In 2018, the global drones market had an estimated value of around $3.45 billion, and that value has only continued to grow. Today, this multibillion-dollar industry is expected to be worth over seven million dollars in 2022. In Michigan, the department of natural resources (DNR) has already embraced this new technology, hoping to improve its operations and reduce costs.
Late last month, wildlife biologists from the Michigan DNR were trying to track a bear that was previously used as a surrogate mother to raise orphaned cubs. However, the bear had gone past the range of her radio collar, leaving them with no other choice than to take advantage of their newest program, which involves using drones.
According to the DNR aviation manager Kevin Jacobs, the department had a clear outline of where the bear normally dens, but the 40-acre spot has a lot of heavy covers. Nonetheless, the DNR was still able to track the mother, by mounting a thermal camera on the drone. Using the thermal camera, the department was able to get a heat image on the ground that was about the right size.
Finding a surrogate mother for the bear cubs is just one of the ways that the DNR is exploring drone technology. As a resident of Michigan you can also explore Bet-Michigan that will help you find the best online lottery promotion codes with substantial bonuses when wagering on lotteries in the state. There is a fantastic range of Lottery games you can play here.
Besides finding surrogate moms, licensed DNR staffers are also using these unmanned aerial vehicles to promote and manage parks, state forests, fishing, and wildlife. The division of forest resources controls the drone program, and it has continued to expand since it was launched in 2016 with only three vehicles.
According to Jacobs, the DNR embraced the drone technology at an early stage as they wanted to be ahead of the game and not the tail. Jacobs and Nick Dohm, DNR’s resource analyst, have spearheaded the program since it was launched, making room for intellectual growth. Dohm believes they have solid control of what this program entails, despite fears of being carried away at the beginning.
So far, the DNR knows what works in this program, what they want, and where they want it to head in the future. The program had three drones by mid-2017, with an authorization certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. The DNR is the second agency in Michigan to receive a certificate from the FAA after the state police department.
