Drones & Balloon Mapping in Primate Conservation by Veronica Rochelle Seawall https://padlet.com/veronicaseawall/xwracf98jm94 A review of drone and balloon mapping usage in primate conservation en-us 2018-03-04 21:05:40 UTC 2026-03-01 00:55:51 UTC hello@padlet.com Drones veronicaseawall https://padlet.com/veronicaseawall/xwracf98jm94/wish/237852399 Strengths - 
1) Drones allow conservationists to study large, otherwise unreachable areas in a short amount of time, like orangutan nests (Patton, 2013). Citizen science projects, like the Zooniverse project looking for orangutan nests, allow people from all over the globe to help with conservation projects.
2) Drones have proven to deter poachers because large areas are under surveillance at any given time. Law enforcement has the opportunity to stop poachers before they commit their crimes (Garcia, 2013). Check out the video below showing how drones can track and discourage poachers from poaching (Nuwer, 2017).

Weaknesses - 
1) Drones can be viewed as a threat in some areas, especially if there is pre-existing warfare. Drones deployed for "good" reasons, like conservation, may not be viewed any different from "enemy" aircraft and subsequently disposed of (Gross, 2014).  
2) Drone technology is growing, but may be moving too quickly for it to be valuable in some remote places. Drones have the ability to capture thousands of pictures or large amounts of video footage in a short amount of time, but if internet usage is limited in remote places (like the rainforests primates live in) then such information is difficult to use in real time (Hynes, 2016).]]> 2018-03-04 21:05:40 UTC https://padlet.com/veronicaseawall/xwracf98jm94/wish/237852399 Balloon/kite mapping veronicaseawall https://padlet.com/veronicaseawall/xwracf98jm94/wish/237852400 Strengths - 
1) "Low-tech" alternatives to drones like balloon and kite mapping integrate well with towns, community groups, and volunteer initiatives better than expensive technology like drones and are generally more accessible (Lippincott, n.d.).
2) Aerial photographs provide real-time, easily-obtained images of the ground (Reading Topographic Maps, n.d.). Images like these can help local people better understand their surroundings without expensive technologies.  

Weaknesses - 
1) Balloon or kite mapping may be easy to execute in theory, but it's hard to analyze spatial data unless you have specific training in the the interpretation of it, especially when looking at dense areas like the rainforests that primates are found in (McCormick, 2015). 
2) Weather conditions can easily influence data results captured by cameras attached to balloons or kites (Public Lab, 2014).]]> 2018-03-04 21:05:40 UTC https://padlet.com/veronicaseawall/xwracf98jm94/wish/237852400 How are drones used? veronicaseawall https://padlet.com/veronicaseawall/xwracf98jm94/wish/237852401 Drones are an excellent tool in citizen science projects; they allow people from all over the world to participate in conservation projects that help protect wild animals and spaces. Here is an example of how drones have improved our knowledge on orangutans in Sabah (Milne, 2017). ]]> 2018-03-04 21:05:40 UTC https://padlet.com/veronicaseawall/xwracf98jm94/wish/237852401 Drones veronicaseawall https://padlet.com/veronicaseawall/xwracf98jm94/wish/237852405 A conservation drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle used for surveying wildlife, monitoring and surveying wild spaces, and enforcing protected areas (conservationdrones.org, n.d.). Watch this Ted Talk by Conservation Drones ecologist Lian Pin Koh to learn more about the important role drones have in conserving wild habitat and animals (Pin Koh, 2013). ]]> 2018-03-04 21:05:40 UTC https://padlet.com/veronicaseawall/xwracf98jm94/wish/237852405 Balloon/kite mapping veronicaseawall https://padlet.com/veronicaseawall/xwracf98jm94/wish/237852406 Balloon mapping is a low-cost way to take aerial photos using a camera, attached to a balloon or kite, on a spool of string (Public Lab, 2017). While satellite imaging is exact, it's often controlled by government or large industries making "grassroot" mapping an affordable alternative to local people interested in natural spaces or conservation issues near them (Warren, 2010). Additionally, balloon mapping can prove useful in conservation fieldwork research since battery restrictions are non-existent and some places, like Borneo, are so remote that technology use is limited when searching for things like orangutan nests (Klemas, 2015). ]]> 2018-03-04 21:05:40 UTC https://padlet.com/veronicaseawall/xwracf98jm94/wish/237852406 veronicaseawall https://padlet.com/veronicaseawall/xwracf98jm94/wish/237857226 Bruzzi, D. (2014). Borneo rainforest photograph. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License on Wikimedia Commons.

Conservationdrones.org (n.d.). What are conservation drones. Retrieved from https://conservationdrones.org/what-are-conservation-drones/.

Garcia, J. (2013). Conservation drones as a deterrent to poachers (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Miami University, Oxford, OH.  

Gross, M. (2014) Connecting with the natural world. Current Biology 24(14) p. R629-R632.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2014.07.005

Hynes, C. (2016). 

Drones will prove vital to land and wildlife conservation in Southeast Asia. Retrieved from http://www.4apes.com/fr/news/science/item/1499-http-www-forbes-com-sites-chynes-2016-07-31-drones-will-prove-vital-to-land-and-wildlife-conservation-in-southeast-asia-17d2204f411a#top.


Klemas, V. (2015). Coastal and environmental remote sensing from unmanned aerial vehicles: An overview. Journal of Coastal Research 31(5) p. 1260-1267. https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-15-00005.1

Lippincott, M. (n.d.). Mapping with kites in the age of drones. Retrieved from http://mediashift.org/2013/01/mapping-with-kites-in-the-age-of-drones024/.

McCormick, G. (2015). 

Ecology on the wing: Aerial photography enhances conservation research. Retrieved from http://science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2015-news/ecology-on-the-wing-aerial-photography-enhances-conservation-research


Milne, S. (2017, December 18). 

Orangutan Nest Survey- Citizen Science. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09kfW3AiS9M. 


Nuwer, R. (2017). 

High above, drones keep watchful eyes on wildlife in Africa. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/13/science/drones-africa-poachers-wildlife.html. 


Patton, F. (2013). Are drones the answer to conservationists' prayers? Retrieved from http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/137/1374628471.pdf.

Pin Koh, L. (2013). A drone's-eye view conservation. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/lian_pin_koh_a_drone_s_eye_view_of_conservation.

Public Lab (2017). Balloon & kite mapping. Retrieved from https://publiclab.org/wiki/balloon-mappinghttps://publiclab.org/wiki/balloon-mappinghttps://publiclab.org/wiki/balloon-mapping.

Public Lab (2014). 

Mapping with balloons in Castellón and building community (results). Retrieved from https://publiclab.org/notes/pablo/02-12-2014/mapping-with-balloons-in-castellon-and-building-community. 


Reading Topographic Maps (n.d.). Aerial photographs. Retrieved from http://www.map-reading.com/chap8.php.

Warren, J. (2010). Grassroots mapping: Tools for participatory and activist cartography (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. 
]]> 2018-03-04 21:41:46 UTC https://padlet.com/veronicaseawall/xwracf98jm94/wish/237857226 How is balloon/kite mapping used? veronicaseawall https://padlet.com/veronicaseawall/xwracf98jm94/wish/237859680 Balloon and kite mapping is a cost-effective way to monitor changes in habitats and landscapes over time. Check out this interview with aerial photographer Charles Benton to learn more about the logistics of kite mapping in remote settings, which can be applied to conservation fieldwork (Conservation Maven, n.d.).]]> 2018-03-04 22:02:21 UTC https://padlet.com/veronicaseawall/xwracf98jm94/wish/237859680