The conveniences of our modern world still run primarily on fuel and minerals obtained through large-scale mining operations. Humans have been mining since the stone age, but we probably only think back to the mining operations of the early 1900s when we think about how long we’ve been harvesting the earth’s resources.
While we’ve been at the mining gig for a while, these operations look a lot different today than they did a century ago. For one, we’ve learned that maintaining biodiversity plays an important role in carbon absorption. This led to coordinated ecosystem and habitat restoration efforts which are now getting a lot more attention as more people become aware of our need for sustainable living.
Goals for Restoration Projects
Ecological restoration is intended to accelerate the recovery of disturbed ecosystems. While the most common example of habitat restoration comes from mining operations, the industrial age has taken its toll on the earth. There are plenty of other restoration efforts underway around the globe.
Restoration projects can serve different goals, like:
- Revegetation
- Habitat Enhancement
- Mitigation for Protected Species or Ecosystems
- Remediation of Existing Threats
Accomplishing any type of restoration project is a long-term process. It begins with a site assessment and defining the scope of the restoration project. From there, the restoration team can begin taking actionable steps like removing disturbances, restoring ecological processes, rehabilitating substrates, and restoring vegetation. These steps require monitoring, and each time humans intervene in the environment, progress is stalled.
Related: Leveraging Agriculture Drone Imaging for Soil Mapping & Analysis
Drones as a Solution for Monitoring Restoration Projects
The industry is increasingly turning to technology to solve its project management problem. For example, drones or unmanned aerial systems (UAS) can survey large plots of land using various technologies like aerial photography, thermal imaging, and contour mapping without impeding the progress of the restoration project.
Some of the practical ways that drones have helped include:
- Mapping Plant Growth
- Tracking Pollution Sources
- Measuring Shorelines
- Monitor Wildlife Activity
HANA Resources provides detailed and innovative solutions to your ecological data problems. Learn more today.
An Example of Ecological Drones in Practice
A project to monitor the natural ecosystems in coastal communities located in the Eastern United States utilizes drone technology as a less-invasive method for monitoring changes. Elizabeth City State University and Audubon North Carolina have teamed up to harness the power of technology for ecology management.
The main feature of their coastal resilience program utilizes drone technology to map shoreline changes and vegetation in the Outer Banks. The marshes are hard otherwise difficult to access, and data has been hard to collect in this area. The aerial view of drones provides a different perspective that can’t be seen from ground level. It’s been an invaluable tool to recognize patterns and target habitat restoration efforts.
Coastlines are subject to natural erosion from waves and natural disasters. The impact of these changes is intensified by rising sea levels and erosion that is currently the target of many environmental efforts. These changes impact critical wetland habitats that are home to hundreds of species in this case.
Related: The Benefits of Using Drones for Environmental Monitoring
The project has been able to use drone technology to identify areas where the vegetation is less green. Imaging is tracked with specific GPS coordinates allowing conservationists to identify individual plants and measure changes down to centimeters with high-resolution photography. They can use thermal imaging to tell if conditions are hot or moist and identify the extent of variation from typical measurements.
Compared to the alternative–using low-resolution satellite imagery, drones have provided a responsive and feasible solution to managing this habitat restoration project. These marshes were once thought of as a breeding ground for mosquitoes and disease. But through ecological study, we now know that they provide a crucial habitat that’s degradation negatively impacts birds, fish, and plant species–as well as our larger ecosystem.
Take Control of Ecosystem & Habitat Restoration with Drone Services by HANA Resources
HANA Resources is an environmental enterprise solution located in California. Our team of scientists and engineers collaborate to provide high-quality services blending science and technology for better environmental outcomes.
We provide a full range of drone services to help manage ecosystem and habitat restoration projects, like:
- 3D Photogrammetry
- Aerial Mapping
- Algae Detection
- Dense Point Clouds for Elevation Mapping
- Contour Mapping
- Plant Species Recognition
- Plant Health Assessments
- Thermal Imaging
- Progress Monitoring
We’re committed to providing tailored services to meet the needs of your habitat restoration project. Our progress monitoring flights can be scheduled weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly to provide you with timely updates when you need them.
Why Choose HANA Resources
Founded in 1995, HANA Resources tirelessly works towards one goal–using technology to change the environmental industry for the better. When it comes to managing your habitat restoration projects, that means we make a big job a whole lot easier.
When you work with our environmental consulting firm, you get decades of curated expertise in science, innovation, and natural resources. Our team is made up of scientists, engineers, and technology specialists who focus on making cutting-edge technologies useful for environmental purposes.
We work with many industries, including government or tribal agencies, utility companies, transportation, commercial/industrial, energy, natural resources, and more. HANA Resources is your A-team for quality environmental data from reliable expertise that you can trust to high-quality deliverables and science-backed methodologies.
HANA Resources is a certified diversity environmental consulting firm using advanced technology and science to remove subjectivity in data collection for our clients. When you work with us, you get:
- Proprietary Technologies
- Strategic Approach
- Reproducible Methods
- Commitment to Innovation
Related: Drone Land Surveying & Mapping: Here are the Advantages
The Bottom Line on HANA Resources & Drones for Habitat Restoration
There’s no argument–drones provide a less-invasive, cost-effective option for managing habitat restoration projects. The technology is superior to any other method available. The difference that HANA Resources makes is opening up the door to your options for using drones in your habitat restoration projects. While other companies might be limited to aerial photography, we offer a wide range of biological services using our proprietary technologies. The level of detail and accuracy in our drones’ data is second to none in the environmental industry.
HANA Resources is your technology-oriented leader for quality environmental data. Learn more today.
