Drones used to manage natural resources

Updated June 14, 2013 11:43:14

Audio: Drone used in natural resource management (ABC Rural)

A video producer in NSW is using a drone to capture the landscape to help government manage the state's natural resources.

Nathan Smith says it's a far more affordable option than hiring a helicopter to record the aerial footage.

"In the past, I would've had to have jumped in a helicopter with a lot of money to be able to get any aerial footage," he said.

"But today with the technology we have, I can purchase, for a relatively small amount, a portable aircraft that can get aerial footage simply and easily."

Attached to the aircraft to film the landscape is a GoPro camera.

There have been privacy concerns expressed from landholders about the potential intrusiveness of these unmanned tools.

But Mr Smith says that unless he has permission, he keeps off private properties and stays on public land.

"It's a basic no brainer. If I fly it over the fence, farmers out that way are probably going to shoot it down, and I don't blame them," he said.

"It looks a bit scary, it's unknown, it's got flashing lights all over it.


Nathan Smith, video producer and drone owner, NSW.

"But out of respect I just keep it on the public side of the fence, and just get up into the air to get the shots."

Mr Smith is also concerned about birds of prey attacking it.

"I've always been really careful, and if I see anything hovering around I'll quickly get it back down again," he said.

"With these four spinning blades you don't want to be having a confrontation with a bird. Obviously the bird's not going to come off too well either."

Mr Smith has only had the drone for two weeks and says it still scares him to fly it around.

"I'm still learning how to fly it, I've crashed it a few times, but it's quite tough," he said.

But he says the results of the footage so far have been amazing.

"The actual aircraft itself, which is only quite small, can handle the conditions of wind," he said.

"It flies up to 50 kilometres per hour so it can fly against winds of that speed, but there's shake.

"So, I really have to make sure there's no wind and if there is wind I have to let it take the aircraft without trying to go against it while it records.

"But there are software programs that can remedy some amount of shake."

Mr Smith has been contracted by the Namoi and Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authorities on projects.

Topics: environmental-management, beef-cattle, air-transport, film, port-macquarie-2444

First posted June 14, 2013 11:39:22