A protocol for the aerial survey of penguin colonies using UAVs

Penguins, and many other seabirds, often nest in the open in large colonies, and so are amenable to aerial survey. UAVs offer a flexible and inexpensive method of achieving this but, to date, few published examples are available. We present a protocol for acquiring aerial images of penguin colonies using UAVs and describe simple, open-source tools for processing these into counts. Our approach is demonstrated using a case study for a penguin colony in the Falkland Islands. We discuss the advantages and limitations of UAVs for penguin surveys and make recommendations for their wider application

REAL-TIME FOREST FIRE MONITORING SYSTEM USING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE

The main focus of this research is to develop a real-time forest fire monitoring system using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The UAV is equipped with sensors, a mini processor (Raspberry Pi) and Ardu Pilot Mega (APM) for the flight controller. This system used five sensors. The first is a temperature sensor that served to measure the temperature in the monitored forest area. The others sensors are embedded in the APM. There are a barometer, Global Positioning Sensor (GPS), inertial measurement unit (IMU) and compass sensor. GPS and compass are used in the navigation system. The barometer measured the air pressure that is used as a reference to maintain the height of the UAV. The IMU consists of accelerometer and gyroscope sensors that are used to estimate the vehicle position. The temperature data from the sensor and the data from GPS are processed by the Raspberry Pi 3, which serves as a mini processor. The results of the data processing are sent to the server to be accessible online and real-time on the website. The data transmission used the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) system. The experimental setup was carried out in an area of 40 meters × 40 meters with 10 hotspots. The diameter of the hotspots is 0.4 meters with a height of 0.5 meters. The UAV is flown at a constant speed of 5 m/s at an altitude of 20 meters above the ground. The flight path is set by using a mission planner so the UAV can fly autonomously. The experimental results show that the system could detect seven hotspots in the first trial and nine hotspots in the second trial. This happened because there is some data loss in the transmission process. Other results indicate that the coordinates of hotspots detected by the UAV have a deviation error of approximately 1 meter from the actual fire point coordinates. This is still within the standard GPS accuracy as this system uses GPS with a range accuracy of 2.5 meters

Smokey comes of age: unmanned aerial systems for fire management

During the past century, fire management has focused on techniques both to protect human communities from catastrophic wildfire and to maintain fire-dependent ecological systems. However, despite a large and increasing allocation of resources and personnel to achieve these goals, fire management objectives at regional to global scales are not being met. Current fire management techniques are clearly inadequate for the challenges faced by fire managers, and technological innovations are needed. Advances in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology provide opportunities for innovation in fire management and science. In many countries, fire management organizations are beginning to explore the potential of UAS for monitoring fires. We have taken the next step and developed a prototype that can precisely ignite fires as part of wildfire suppression tactics or prescribed fires (fire intentionally ignited within predetermined conditions to reduce hazardous fuels, improve habitat, or mitigate for large wildfires). We discuss the potential for these technologies to benefit fire management activities, while acknowledging the sizeable sociopolitical barriers that prevent their immediate broad application

Development and construction of an unmanned aerial vehicle for wildfire management

Los incendios forestales en Patagonia son el factor principal de pérdida de superficies boscosas. Es fundamental optimizar y mejorar el actual sistema de manejo del fuego desde su prevención, sistemas de alerta temprana, y el combate propiamente dicho. En este marco, el Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico (CIEFAP), en un entorno público privado, desarrolló un vehículo aéreo no tripulado, denominado Fénix 3d, como herramienta complementaria dentro del sistema de manejo del fuego.Forest fires in Patagonia are the main factor of loss of forest areas. It is essential to optimize and improve the current system of fire management from prevention, early warning systems, combat itself. In this framework the Patagonian Andes Research and Extension Center (CIEFAP), in a private and public environment, developed an unmanned aerial vehicle, called Fénix 3d, as complementary tool within a fire management system.Fil: Lencinas, José Daniel. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Parodi, Ezequiel. Life Style Media; ArgentinaFil: Van Den Heede, Brigitte Clara. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Heitzmann, Luciana. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentin