Collecting data is a critical part of doing research. But it can be a lengthy, challenging process, and in some cases — especially when dealing with severe weather or treacherous terrain — it can pose a danger to scientists.
Collecting data is a critical part of doing research. But it can be a lengthy, challenging process, and in some cases — especially when dealing with severe weather or treacherous terrain — it can pose a danger to scientists.
Enter NOAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program, which provides funding for research aimed at incorporating unmanned drones throughout NOAA’s research efforts. With their ability to go places that humans can’t and collect high-quality data, drones can help make the data-collecting process easier and, in some cases, more effective.
Here are four ways NOAA scientists are using drones in their research.
Monitoring Fur Seal Populations
Walking around an island off the coast of Alaska to look for and tag fur seal pups may sound like fun. And it is, says Katie Sweeney, a biologist with NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center. But it’s also slow, costly, and labor-intensive for the scientists — not to mention disruptive for the animals.
Continue reading at NOAA.
Image via NOAA.
