Hi Chris, A couple of projects come to mind. The Satellite Sentinel Project is using imagery collected by DigitalGlobe satellites to monitor war crimes in Sudan and South Sudan. It might be worth reaching out to them to discuss their approach. I believe Jonathan Hutson <http://www.enoughproject.org/content/jonathan-hutson-director-communications> [ @JonHutson <http://twitter.com/JonHutson> ] may be subscribed to this list. http://satsentinel.org/ It also might be worthwhile to check in with the OpenRelief project to see what kind of progress they've made. Although their focus is disaster relief, it seems like the sensor package they're working on could be adapted for other uses: http://www.openrelief.org/ And a search turned up Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - East Africa, which appears to provide UAVs for sale or hire, though I couldn't identify their physical location. They specifically advertise support for environmental monitoring and appear to have a fairly sophisticated offering including mission planning software: http://uaveastafrica.wordpress.com/uav-uses/environmental-monitoring/ gf On 8/30/12 4:11 PM, Chris Nicholas wrote:

Thought people on this list might have some useful advice...

-----Original Message-----

From: Society for Conservation and GIS [mailto:SCGIS@LISTSERV.URI.EDU <mailto:SCGIS@LISTSERV.URI.EDU>] On Behalf Of Robert Ford Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2012 2:19 PM To: SCGIS@LISTSERV.URI.EDU <mailto:SCGIS@LISTSERV.URI.EDU> Subject: Use of drones and/or ultra-lights in park management and research

SCGISers:

Bob Ford (myself) and a colleague Steve Schill (Nature Conservancy) are currently assisting the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) in DRC/Congo in the design of new GIS-based management, monitoring, and conservation science research methods and tools for two "Miombo woodland & Savanna" parks in Katanga/DRC (Upemba and Kundelungu) that are just starting rehabilitation of systems and personnel after recent wars and instability. There are many challenges but also opportunities:

See: http://www.zgf.de/?id=65&projectId=123&language=en

THE NEED:

We need advice from partners/colleagues in SCGIS who have used or are planning to use DRONES, ULTRA-LIGHTS, or SMALL FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT (and associated aerial-based systems) for research, ecosystem monitoring, park management etc.

Our partners are dealing with huge areas (15-20,000 KM/2) that are often insecure or difficult to access. So, we're wondering if some of these technologies might be utilized effectively to complement traditional on-the- ground patrols, monitoring, etc?

QUESTIONS:

1. What options/companies, technologies were most COST EFFECTIVE and FEASIBLE FOR USE in DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENTS, E.G. CONGO?

2. Are there groups in Africa you know using these technologies-- particularly in Southern and Central Africa who might assist in support/linkages?

Contact me (Bob Ford = geobobford@gmail.com <mailto:geobobford@gmail.com>

or

Steve Schill = sschill@gmail.com <mailto:sschill@gmail.com>

Thanks in advance!

Bob

Robert E. Ford, PhD, MPH P.O. Box 630155 143 East Grafton Rd (250 South) Rockville, UT 84763-0155 USA USA Cell +1-909-363-6332 Personal Email: geobobford@gmail.com <mailto:geobobford@gmail.com> Webpage: http://geobobford.com <http://geobobford.com/> SKYPE Name: geobobford BLOG: http://geobobford.blogspot.com/ FB: http://www.facebook.com/geobobford

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