Rocky View County has begun using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in its fight against noxious weeds.
“Our main focus is areas where we can’t access,” said Rocky View County Agricultural Fieldman Jeff Fleischer.
By using the drone in these difficult to access sites across the county, it enhances the safety of county employees and makes identifying weed populations faster and more efficient.
The UAV is equipped with real-time video and a camera. The images are analyzed and when a prohibited noxious weed is found the county can then makes plans to eliminate it.
“We’re hoping to get it to the point where we just bring it back and software can help analyze where weed populations are,” said Fleischer.
Fortunately, Fleisher said they haven’t yet found any weed populations in the remote areas they have been checking.
So far the drone has only been out a few times a month as it is required to survey areas.
Currently Rocky View County has one certified drone pilot.
There are plans to have more county employees take the third party training course and become certified in the drones use.
The use of the UAV is regulated by Transport Canada, as such the UAV can only be operated within line of site of the operator.
The idea to use a drone for weed control was developed through the county’s agricultural services board.
Right now the drone is only being used during the growing season by the agricultural services, however, other county departments have expressed interest in using the drone.
“I think there’s several uses throughout the county…to use it,” said Fleischer.
Departments that have expressed interest included engineering services, capital projects and cemetery services.
