The DJI Zenmuse L2 is a high-performance LIDAR solution designed to pair with DJI platforms like the Matrice 300 RTK and Matrice 350 RTK. It improves mapping and surveying efficiency, accuracy, and usability.
Here are the key features of the DJI Zenmuse L2:
1. High-Precision LIDAR System
Effective Detection Range: Up to 450 meters (80% reflectivity) and 250 meters (10% reflectivity).
Accuracy: Vertical accuracy of 4 cm and horizontal accuracy of 5 cm.
Point Cloud Density: It generates 2.4 million points per second, providing highly detailed 3D point clouds.
2. Integrated 20MP RGB Camera
Equipped with a 20-megapixel RGB camera featuring a 1-inch CMOS sensor.
It supports photogrammetry for true-color point clouds and enhanced visualization.
3. Seamless RTK Integration
Fully integrated with DJI's RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) for centimeter-level positioning accuracy.
Ensures reliable results in challenging environments where precision matters most.
4. Real-Time Point Cloud Viewing
Supports live point cloud visualization via DJI Pilot 2.
Allows operators to monitor data quality during flights and adjust for optimal results.
5. Enhanced Efficiency
Compatible with DJI's Matrice 300 RTK and Matrice 350 RTK, enabling extended flight times and efficient coverage.
It can cover 2.5 square kilometers in a single flight.
6. Multi-Return Capability
Supports multiple returns (up to 5 returns), making it ideal for complex environments like forests, power lines, or rugged terrain.
7. Lightweight and Compact
The Zenmuse L2 is lightweight and designed for quick deployment, improving portability for surveying missions.
8. DJI Terra Integration
Works seamlessly with DJI Terra for post-processing and generating high-accuracy 3D models, digital elevation models (DEM), and contour maps.
9. Versatile Applications
Ideal for industries like:
Agriculture: Forestry and terrain analysis.
Construction: Site mapping and 3D modeling.
Energy: Powerline inspections.
Surveying and Mapping: Accurate topographic surveys.
Disaster Response: Search and rescue in rugged areas.
The Zenmuse L2 is a complete solution for accurate, efficient, and real-time LIDAR mapping, especially when paired with DJI's drone ecosystem. It's a significant upgrade for professionals looking for high-quality data capture.
Considering Ownership After Rental
If you've been enjoying your rental camera, here's an opportunity to make it a permanent part of your gear. Once your rental period is complete, you can choose to purchase the rental camera and save the waiting time for its arrival.
Camera Specs:
For detailed specifications and additional information, please visit theDJI Zenmuse L2 web page.
Standard rental package "dry hire" includes:
1 x DJI Zenmuse L2 standard inclusions
Item
3 days
7 days
14 days
30 days
Standard rental package above
1350.00
2700.00
4800.00
6750.00
Figures are Ex. GST. Rental terms and conditions apply. Security deposit required.
The estimated shipping fee each way in Australia for this item is as below, sent via Toll or Australia Post if preferred. Overnight express also available as needed. Note that the shipping duration (days in transit) are not included as billable days in your hire agreement:
Sydney - Canberra ~ $27
Sydney - Melbourne ~ $26
Sydney - Brisbane/Sunshine Coast ~ $27
Sydney - Adelaide ~ $28
Sydney - Perth ~ $42
Sydney - Darwin ~ $52
Sydney - Hobart ~ $48
Contact the DFH Head office on [email protected] or 1300 029 829 for more information, availability, and pick up / drop off arrangements.
3 Requirements to dry-hire
(1) A security deposit
About 80% of the retail value of the equipment new. Can be paid via regular bank transfer or as a hold/freeze for the on your credit card for the deposit amount.
(2) Public Liability (PL) Insurance
Required in case of third party property damage or injury. You will need a Certificate of Currency showing Drones for Hire listed as an 'interested party' (since DFH is the owner of the equipment).
Note that 'hull' insurance (covers costs associated with repairs / replacement of the drone itself), is not mandatory since we take a security deposit. You may choose to have your own hull insurance so you are covered in case there is a crash / theft and DFH needs to retain some of the security deposit for repairs (parts and labour) or replacement.
(3) A Drone licence
You / the drone pilot, will need a CASA drone Licence (RePL) and to be listed as a pilot under a CASA Operators Certificate (ReOC). Note the insurance companies usually require an RePL and ReOC so you will likely have these already if you have PL insurance (point 2 above).
Online Course: T50 and Mavic 3 Workflows for Agricultural operations
This course offers participants a comprehensive guide to establishing best practice workflows for T50 Agras alongside scout or mapping drones.
The 6 hour course will include planning workflows in controller and in DJI Terra, utilising GIS platforms such as Google Earth Pro and QGIS for planning, utilising base layers generated from mapping target areas with mapping drones such as M3E series, introduction to GNSS positioning and controlling data workflows.
The course will be delivered over one 6-hour session (with a 30-min break) and include delivered presentation content, case studies and a session that walks participants through their own example area.
Fee: $540AUD exc GST (or $594 AUD inc GST)
Sessions: one 6-hour session (with a 30-min break), online Zoom meeting. See available sessions below in the form.
For this course, participants will require access to the following:
DJI T50 Agras aircraft & controller
Mavic 3 enterprise series drone or DJI RTK enabled drone
Computer or laptop running DJI Terra and Google Earth Pro
Local dataset for processing
About the educator - Danny
Danny has been using drones in environment and agriculture applications for more than 5 years, he has extensive experience as a technician across a 20 year career including fabrication, performance and event design, project management, lighting engineering and tertiary education.
He has experience in community engagement, education and design across a number of industries, and applies these skills to sustainable and regenerative agriculture, carbon, biodiversity and drone survey & on-ground services and analysis. He is a sought after specialist in UAV operations, particularly in multispectral reflectance and on ground workflow design and implementation.
Testimonial
If anyone teaches this stuff it should be Danny with his depth of knowledge and ability to answer the curly questions. Concise presentation and Danny was very generous with his knowledge and his time.
- Course Participant
Register your interest to attend
Limited numbers. Registered individuals will require credit card after the form submission, and will receive a confirmation email after we processed the payment and we have a final timetable ready if anything changes.
You should consider what chemicals licences you may need when doing drone spraying. These licences are nothing to do with CASA and requirements vary for each state.
Chemicals licences required in NSW
For example in NSW it is the NSW Environment Protection Authority - you’ll need to apply for a RPA applicator pilot licence, which involves doing 2 training units:
AHCCHM307 prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases. (previously called AHCCHM303).
And AHCCHM304 Transport and store chemicals.
$415.0
Note if you spray normally from tractors etc you likely have already have done these tickets (AHCCHM307 or AHCCHM303 and AHCCHM304). They will be e.g. on your Chemcert card. Just make sure it less than 5 years since it was updated.
You’ll also need a RPA applicator business licence, or be employed by a person holding one . Again, if you have been spraying for a long time from tractors etc you will probably just need to fill out the form for this (not actually have to do a training course).
Note that a pilot is not allowed to discharge pesticide from an aircraft within 150 metres of a dwelling, school, factory or any other public place without the prior written permission of the occupier of the premises.
Roads, travelling stock reserves and State Rail land are excluded from the definition of public places.
The owner of the land on which the pesticide will aerially be applied must get the written permission of the occupier of the dwelling, school, factory or other public place that is within 150 metres of the application area.
EPA details:
List of regional EPA office locations around NSW
02 9995 5959 – ask for the RPA (drone) licencing team.
You need this if you provide aerial spraying services from an RPA, or employ pilots to carry out aerial agricultural spraying from RPA, or in any other case operate (own, lease, borrow) RPA that carry out aerial spraying.
The RPA AAOL application fee as at 1 July 2021 is $841.65 and the licence is valid for three years.
RPA PCRL: Remotely Piloted Aircraft (drone), Pilot Chemical Rating Licence
PCRL for remotely piloted aircraft
Any person who pilots an RPA (drone) to carry out aerial spraying in Victoria must hold a Pilot (Chemical Rating) Licence (PCRL) issued under the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992, which specifically authorises aerial spraying from a RPA.
The RPA PCRL application fee as at 1 July 2021 is $338.15 and the licence is valid for three years.
If you are the pilot in command of an aircraft and you have the required authorisation from CASA to carry out aerial distribution of agricultural chemicals, you can apply for a pilot chemical rating licence. This licence is issued for either a 1 or 3 year period, which you nominate when you apply.
If you are the sole pilot in command, carrying out aerial distribution in your own aerial distribution business you will also need to apply for an aerial distribution contractor licence. This licence is issued for either a 1 or 3 year period, which you nominate when you apply.
If you operate an aerial distribution business and employ or engage several pilots to carry out aerial distribution on behalf of your business, you will need to apply for an aerial distribution contractor licence in the name of your business. All pilots carrying out aerial distribution for the business are required to be licensed. This licence is issued for either a 1 or 3 year period, which you nominate when you apply.
Step 4: get a remote pilot licence (RePL). About $1500-2500 , and 3 days online form home, plus 1-2 days face to face , depending on which training company you choose. DFH subsidises these costs for customers who purchase their spray drone with us. For more information please contact the DFH ag. team on 1300 029 829 or [email protected]
Note that if you have the DJI T10, you can skip Step 4: remote pilot licence (RePL), because the T10 is the only one that is less than 25kgs – its falls into a different CASA category.
Important notes to remember:
There are no CASA authorisations required to conduct spraying operations when operating one drone on your own land besides the RePL and so long as you remain within the standard operating conditions.
The above rules are for when flying on your own property (not being paid to fly).If flying on other people’s property (typically being paid to fly), you will need to add a Type Rating (also called an endorsement (about $1,100.0) , and have a Remote operators certificate ReOC (about $2,000.0). DFH also subsidises these costs for customers who purchase their spray drone with us. For more information please contact the DFH ag. team on 1300 029 829 or [email protected]
Always adhere to the drone safety rules (standard operating conditions) – these apply to all operators.
You may have noticed the T50 has 2 pairs of rotors (not just 1), stacked on top of each other , at the end of each arm.
There is a correct amount of propeller surface area needed , proportionate to the weight of the aircraft , to create sufficient thrust / lift . This can be achieved by adding more rotors (coaxial) or making each rotor larger (regular quad / octocopter ).
Here are some implications of each design:
1. Updraft and drift The MTOW (max take off weight) for the T50 is 103kg. If the MTOW of another aircraft is higher (let’s say 110kg for instance) , it needs more thrust , which could potentially mean more updraft of spray droplets and may lead to more spray drift.
2.Torsional strain with coaxial, the rotors spin opposite directions, containing and balancing the torsional strain at each arm.
with a regular quadcopter, the torsional strain goes right through the airframe. so the airframe needs more heavy construction (usually equals more weight) to cope with this.
3. Stability The coaxial is also more stable and controllable , especially in a gust of wind. This creates much better yaw stability. that’s because the airspeed is much higher going through the coax props than a regular quadcopter.
4. Redundancy and safety With more rotors, if some of them get damaged , the other ones may be able to still mean the aircraft can come down slowly and in control ( and less likely crash). With only 4 pairs of rotors, if one of them is damaged badly enough, the aircraft will very likely lose control and crash.
One Indiana farm family is making the most of constantly evolving precision agriculture technology to help them be successful. The poynter family of Putnam County used to hire spray planes to apply fungicides. When their oldest son, Noah, gained experience with drones, they found they could reach more of their crop and save money in the process.
They now use two of their own drones to spray fungicide on all their corn. They also do some spot-spraying.
"Before, when we were using spray planes, there were 500 acres on rotation that could not be reached because of obstacles that stood in the plane's way," Noah Poynter says. That's what prompted the family to make the switch to drones.
"Spray planes can be something hard to come by," says John Evans, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Purdue.
How drone use started
"It started out as creating videos for my mom for Ag Day," Poynter recalls. He got his first drone in 2015, and has used numerous models throughout the years. One of the ways he's used his drones is to take videos and pictures. He produces videos and pictures for his business. Noah Poynter Media. He collaborates with different ag companies and even Purdue's College of Agriculture on some events.
Poynter and his brother got licenses to spray with their drones in 2022. Poynter then started using his drone in 2022 to spray fungicide on their corn.
After the poynters started using drones, they found they were saving money.
"With drones, your window of operation can be better; you don't have to wait for the ground to dry," Evans says
"Using drones works very well for us," Poynter says. "We do not have to pay someone and can now get fungicide on corn that has never seen it before."
He says this is something that they will keep doing. Right now, the family has the largest drone available for spraying.
Serious sprayers
The Poynters have two DJI Agras T40 drones, which are 220 pounds at take-off, poynter says
Evans explains that drones can compete with ground sprayers and spray planes because they make it possible to cover more acres in one day.
In addition to applying fungicide on all their corn, Poynter does some custom application for a few neighbours and family friends.
After two years of spraying with the drones, the Poynter family has seen better results. “The drones are more consistent across the whole field; they are able to maintain a more consistent height above the crops without having to pull up like a plane would,” Poynter says.
Purdue is starting to research how drones will economically impact farmers in the future, Evans notes.
Poynter says they can get all their corn sprayed in about a week. The DJI T40 has a 10.5-gallon tank. Poynter and his family can spray 500 acres on a good day.
“We crossed 40 acres per hour in a good running field,” he says. He gets around 5 acres sprayed on one tank, depending on the rate he flies the drone.
Poynter may have started this practice on the farm by getting the drones, but it takes the whole family to make their operation run smoothly. Each person plays a part in spraying. Poynter and his brother, Jonathan, control the drones while their dad mixes and fills them with chemicals. Poynter’s mom changes batteries.
Passion for Ag
Poynter's involvement in 4-H and FFA contributed to his passion for working with people in agriculture. He really enjoys working with drones. He says it has allowed him to meet new people and teach them about drones as well.
Being a teacher of agriculture outside of the classroom has given Poynter a variety of opportunities, like speaking to a class at Purdue about drones. He also uses his experience advocating for ag and his family’s farm on his social media pages. Poynter enjoys selling drones as a brand dealer because he gets to give lessons and help people earn certification to fly their new drones.
“I really enjoy being able to help others get started with their own drones,” he says.
The global quest for a greener future is fueling an extraordinary demand for critical minerals. The industry is embracing innovation with drones taking to the skies, ensuring safety scales new heights alongside production.
The global push toward clean and carbon-free electricity has ignited an unprecedented demand for responsibly sourced minerals. Today, critical minerals play an indispensable role in the production of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, semiconductors, solar panels, defense equipment, health care devices and countless other essential applications. Securing this strategic supply chain hasa elevated mining to a vita position in both our economy and national security. This has resulted in a forecased need to substantially increase the responsible production of these resources. As mining operations ramp up, drones have joined the crew to help bolster safety.
Rock Solid Importance
Today, mineral supply chains, crucial to achieve national climate, infrastructure and global competitiveness objectives, remain vulnerable to disruptions. To address these challenges, the U.S. government has taken significant steps to help strengthen and secure these strategic assets.
The administration's 2021 Executive Order 14017, Securing America's Supply Chains, directed various Federal departments and agencies to conduct a comprehensive review of supply chains. Later that year, Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Public Law 117-58). It mandated the department of the Interior (DOI) and the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) to collaborate on a report to provide recommendations aimed to expedite the permitting processes for the exploration and development of critical minerals.
As a result, in February 2022, the DOI initiated an Interagency Working Group (IWG) composed of mine permitting and legal experts to thoroughly assess the existing legal and regulatory processes related to hardrock mineral development.
Seventeen months later, in September 2023, the IWG issued its final report, Recommendations to Improve Mining on Public Lands. The Report outlines a complex labyrinth of federal and state laws applicable to mining, ranging from environmental compliance and tribal consultation to permitting requirements, that require overhaul. Perhaps more importantly, the report forecast the need to increase mineral mining, while increasing workplace safety. Why the latter? Because meaning carries a set of risk and challenges that workers face daily.
Slippery Slopes
Mining and quarrying have been recognised as among the riskiest industries to work in, even more so than construction and manufacturing, at least in terms of incident rates. Sadly, every year, a significant number of miners lose their lives to mining accidents. Underground coal mining ranks at the top of the list for such tragedies. Last fiscal year alone, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported that 49 miners perished in tragic accidents, an increase by 10 souls from the prior year.
Every day, mine workers face potential threats from all sides. Falls from heights while working in elevated positions or near steep edges remain at the top of that list. Working near or under unstable ground and rock formation, which can cause rocks or sides to collapse unexpectedly, poses additional risks.
The hazards of working with explosives and heavy machinery, along with lifting heavy materials, elevate the risk of accidents and injuries. Continuous exposure to machinery noise, vibrations, dust, chemicals, and heat can lead to severe long-term health problems or death.
Matt MacKinnon, founder, co-owner of Unmanned Aerial Services Inc. (UAS Inc.), a Sudbury, Ontario-based company, and global leader in providing remote inspection services for indoor industrial and underground mining locations since 2017, noted, “We can often encounter wide temperature ranges of 70 degrees Celsius from one part of the mine to the other.” For example, he explained, at Vale’s Creighton mine, “We could start our day off in the old 3 Shaft area, which is now used as a massive natural ice box used to cool the mine over the summer months, where temperatures can be as low as -30 degrees C. Then later in the day we could find ourselves at the bottom of the mine, down 8,000 feet, in +40 degree C heat with 100% humidity in the air. And that’s not even mentioning that at any point, the ground around you could at any moment start raining down vehicle-sized chunks of solid rock.”
All these conditions make mining a challenging and hazardous profession that demands careful attention to safety. And inspections play an important role in maintaining the level of safety this important, but dangerous, work demands. The law requires inspections in the mining industry, at all levels, to prevent workplace tragedies.
Preventing Collapse
Federal regulations oversee the safety of about 294,000 miners employed across 12,500 metal, nonmetal and coal mines in the U.S. To uphold health and safety standards in mining, the DOL mandates that the MSHA conduct four annual inspections for underground mines and two for surface mines, in addition to any inspections prompted by complaints about hazardous conditions outside that regular schedule.
States also have their own mine inspection requirements. Almost every state (42 to be exact) has its own mining agency. Some have promulgated their own inspection requirements and incorporated drones as an acceptable means of doing so.
For example, Alabama requires “an average of at least one partial inspection per month of each active surface coal mining and reclamation operation under its jurisdiction.” Such partial inspections consist of an on-site or properly documented “aerial review” of compliance with some of the permit conditions and requirements imposed under the State program.
Non-governmental organizations also provide voluntary inspection guidance that merits compliance. For example, the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) issues guidelines that outline the ideal standards for responsible mining on an industrial scale, which independent auditors use in audits and assessments. IRMA recently released draft standards for public consultation, including the Standard for Responsible Mining and Mineral Processing 2.0, which updates its earlier 2018 standard. According to IRMA’s Assessment Manual for Mines (2022), occupational safety remains a key part of the proposed updated audit process.
While these and comparable standards are not legally mandatory, they serve as a consensus within the industry, effectively establishing a baseline level of expected responsibility. Failing to meet these standards could potentially result in liability in the case of an incident. This provides companies with a strong incentive to conduct thorough inspections.
As a result, some mining enterprises have embraced drones as a component of their inspection strategies. Drones offer an efficient, effective and economical—and safe—alternative to manual inspections.
Digging Deep
Traditional manual mine inspections are laborious, monotonous, costly and require ground teams to put themselves at risk of harm.
Ben Douglas, P.Eng, technical services supervisor at the South Mine in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada for Vale, a global mining company, said typical scanning methods require workers to take static measurements in an accessible area with line-of-sight of a 3-D scanning Cavity Monitoring System (CMS) instrument. For stope scans (open void in the rock mass where the value material has been blasted out), the setup involves a boom-style scanner to shoot points in the stope from a single static location. After orienting the boom in space relative to existing coordinate systems, the worker has to wait for the scan to be completed. Scanning a drift (a horizontal excavation used to travel to and from mining areas) requires setting up a static station using an established coordinate system to take shots of the walls, floors and backs. The worker then takes all of this data to a computer for later processing. To run a simple scan, both processes, on average, take a minimum of two people anywhere between one to four hours to complete. Setup alone can take at least 30 minutes.
Worse yet, these methods require workers to get in close to physically deploy these scanning systems, which exposes them to hazards. Douglas explained that traditional scanning methods require his team to work around open holes, dealing with movement restrictions and wearing safety harnesses and gear. Or, they must work near open brows, using long booms to reach into the stopes safely from afar.
After all of this, the data gleaned can sometimes be subpar. Traditional systems can cause significant shadows and occlusions in the scan data.
In contrast, with modern drone technology, workers can stay well back from hazards, obtain better coverage quicker and at less cost.
Hi Ho! Hi Ho! Off to Work Drones Go!
For mining inspections, there is no one-size-fits all solution. Fortunately, for service providers and customers, manufacturers have offered a range of solutions that can provide a holistic approach to help solve specific problems. Manufacturers of mining drones include Exyn Technologies, Emesent, Flyability, AutoMap and Carlson, just to name a few.
These drones all integrate modern simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) based scanning technology. SLAM, a LiDAR-based system, uses a laser sensor to generate a 3D map of its environment while simultaneously localizing the vehicle in that map. This is key for navigation and accuracy in mines, which are GPS-denied environments.
MacKinnon noted, “With a SLAM-equipped drone, the scanner is freely movable in and around the environment and well beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS). This enables near shadowless scans of the environment without exposing workers to any hazards.”
With modern SLAM-based scanners, a single technician can scan three or four areas in the same amount of time it would take for a single scan in a traditional survey. That’s good because time is money.
While every job is different and often priced out based on risk and required equipment, MacKinnon estimates his mine customers typically get a 100 to 10,000 times return in value and cost savings due to the high caliber data his team collects for them. “Having access to drone technology enables mine operators to make decisions based on the actual conditions that can be obtained in just one 10-minute flight,” he said.
Although MacKinnon’s company has numerous accomplishments and world-firsts under its belt, he points to a flight his team accomplished for Alamos Gold at their Young-Davidson site as an example of significant value-add. “Essentially, this mine was reopened after years of being dormant. Long story short, the new mine broke into some old workings that the mine had no record of and they called on UAS Inc to explore the extent of the workings to see where they went.” Because the area dated back to the 1930s, much of the timber work supporting the open holes had collapsed. This made safe access nearly impossible without significant costs. “We flew the workings using the Flyability Elios 3. In less than 10 minutes, we were able to save the mine months of rehabilitation and hundreds of thousands of dollars in resources.
Lindsay Moreau-Verlaan, M.A.Sc., P.Eng. (ON), principal geomechanics consultant for RockEng Inc. agrees with MacKinnon on the value-add of drones in mining. “My favorite underground mining drone application is as a data collection tool for inspections specific to areas that cannot be safely accessed by people,” she said.
Moreau-Verlaan continued, “Benefiting from a ‘non-person’ entry application, LiDAR-carrying drones can be used to measure large underground blast openings, inspect excavations that are destabilizing and assess old mine workings that cannot be safely traveled by workers or personnel, and in record time.”
Raffi Jabrayan, vice president of business development and commercial sales at Exyn Technologies piled on. He said that his company’s autonomous mapping system, the ExynAero, allows one person to conduct a mine scan in just two minutes. “The return on investment (ROI) is clear,” he noted, “because the drone pays for itself in just two months.”
Jabrayan shared a similar story to MacKinnon’s. “We were called out to a mine collapse in Africa a couple of years ago where multiple levels of the mine had collapsed. Clearly, this was not safe for human entry. Within just a few minutes, our drones showed how many levels had collapsed,” he explained.
Drones have saved Douglas’ mining company millions of dollars on a regular basis. More importantly, he said, the safety proposition of drones in mining is priceless. “There’s no number to put on the loss of a miner,” he said.
“I like the fact that we get miners home safely every day. It’s a big reason why I do this job,” Jabrayan added.
Striking it Rich
It’s clear drones can provide a treasure trove of value for mine inspections, not the least of which is saving lives. The value proposition of drone applications in mining will only get better as technology continues to improve.
“Just because something wasn’t possible one day, doesn’t mean it won’t be possible tomorrow,” MacKinnon said. “As technology advances, I hope that our customers continue to come to us with their problems. That enables service providers like UAS to push our manufacturing partners to keep innovating and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.”
For Douglas, the benefits of the new technology’s safety and productivity are apparent. Trialing that technology and providing meaningful input will help advance the future. His message to the mining community: “Don’t be afraid to try something new, ask questions if you’re unsure and provide feedback. Especially if it may affect someone’s safety.”
As our country leans more deeply into mining to assure the sufficiency of vital mineral supply chains, drones will undoubtedly continue to be an important part of the crew.
Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could be a new tool in the biosecurity toolbox making pest control more targeted, safer and less invasive.
So says Scion’s plant protection physics and chemistry team lead Dr Justin Nairn, adding UAVs can fly closer to the target than a helicopter (about two metres versus 10m-plus) have a smaller footprint and fly slower so can be more precise.
The research comes two years since the discovery of the fall armyworm in New Zealand in February 2022 – the moth caterpillar threatening crops.
Nairn’s initial studies in March 2021 into the general efficiency of spraying with UAVs used fluorescent dye to investigate how UAVs performed in aerial spray operations in urban environments.
In February last year scientists trialled a key bio-insecticide for combating Lepidoptera moths.
While the trial findings are being finalised, Nairn says using UAVs for pest control is growing quickly as operational limitations like cost, weight and flight time are reducing with technology advances.
He expects climate change could increase the risk of invasive pests reaching New Zealand and affecting its multi-billion-dollar primary sector, so Scion researchers hope UAVs can provide a more efficient urban biosecurity solution.
Scion has been involved with pest incursion responses and field research in aerial spray methodology for decades – from a seven-year $65 million response to the painted apple moth in Auckland in 1999 to the ongoing battle against fall armyworm and managing myrtle rust – looking for new, more targeted ways to tackle pest and insect outbreaks.
Fast and effective pest control is vital to prevent pest and pathogen establishment, although there needs to be a balance between engaging communities ahead of incursion responses and the potential need for fast action, Scion social scientist Dr Andrea Grant says.
“If community concerns are not addressed and they have no opportunity to respond to planned operations, they may lose confidence and support for urban biosecurity operations in future.”
In aligned research, Grant ran focus groups looking at social and cultural considerations of UAV spraying which included social researchers, UAV researchers, Māori involved in forest protection and management, and forestry managers.
Participants identified social issues like human health, safety and ethics, professionalisation of UAV use, Te Tiriti partnerships, engagement and capability.
Grant and her collaborators also held a co-design workshop where participants noted the need to work with Māori alongside key agencies in research, policy, operations and ethical aspects of co-design.
Māori environmental not-for-profit Te Tira Whakamātaki was included in focus groups.
Chief scientist Dr Simon Lambert says much of the Māori economy is in the primary sector so highly reliant on the environment.
“Māori are increasingly aware of the vulnerability of their assets and cultural capital to biosecurity events and are not opposed to technological innovation but insist on early and ongoing engagement.”
Better Border Biosecurity (B3) is a multi-partner joint venture researching ways to reduce entry and establishment of new plant pests and diseases in New Zealand.
B3 Director Dr Desi Ramoo says Nairn’s research is an example of adapting existing technology into an applied biosecurity tool.
“We must be prepared with a number of solutions developed from Western science and mātauranga Māori to ensure we are ahead of the game and move from a reactive to proactive biosecurity system.”
Forest Owners Association biosecurity manager Brendan Gould says successful intervention relies on the ability to respond, but community impacts and implications need to be considered as part of the process of operational design.
He says engagement before an incursion is important but challenging when immediate action is needed.
Scion’s research allowed for pre-engagement to be considered. Nairn’s work was part funded by Better Border Biosecurity while Grant’s was part funded by Forest Growers Research Trust, and both received Strategic Science Investment
China is leading the way on using drones to spray arable crops, and the presence of Chinese drone giant DJI’s agriculture division at the Agritechnica event in Hanover showed it is keen to flex its muscle in a market where it sees huge potential.
Up to now, Europe has lagged behind the US and China, but the sight of drones spraying arable crops may be getting closer, with signs that Europe is opening up regulation to permit their use.
DJI Agriculture has so far sold about 200,000 drones for spraying, 80% of which are in China.
It brought two new agricultural drone models and some of its top team from China to Agritechnica last month to discuss its research and development work and its collaboration with regulators to make the technology more accessible.
Opening up
DJI Agriculture pointed to its latest annual Agricultural Drone Insight Report, published in August, which highlights a gradual opening up of regulation in Europe.
The EU Commission proposed an update to its Sustainable Use Directive in summer 2022, which will exempt some unmanned aerial vehicles from the 2009 law prohibiting aerial pesticide application.
This is because spraying drones – when used in conjunction with remote sensing technology to produce application maps – can be much more targeted and reduce overall pesticide use, which is a key goal for the EU’s Green Deal and Farm to Fork strategy.
Furthermore, the European Aviation Standards Authority ecently softened requirements for risk assessments when using a drone for a specific purpose such as chemical application, including lifting a 25kg weight limit, as long as it is within a maximum dimension of 3m.
Individual member states including Italy and France have already granted licenses for spraying of vineyards and orchards where steep slopes restrict access for ground sprayers.
Germany is also granting permission for agricultural drone use below 50kg.
In Switzerland, Agroscope, the country’s centre of excellence for agricultural research, has concluded that the environmental impact of using drones for spraying is similar to ground sprayers and has backed use of the technology.
Here in the UK, there is now a mechanism to get a permit for aerial spraying, with users able to submit application plans to the Health and Safety Executive for consideration.
The Health and Safety Executive is also leading a global partnership on how drones could be used to apply pesticides in the future.
This will help understand the risks to humans and the environment and adapt regulatory systems to better accommodate drone applications.
Positive outlook
All this paints a positive outlook for drone spraying operations in Europe, and DJI Agriculture’s Zhong Wing tells Farmers Weekly that drones can complement existing spraying technology very well.
In the short term, this will mostly be on difficult terrain and for spot spraying applications, but she says efficiency of drones, in terms of hectares covered, can already compete with a medium-sized 18m boom sprayer.
With relatively short flight times on existing batteries, this would require multiple drones, batteries, a fast charger, and well-trained operators to achieve constant flight.
“On the other side is efficacy. A drone creates a downwash, which is something unique [to the technology] and makes better penetration [of the crop canopy].
“If you are spraying a crop with a thick canopy like potatoes, the downwash of the drone will push the droplets [to the target] better, so in some ways there is a possibility to replace ground sprayers in the future,” she explains.
DJI Agriculture is working with research organisations globally, including Auburn University in the US, to improve efficiency, efficacy and drift control when using drones.
Data on the latter is key to maintain momentum in opening up regulation where adoption is behind regions like Asia, such as in Europe.
“From the technical side, there is a lot we can do to change the regulatory ecosystem, like reducing drift by enhancing downwash, adding agents into the solution, and improving the precision of the systems,” explains Zhong.
Advanced technology
The first of two new DJI Agriculture drone models, the Agras T50 has been available in China since last year and is the largest and most advanced agricultural drone DJI has produced thus far.
Superseding the T40, the quadcopter has a coaxial dual rotor design with 54in blades and high-power electronic speed controllers (ESCs).
This means it is capable of flying at faster speeds while carrying a liquid spraying payload of 40kg and spreading (fertiliser or seeds) payload of 50kg.
Following the lead of other agricultural drone manufacturers, the unit moves away from hydraulic nozzles and uses centrifugal nozzles to deliver chemical to the target.
These have a motor-driven disc that rotates at high speed, dispersing spray droplets by centrifugal force. Droplet size is regulated by the speed of the disc and the flow rate from pump to nozzle.
Flow rates have improved dramatically compared with previous models, with 16 litres/min and 24 litres/min possible with two and four nozzles, respectively.
Its twin pump system is now integrated into the spray module rather than the drone, which makes cleaning and maintenance more straightforward.
If applying solid materials, the spreading module has an upgraded motor with increased torque and a spiral flow channel spinner which it is claims spreads more evenly and smoothly than before at rates up to 108kg/minute.
Improved camera
Other upgrades see the T50 carrying an ultra-high-definition first person view gimbal camera for better image collection and a powerful obstacle sensing system. This uses two phased array radars and two dual binocular vision systems front and rear.
Better LED spotlights also improve abilities when working at night and its combination of surveying and product application is claimed to make it a complete drone solution.
The second new model is the Agras T25P, which trumps the T20P model, and is a more flexible and portable option aimed at precision applications carried out by a single pilot on smaller farms.
Payload is 20kg for spraying and 25kg for spreading and the T25P benefits from all the other upgrades of the T50 for improved operation.
Given the cost and current regulatory roadblocks, will many be investing in agricultural drones from DJI and others in the short term?
ISO Standard
Joanna Wang, DJI Agriculture’s policy manager, says a recently published international standard (ISO23117) will help drone makers comply with a set of minimum requirements for reducing the risk of environmental issues when using drones for spraying.
Once agricultural drone models have this ISO certification, it will inevitably encourage regulators to permit their use where the country recognises the ISO standard.
Another significant roadblock is the agrochemical approvals in Europe, as almost all product labels will not include aerial spraying with drones as a means of application.
Joanna says there might be two routes for the EU and other countries including the UK to take.
One would be to follow the model used by Asia Pacific countries such as China and Thailand, which decided to permit use of most products applied with ground sprayers for drones.
The other is to follow the lead of Japan and have a separate list of registered products for drones, individually approved by the country’s health and safety regulators.
This would be a very heavy workload for the relevant department, but may be considered necessary here due to the use of low water volumes – meaning higher concentration of chemical in spray solutions – associated with drone spraying, for example.
If anyone teaches this stuff it should be Danny with his depth of knowledge and ability to answer the curly questions. Concise presentation and Danny was very generous with his knowledge and his time.
