COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed for students and professionals in ecology and other natural resource disciplines interested in using drones for research, conservation, and management. Learn about the ecological applications of drones, their payloads (e.g., thermal, multispectral, and RGB sensors), data acquisition techniques (population census, radiotelemetry, habitat assessment), principles of remote sensing, and how to conduct safe and effective pre-flight, mission, and post-flight operations. During the course students will become FAA TRUST-certified and have the option to train to become a licensed FAA Part 107 remote pilot for both rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft.

TWS Continuing Education Credit: included for FREE
Contact us about group rates and private training options

PREREQUISITES

None. If you are new to drones, simulator training is recommended, but not a course requirement (see details below).

DRONE SIMULATORS

CWS has procured a special subscription rate with Zephyr, an online drone simulator that teaches the basics of flight to more advanced skills of rotary-wing aircraft. This simulator requires a separate 3-mo internet subscription ($75). Participants opting for access to this subscription will have the option to learn to fly a variety of rotary aircraft platforms and the option to buy an Orqa controller designed specifically for drone simulators ($90 + $22 ship = $112); alternatively, subscribers can use a USB controller for Xbox or other video game system. A wide variety of simulation exercises are scored, and participants can track their improvement as they develop their skills. This differs from the Fixed-wing Simulation in Module 8 below.

Zephyr Drone Simulator System Requirements:

Operating System: Windows 10 or higher / Mac OS High Sierra
10.13 or higher
CPU: Intel Core i7 @ 3.6 GHz or equivalent
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Hard Drive: 8 GB available in hard disk
Graphics Hardware: Direct X 10 or higher compatible graphics card
(GTX660 equivalent or higher)
Internet Connection: DSL or higher

COURSE FORMATS

INSTRUCTOR SUPPORT

Learn at your open pace over a 3-mo period with instructor support for the first 6 weeks (ending before Ecological drone data acquisition and analysis at College of the Atlantic).

Each module will include pre-recorded lectures and videos, guided student discussions, readings, quizzes, FAA practice exams, and optional labs designed to provide real world experience with drone flight planning, flights, and data acquisition. Participants have the option to participate in labs at home using a personal drone or a drone simulator.

Summer : June 5 - July 14, 2023 (with access to the course through August 27, 2023)

SCHEDULE

- Brief history of aviation in the US
- Basic FAA definitions and requirements
- Operational rules
- TRUST Certification
- Operations Over People
- Night Operations
- Sense and Avoid, LAANC
- Regulations Assessment
- Classes of Airspace
- Special Use Airspace
- Latitude and Longitude
- Right of Way
- Airspace Around Airports
- Using the Testing Supplement
- NAS Assessment
- Introduction to Weather
- Winds
- Fog and Storms
- Density Altitude
- METARS
- TAFS
- Map Features
- Measurements
- Weather Assessment
- Thrust, gravity, drag, and lift
- Loads
- Stalls
- Pilot Physiology
- Performance/Loading Assessment
- Operations Around Airports
- Chart Supplement Exercise
- ADM Introduction\
- Hazardous Attitudes
- CRM Introduction
- Emergency Procedures
- FAAST CRM/ADM Exercises/Lab (hands-on)
- Operations Assessment
- IACRA Accounts (hands-on)
- PSI Accounts and Scheduling (hands-on)
- FAA Practice Exams (Assessment)
- Aircraft types and uses
- Remote Sensing Principles
- Landsat vs UAS (resolution)
- Photogrammetry
- Payloads
  - Dispensable
  - Sensors (active and passive)
  - Absorption bands
  - Multispectral
  - Thermal – emittance/emissivity
  - RGB
  - LIDAR
  - Hyperspectral
  - Geolocation/Telemetry
  - Mapping (general)
- Ethics of drone flight in sensitive areas

CONTINUING ED / ACADEMIC CREDIT

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT

This course has been pre-approved for continuing education by The Wildlife Society for 44 CEUs in Category I of the Certified Wildlife Biologist® Renewal/Professional Development Certificate Program (in review for approval). Participants must complete all exercises to earn CEUs and receive a Certificate of Course Completion. See our continuing education credit page for details.

UNDERGRADUATE OR GRADUATE CREDIT

This 2-semester credit equivalent course can be taken with pre-approval from an administrator at a student’s college or university. In addition to meeting the requirements for course completion, students must take a final assessment to earn academic credit (e.g., Pass/Fail, letter grade) for this course. See our academic credit page for details.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Full scholarships are available to participants from countries designated as “lower income” and “lower middle income” in the World Bank List of Economies. Please see our CWS World Scholars Program page for details.