Commercial drones in 2022

Take a look across industries at how drones give professionals the edge

Hobbyists, photographers, FPV racers and others can enjoy endless entertainment with drone technology. People are looking for creative alternatives to fireworks and even the general public is jumping onboard. 

But we’ve long since evolved from the perception of drones as toys. Drones are now capable of generating value for all industries thanks to advances in computer vision, autonomous flying, and safety systems.    

Flying robots are used in innovative ways to reduce costs, improve efficiency and safety.  

DJI Enterprise was created to bring flying robots into the workplace. These are 13 ways that our drones have been successful…

Wildlife Protection and Research

It is not easy to do the important work of wildlife conservation research. Projects are often managed by small teams that have limited budgets. For those who are interested, there are substantial barriers to entry. 

Funding is one such barrier. Funding is essential for research and conservation. Data doesn’t collect itself. 

Marine conservation

Drones have been a powerful and inexpensive tool for many wildlife projects. They also allow for more participation and extend the reach of science. Ocean Alliance, a marine conservation organization, has found the technology to be a game-changer. Dr. Iain Kerr and his team are using DJI platforms to gather whale snot for analysis in order to monitor the health of our oceans. These invaluable data are being gathered faster, more accurately, and at lower costs than ever before. 

Drones also bring outdated research methods into this 21st century. Ocean Alliance used to perform physical biopsies in order to obtain the data it needed. Oceans Unmanned is another marine organization that uses the technology for providing an overview. overview during efforts to untangle whales from fishing netsHumans can still help, but they don’t have to be at risk. 

Protecting endangered species

Drones also have an impact on dry ground. In big cat research, DJI equipment is being used to track and monitor lions on the savannah. Kenyan security personnel use the technology to protect their property. protect elephants from poachers. 

Forest fires are followed by habitat destruction in AustraliaCommercial drones that have thermal imaging capabilities are being used in support of wildlife rescue and recovery missions. countless koalas have been saved and that number will grow now this new application has been tried and tested. 

It has never been more crucial to understand, protect, and explore the natural world. DJI drones are helping scientists and conservationists all over the globe. 

Public Health

Drones are a highly-sought-after tool in the field of public health, ever since the Coronavirus pandemic. 

Drone deliveries, which can include both vaccines as well as other medical supplies, have the potential to complement COVID-19 efforts. Democratic Republic of Congo to the UK’s Isles of Scilly.

Drones are comingTo the fore because they can travel directly and reach isolated populations. Drones can also be used to deliver remote goods and have minimal human-to-human contact.

These latest efforts are following a string of success stories by companies like Zipline who pioneered autonomous drone delivery – first in Africa and now in the United States. United States.  

Aside from the urgent need to eradicate the pandemic, drones have been at the forefront in efforts to combat the most devastating disease known to man: Malaria. 

You can learn more about scientists’ efforts to reduce mosquito numbers with the aid of DJI’s commercial drones in our blogOr, you can watch a talk given by Guido Welter (subject matter expert) and Bart Knols from last year’s AirWorks conference. 

Renewable Energy

Drones can be used in any situation that requires data collection at heights or scales. Flying robots are used in the rapidly growing renewable energy sector.  

Solar

Around the globe, solar farms are expanding in size and capacity at an exponential rate. It is essential to inspect them regularly in order to keep them running at their best. It is difficult because of the size of the equipment. 

Inspection crews can inspect large areas or pinpoint areas of concern by combining drones and the most recent remote sensors and AI. You can read more about the solar industry’s adoption of drones here. 

Wind

Like the solar industry, wind farm equipment can also have an impact on electricity production and profitability.

Drone technology has made it possible new inspection workflows, reducing costs compared to manned aircraft, preventing the need for inspection crews to scale turbines unless it’s absolutely necessary, and using the data gathered to detect anomalies. 

Agriculture

The agriculture industry is the largest adopter of commercial drone technology. Drones are making an impact in farms all around the globe. 

Models that include the Agras T16 are rapidly and precisely dispersing fertilizer and pesticides, while multispectral platforms that capture data beyond visible light, like the P4 MultispectralThese tools are indispensable for modern farming.

Learn more about drones and farming in the Intersection DJI’s Agriculture Buying GuideClick here to visit our Agriculture page for more details on how drones, data analysis, mission planning, and cloud services can all combine to inspire growth in your farming business. 

Historical Preservation

The support of cultural preservation programs is a common use for drones. Remote sensing is possible through drones. 

Before work can begin on many restoration and archaeological projects, maps and models must be created. It has been a constant need to collect this information in a timely manner and at a cost-effective rate. The rapid adoption and development of drone technology have allowed for the rapid adoption DJI equipment for aerial survey.

Japan is one example. There are ongoing efforts to restore and protect the Karatsu Castle from 17 century. As part of the DJI Phantom 4 RTK, mapping software DJI Terra was also used. the project. 

Search and Rescue

Remote sensing technology is now available to first responders so they can locate those in crisis more efficiently. Thermal imaging has been made affordable and accessible by drones for rescue and search teams all over the globe. 

Often, S&R missions have to navigate total darkness and wide search areas. Drones equipped with thermal cameras offer a fast response time, ease-of-use, and persistent aerial surveillance at a fraction the cost of a helicopter.

And it’s not all about thermal. There have been advances in RGB and zoom functionality like the DJI H20 payload, put powerful visual capabilities at the fingertips of first responders. 

Drone technology is being used by mountain rescue and police departments around the world. missing people in Englandstranded hikers in Iceland and survivors devastating floods and landslides in Vietnam.  https://www.youtube.com/embed/yoB2wd2NLrE?feature=oembed

Our report gives a complete picture of the impact drones have on life and death around the globe. Drone Rescue Map. There are currently 553 saved lives and counting.

Drone Firefighting

Many data gathering tasks traditionally mean putting people in harm’s way. With drones, that doesn’t always have to be the case. 

This trend is most evident in firefighting, where drones can be used to support proven methods and the development of new methods. 

DJI drones can also be used for situational awareness, providing first responders with aerial intelligence on the size and direction to a blaze. This is especially true at night when thermal imaging can help to clarify from above. 

An aerial view of an active fire situation BentonvilleArkansas helps to guide ground teams

It is often possible to use the aerial view to guide the actions and decisions of groundcrews. tackle fires with greater efficiencyLook out for hotspots which could cause secondary fires. With battery hot-swap technology available on platforms like the DJI Matrice 300Firefighters can count on a steady eye in the skies. 

Drones can also spark innovation. The Matrice 600 was used to develop a preemptive controlled burn solution to prevent wildfires from growing out of control. 

Learn more about drones and remote sensing in support of firefighting efforts in our Firefighting Fire With Thermal guidebook. 

HazMat Drones

You need to be careful in emergency situations that involve hazardous materials. Safety is the priority for first responders. This has been proven time and again. 

However, drones are making a huge impact in the field despite their long-standing methods. particularly innovative hazmat crew in Florida, delivering tools between zones. 

Surveying by helicopter

Another example of drone technology is aerial surveys expediting the process of gathering data. 

Pre-programmed flight paths and advanced payloads allow drones to be used for creating orthomosaic and 3D orthomosaic mappings, LiDAR point clouds and 3D models. The industry is the most important factor in determining the application. 

Multispectral maps, for example, are very popular in agriculture. They give farmers a clear view of their crop health. There are more dynamic situations where data must be quickly gathered, such as car crash reconstructionsYou can combine LiDAR points clouds with aerial and ground photos.  

Compare LiDAR with photogrammetry here. You can also take a look in our aerial surveying guide for more information on how drones can gather the data you need for detailed maps and models. 

Drone Inspections

Many of the critical infrastructures we depend on depends on regular maintenance inspections. For assets such as bridges, railway lines, and communications towers, it’s long been standard practice for crews to operate in precarious environments.  

These infrastructure inspections can be done using commercial drones, which are safer and more efficient than traditional methods. 

Inspections of powerlines

Powerlines are one example. Grid operators can conduct inspections remotely and at scale. reduce downtime and quickly decide what the next steps should be. 

DJI’s Matrice 300 – fast becoming an inspection team’s dream tool – combines a 20 MP camera with 23x zoom, allowing inspectors to identify even the slightest of defects. 

Construction Management

Construction is a low-margin industry with long-term productivity stagnation. As such, it’s ripe for disruption and drones are making a big impact in the way data is gathered and site awareness is shared. 

An array of safety inspections, big picture progress updates, and stockpile measurements are all possible. eye in the sky is proving invaluable for construction companies. 

Our article provides more information on drones adding value to construction operations. Drones in Construction guidebook. 

Mining

Mining is an industry that is constantly changing. This is where granular data is essential for informed decision-making. Drones can be used to gather detailed, high-quality volumetric information, with millions of data points, in less time, with lower costs, and with a lot less human error, than traditional methods. 

Automation has led to a revolution within the industry in terms of data processing and flight planning. The adoption of drones also ensures staff aren’t put in harm’s way when conducting site surveys or carrying out stockpile measurements. 

Oil & Gas

The Oil & Gas industry is full of dynamic and potentially dangerous environments. Drones are clearly proving their worth. gathering data safely and accurately. 

In part, their adoption is because Oil & Gas infrastructure such as flare tips and floating roof tanks can be difficult to assess from ground level. 

The rise in drones in this sector is due to advances in software and sensing. For equipment inspections and emergency response, platforms such as DJI’s M300 RTK can be used to automate inspections with centimeter-level precision. Software features like DJI’s AI-Spot-Check solution combine machine learning algorithms with a built-in Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) system to ensure the right data points are gathered during each mission. 

A Productivity Revolution that Empowers

The commercial drone is becoming a vital tool for data collection in many industries. DJI technology saves lives by providing emergency response and public health services. It also keeps workers safe and allows for industrial inspections to be brought into the 21st Century. This technology has also helped drive a revolution in agriculture and construction. 

Learn how commercial drones can help your business gain an edge www.enterprise.dji.com.