Whether soaring about corn fields to assess field health or zeroing in on water sources, drones have become an important part of Waterborne’s Field Study Work. Fitted with multiple cameras and with licensed pilots navigating their path, our commercial drones are a far cry from the toys children play with. Instead, these sophisticated air tools have enabled our scientists to view properties and collect data from vantage points and within timeframes previously only dreamt about. In keeping with Waterborne’s commitment to technology and staying ahead of our clients’ needs, we recently upgraded our drone fleet. 

We began our drone work with the trusty DJI Matrice 100, which after entering the market in 2016, quickly became a popular choice for commercial operators with its high-quality imaging and range of capabilities for conducting surveys. As with the progression of many technologies, however, it was time for us to research newer models that met Waterborne’s client needs. Say hello to our DJJ Mavic 3 Multispectral drone!

The DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral drone system is a much smaller and more efficient drone that packs a wallop in terms of imaging power and operational efficiency. Over the last decade, the technology within drone platforms has advanced astronomically. More efficient batteries and rotors made way for lighter airframes and more advanced optics blazed the trail for lighter camera packages producing more impressive and variable imagery. 

With a lighter drone, Waterborne has gained an increase in image precision from 2.69 cm/pixel down to an impressive 1.69 cm/pixel without RTK/ground control points with the ability to go lower. Furthermore, our individual flight max time has tripled and the new camera system on the Mavic 3 can operate multiple cameras at once; this model is a multispectral drone which is fitted with a single RGB camera and a four camera MS array for a total of 5 cameras infused into a single unit, all of which can be operated in tandem. 

Gone are the days where we would have to fly a field twice to acquire a single RGB photo set and a single Red Tint photo set! With our new fleet’s optics packages, we can acquire all 5 wavelengths in a single pass - RGB, Green, Red, Red Edge, and Near Infrared. The Mavic 3 has an available RC Pro controller with a built-in screen for developing flight plans on the fly. In just a few minutes we can get airspace clearance to fly, set up the drone and completely build the flight plan. Once built, the flight plan uploads to the aircraft, and we initiate flight operations. Since the Mavic 3 is so small (just a few pounds in the hard case) it can quickly and easily be transported or shipped to Waterborne’s scientists, nationwide. 

Waterborne have several licensed drone operators on staff and each one is eager to test out all the new fleet’s bells and whistles in different settings. We are excited to share the benefits of our new technology with our current and future clients!