I, in the sky

Abstract

This summer, I was fortunate to experience the rigorous process of academic research and publishing. Under the supervision of Dr Sandro Lanfranco, I examined the efficiency of using a drone to obtain large-scale vegetation maps, which resulted in a paper in the journal Xjenza Online. The study shows how influential technology has become, even in traditionally ‘low-tech’ fields like ecology. Without drones, vegetation maps would normally require a large team, and several days or weeks of surveying. The use of drones has enabled us to cut costs, time, and resources. This allowed us to image and analyse vast expanses of land in a fraction of the time. I learnt how to pilot the drone and navigate its software. I also acquired skills such as photographic imaging, image analysis, and flight physics throughout the study – sometimes by trial and error.