Protecting Australia’s iconic fauna is no easy task – considering how large the continent is, and how varied and diverse the climate and terrain is across vast regions. However, researches from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have been utilising the power of drones to conduct heat-seeking sensors to locate some of our more endangered marsupials.
Koala’s are rapidly losing their habitats through land clearing and bushfires, reducing their populations to even smaller numbers. However, QUT have been conducting field surveys through eucalyptus forests around Brisbane with their drone technology. The information that is collected by cameras is placed in an algorithm – which can work out whether the animal picked up with the sensor is a koala or a different animal.
Koalas are also prevalent in the Hazelwood forestry area in Victoria, where logging companies use thermal cameras on drones to locate Koalas, which are relocated before trees are felled.
Drone technologies have becoming more and more prevalent in modern industries. Their ability to use cameras and other optical technologies, in addition to their size, make them ideal for forests and other areas where traditional aerial technologies cannot access.
We have already written pieces on the future of electric aircraft, in addition to the use of drones in the construction and agricultural industries. It is an exciting time for aerospace innovation, and staying on top of industry developments is essential when pursuing graduate opportunities.
Experts at RMIT University have already discussed the future of flying taxis in Melbourne, and Aerospace students are already winning national competitions in building and launching rockets. It is an exciting time to be at RMIT University, with many more innovative and groundbreaking projects on the horizon.