Drones—or unmanned aerial vehicles—are gaining in popularity across a wide variety of professional fields. At Kentucky State University (KYSU), researchers use this cutting-edge
technology to survey and map large areas of land. Drones allow farmers, foresters, landowners and our researchers to survey more than 100 acres a day, whereas surveying a land area that size by foot would require up to a few weeks.
Dr. Richard Cristian, assistant research professor of forestry in KYSU's College of Agriculture, Communities, and the Environment, works with his team to study the regeneration of plants in areas impacted by the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipenni. The emerald ash borer is an invasive species that has nearly eradicated the state's population of mature ash trees. Dr. Cristian's team utilizes drones to determine canopy
Drones are defined as unmanned aerial vehicles. Researchers use them to help farmers analyze land use and track growth in forested areas.