Deployment and Flight Training Procedures Associated with Using Small, Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Capturing Multispectral Aerial Imagery

Use of small, autonomous UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) in fisheries, watershed management, and restoration practices has gained increasing attention.  This is, in part, to the UAV’s (Aggieair™) relatively low cost, versatility, and instantaneous acquisition of multispectral digital aerial imagery.  Potential applications involving aerial imagery retrieved from UAVs are continually expanding with recent and current use involving management of invasive plant species, mapping riparian habitat, and is being extended to radio tacking capabilities.  Whereas the mechanics of UAV flight and data acquisition have been explained in detail, a description of required skills necessary to deploy the UAV under real world conditions are not well established.  Deployment of the UAV system requires an extensive training program for a team composed of a skilled UAV pilot and experienced ground control station operator.  In this paper, we highlight the necessary training as well as capabilities and limitations associated with use of UAVs in fisheries and watershed practices.