Ping-pong balls and drones: Future of fire in the forest
Ping-pong balls to ignite prescribed fire can be used with drones larger than this Vision Aerial Switchblade Elite (Type 4). USDA Forest Service photo by Kaitlyn Tyler.
ARIZONA—Drier, hotter days create the perfect climate for wildfires to spread violently, rushing into neighboring…
#Drones, #FirefighterSafety, #Safety, #WildlandFirefighting, #PrescribedFire, #UnmannedAircraftSystems
Drones give a clear view of frog habitat
Deschutes National Forest scientists survey for Oregon spotted frog egg masses each year in Big Marsh in the spring. (USDA Forest Service photo by Carina Rosterolla).
Picture an IMAX-style aerial film of a high-elevation wetland complex boasting every shade of green, from lime to emerald to…
#Drones, #Frogs, #USFishAndWildlifeService
Mechanized birds: Wildland firefighting with drone intelligence
Leonard Pies and Jordan Hahn with Precision Integrated Programs / Overwatch Aero perform pre-flight maintenance on the FVR-90 fixed wing drone, before takeoff to fly around the perimeter of the Lightning Complex Fire near Willow Creek, California, August 31. (USDA Forest Service photo by Andrew Avitt)
The…
#WildlandFire, #WildlandFirefighting, #Drones, #Safety, #Aviation
Aerial Ignition Academy trains drone pilots, reduces risk to employees [VIDEO]
WASHINGTON, DC—The Forest Service is committed to its values and places highest importance on employee safety. That’s why we’re using unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, to reduce risk for Forest Service firefighters, land managers and aviation assets. “We’re talking about a new tool that we can introduce in the conversation on risk management,” said Dirk Giles, national UAS program…
#Drones, #WildfireTraining, #PrescribedFire, #WildlandFirefighting, #Technology
Counter UAS & Aircraft Tracking
Airspace Awareness for Wildland FiresAs the public and private UAS industry expands and flying near wildland fire increases there is a significant increased risk to aviators and aerial fire operations. Intrusions over a wildland fire, within a fire traffic area (FTA) or within a temporary flight restriction (TFR), may result in shutting down manned aviation increasing risk to…
#Fire, #FireAndAviationManagement, #Drones, #Safety, #Aviation
Flying UAS for Natural Resource Management Missions on National Forest System Lands
The USDA Forest Service is highly interested in new technologies such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
The Forest Service has taken significant steps to establish a formal UAS program needed to ensure appropriate, safe and cost-effective UAS flight missions for the agency. These steps include appointing a UAS program manger, establishing a UAS executive steering committee and conducting test…