Drone use is taking off, and not just for playing in the backyard.
Several experts from different fields gathered for drone flights in the University of Akron’s Louis and Freda Stile Athletics Field House Monday night to test the technology’s possibilities.
Gary Schuller, a professor and program director of surveying and mapping at UA, coordinated the gathering with the hope of bringing like-minded people together to test the technology’s potential of capturing accurate imagery.
Most of the testing conducted was to compare the drone’s accuracy in mapping and surveying to data captured on the ground.
Schuller said drone technology has a range of possibilities, from determining plant health in agriculture to finding missing people in law enforcement.
Fliers can even take a “dronie” — that is, a selfie with a drone.
“This technology is going to affect a lot of things in society,” Schuller said. “We want to make sure we’re on top of it at Akron.”
Several professors from UA, including Jerrad Lancaster, were there to observe the drone’s effectiveness for their specific interests.
“We’re trying to look at practical reasons to use it,” said Lancaster, a professor in the anthropology and classics department at UA.
He said with drones, archaeologists can take pictures of existing ruins to help observe and monitor them without being there in person.
Beyond mapping and observing, there is also potential to attach different lenses to the unmanned aircraft to do different things. For example, archaeologists may attach a lens to the camera that detects heat underneath the surface, providing direction for where to begin excavating.
Drone use can save time and money, Lancaster said.
“You can get pictures for a tenth, or even hundredth, of the price depending on what you’re doing.”
Stephen Mather, the geographic information systems manager for the Cleveland Metroparks, hopes the technology can replace current methods of mapping with a more efficient approach and map regions of the wetlands they aren’t able to reach currently.
“The reality is this gives us the ability to do things we weren’t previously able to do,” Mather said.
UA has conducted testing a handful of times before, but regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration make it difficult to test outside regularly in order to avoid interference with other aircraft.
“They’re being very careful, and rightfully so, with the safety,” Schuller said.
Akron interests
UA has the only accredited bachelor’s degree surveying program in Ohio and is one of fewer than two dozen in the nation.
Schuller said because of this, he plans to hold more “flight nights” in the future, as well as collaborate with Event 38 Unmanned Systems, an Akron-based drone manufacturing company.
“I’m hoping to partner with Event 38, who will help us build a curriculum,” Schuller said. “We’re not afraid to explore and experiment with new technology.”
Theresa Cottom can be reached at 330-996-3216 or tcottom@thebeaconjournal.com.