In this episode co-hosted with Esri, we will introduce several case studies showcasing the integration of drone deployment with powerful GIS and field applications software. Advancements in the ever-evolving wetland science and technology ecosystem are creating massive levels of efficiency in wetland mapping and monitoring. Additionally, learn about how drones and apps can help narrow the scope of fieldwork efforts and reduce cost of regulatory wetland delineations.

Moderators:
Jeremy Schewe, PWS, Cofounder & Chief Scientific Officer, Ecobot
Daniel Martin, Consultant/Project Manager, Esri

Panelists:
Ryan Gay, Environmental Consultant, Whitenton Group Environmental Consultants
Bill VanSickle, St. Johns River Water Management District
Jeremiah Johnson, Drone Technology Evangelist, Esri
Caitlin Burke, Environmental Consultant, GHA
Marinus Boon, Sr. Remote Sensing Scientist & Wetland Specialist, Pattle Delamore Partners

Topics:

• Drone (UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) deployment for monitoring changes in vegetation and impacts to wetlands
• UAV deployment to verify extent of wetlands and better concentrate efforts for regulatory delineations
• Introduce some new hardware and software for collecting pertinent wetland data via UAV
• Tools/software for post-processing of UAV aerial photography for GIS maps, creating 3-D models, and conducting fieldwork more efficiently
• Impact of UAV deployment on project management, planning, and budgeting

  More from Jeremy:

  As an ecologist conducting wetlands delineations, threatened & endangered species surveys, and baseline ecological inventories for over 17 years around the world, I have been able to avoid the rise of tech for many years more than people in most other professions, due to the lack of quality tools available to environmental scientists. It is the 21st century, however, and the wheel of innovation is rolling through every profession, including earth sciences.

  In this episode, we will discuss how it is essential that tech be simple, intuitive, and shaped by scientists. We need technology that wraps and enhances our existing methodologies and protocols. Our shared vision as scientists is that good technology should be almost invisible and is not simply a transference of inefficiency from one process to another. The wrong kind of technology just adds to the stresses of balancing conservation and monitoring with permitting and state and federal changes in the legal jurisdiction of water bodies.

  Data collection and analysis are the foundation for the creation of knowledge, and knowledge leads to the protection of our natural resources while enabling economic progress. The right kind of technology gets out of the scientist’s way and allows for a greater percentage of attention and focus on the creation of this critical knowledge. In this webinar series, we discuss technology trends in the wetland science community from GPS collectors, field equipment, drones, data collection applications, digitization of the regulatory review process, with the goal-setting a high bar of expectations for new technologies that are becoming part of our everyday workflows.

  The Ecobot Podcast is edited and produced by Earfluence.