Looking Forward

Looking Forward

As you can read in our previous post, our project is to work with our project partner Blue Ridge Prism to use drone technology to better detect invasive plant species. Originally we decided to focus on Ailanthus Altissima (Tree of Heaven) because it represented our...
Our Project Roots

Our Project Roots

Invasive plants are trees, bushes, ivy, and other flora that have been introduced to a new geographic location that does not house a natural deterrent. In the case of Ailanthus altissima, more commonly known as Tree of Heaven, this tree was brought over to the state...
The Early Bird Flies the Drone

The Early Bird Flies the Drone

The Song of the Eastern Meadowlark The sun rises over Virginia’s Piedmont Region, golden rays glinting off of churning rapids. The buds of a dogwood tree shyly welcome the onset of spring, presenting soft pink and white flowers to salute the morning. Birdsong ripples...
Finding Rudolph: Elk In Southwest Virginia

Finding Rudolph: Elk In Southwest Virginia

Initial Design Our initial design concept involved using a 3DR solo drone, GPS collars, a router, and a computer. The elk are already collared with a GPS Xbee, which is a technology that tracks location and sends it to a transmitter.  As the elk move throughout the...