A NEW ERA IN STUDYING AND MONITORING WILDLANDS AND WILDLIFE: DRONES

By Philip Williams

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), more commonly known as drones, are a groundbreaking albeit controversial developing technology with tremendous possibilities for natural resources management. While drones have hitherto been mainly used for military purposes, they are increasingly becoming relevant to forestry, wildlife, and general conservation practices. However, these opportunities come with pros and cons, like any technology made applicable to natural resources management and conservation. 

The overall newness and novelty of using UAS for conservation predicts an exciting & challenging arena rich with opportunity to develop, implement, test, and refine UAS ethically and practically for the benefit of humans and nature.

Philip Williams, MS, GIST, will deliver a presentation addressing the multiple uses, misuses, opportunities, and challenges of using UAS in a natural resources management context along with the many interdisciplinary fields it intersects (such as the legal/regulatory realm and technical aspects) with an emphasis on applicability to nature conservation.

Philip Williams completed an MS in Forestry at the University of Montana emphasizing geographic information systems (GIS) / remote sensing and ecological restoration in December 2019. He earned a GIS Sciences & Technologies Certificate (GIST) in December 2016, and a BS in Forestry with two minors in Ecological Restoration and Wildland Fire Sciences and Management from the University of Montana in May 2016. Philip’s research and career interests have revolved around using UAS for natural resources management in an ethical, effective manner as a tool to promote healthy ecosystems. He has spent time performing research and natural resources management in Montana, Alaska, California, Washington, and Georgia for the past seven years throughout his undergraduate and master’s education. He was born and raised in Stevensville, MT, and credits the state’s incredible outdoors with inspiring his love and respect for nature and scientifically sound and ethical natural resources management.

Join Bitterroot Audubon Monday, January 20, 7:00 P.M. at the Forest Service Building in Hamilton to learn about this new era of managing our environment. The FS Building is at the north end of Hamilton, 1801 North 1^stStreet, west side of HWY 93. Enter the building on the west side. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED. Contact Kay Fulton for additional information 360-8664.