidelines. Huge thanks to Rosemary Connelli for making the infographic, with text co-written by the Whale Wise team. Also thanks to Maria Glarou and Fredrik Christiansen for helpful feedback on the text. We decided to develop these recommendations after key results from our recent publication: Laute A, Glarou M, Dodds F, Gomez Røsand SC, Grove TJ, Stoller A, Rasmussen MH, Fournet ME. 2023. Underwater sound of three unoccupied aerial vehicles at varying altitudes and horizontal distances. JASA, 153(6): 3419. https://lnkd.in/gufBAFkk #accessibility [description: infographic with recommendations for responsible drone operation over aquatic life] #whale #whaleresearch #conservation #savetheplanet #saveourocean #oceanbeach #oceanlife #conservation #whale #whales #ocean #sea #nature #photography #love #photooftheday #instagood #beautiful #wildlife #amazinganimals #naturephotography #DJI #whales #whalelove #drone #drones #droneresearch

Check out the latest infographic I designed for my team Whale Wise on responsible drone operation over aquatic life!

Need something to read over the holidays? Check out our latest blog: "5 Things You Can Do With Wildlife Drones That You Can’t Do With Manual Tracking" From tracking multiple animals simultaneously to surveying large areas and difficult, discover how drones are revolutionising wildlife research. https://hubs.ly/Q02__GZy0 #WildlifeDrones #WildlifeMonitoring #radiotracking #radiotelemetry #WildlifeConservation #DroneTechnology #wildlifetelemetry #radiotrackingsystem #radiotrackingsystems #radiotrackingequipment