Testing marine conservation applications of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in a remote marine protected area

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) show significant promise for marine conservation, particularly in remote and expansive protected areas. A 2014 study in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument demonstrated that UAS platforms, such as the Ikhana and Puma AE, can effectively collect high-quality imagery of marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds, marine debris, and coastal habitats. While both systems performed well, the Puma AE was deemed more suitable for resource monitoring due to its superior image resolution and adaptability to environmental conditions. Key findings highlighted the importance of pre-mission planning, operator-scientist coordination, weather considerations, and post-processing efficiency to optimize data collection. This research underscores the potential of UAS technology to enhance maritime surveillance and marine resource assessment in challenging environments.

Brooke, S., Graham, D., Jacobs, T., Littnan, C., Manuel, M., & O’Conner, R. (2015). Testing marine conservation applications of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in a remote marine protected area. Journal of Unmanned Vehicle Systems, 3(4), 237–251. https://doi.org/10.1139/juvs-2015-0011