UAV

CompassDrone

The CompassFamily of businesses introduces CompassDrone™ to provide airframes, software, services and support to Geospatial Professionals for UAS remote sensing data collection. For industrial drone based Imagery, point cloud or IR data collection projects, CompassDrone™ can match the right airframe and software to get the results to meet your requirements. Purchase your system today to be ready when FAA part 107 announced recently takes effect in late August 2016. compassdrone.com

Icaros Releases 4.2.2 of OneButton

Icaros Inc. has announced the release 4.2.2 of OneButton™. The release contains new features and improvements as well as a new flight planning software module.

Icaros developed the OneButton family for geospatial end users to easily and automatically generate precise, fully orthorectified 2D maps and 3D models from frame-based aerial imaging systems. Originally engineered for manned aircraft sensors, the OneButton software has been modified to accommodate the unique collection conditions of UAS. www.icaros.us.

Hexagon Geospatial launches Vegetation Health Smart M.Apps

Hexagon Geospatial officially released seven different Vegetation Health Hexagon Smart M.Apps which make use of remote sensing algorithms to identify plant and crop health from a variety of different sensors. Focused on the burgeoning precision agriculture movement and the increasing ubiquity of UAVs or drones, these Smart M.Apps make the power of remote sensing techniques accessible to everyone.

The seven Hexagon Smart M.Apps all focus on different aspects of crop, vegetation, and agriculture health measurement. http://store. hexagongeospatial.com

Drone2Map 1.0 for ArcGIS Now Available

Fresh out of beta, Drone2Map for ArcGIS was released by Esri with new features and enhancements. The desktop app allows people to process images from drones and quickly create imagery products for mapping, analysis, and sharing across the ArcGIS platform. It offers in-field rapid imagery processing that allows the pilot to confirm that the drone’s flight has captured imagery of the full area of interest, reducing the need for costly return trips to the field. The app detects camera and sensor parameters, then intelligently applies appropriate defaults. esri.com/drone2map.

FAA lays down rules for flying small drones

The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the final Small UAS Rule, effective in late August 2016. The New Small UAS Rule (107) includes all pilot and operating rules for drones weighing less than 55 Ibs, which are conducting non-hobbyist operations. Drones weighing between 0.55 lbs. and 55 lbs. must also be registered with FAA.

The rule’s provisions are designed to minimize risks to other aircraft and people and property on the ground. The regulations require pilots to keep an unmanned aircraft within visual line of sight (VLOS). Operations must take place during daylight hours, or within the hours of civil twilight (instantly before sunrise and after sunset) if the drone has anti-collision lights. The new regulations also address height and speed restrictions and other operational limits, such as prohibiting flights over unprotected people on the ground who aren’t directly participating in the UAS operation. Under the final rule, the person flying a drone must be of least 16 years old and have a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating, or be directly supervised by someone with such a certificate.

UK adopts new drone policy for campus safety

UK has adopted a new drone policy for the safety of the university community.

According to UKNow, UK announced the policy regarding drone and unmanned aircraft systems. Hobbyist and recreational drone use is prohibited on campus and to fly drones with the purposes of research or instruction, the operator must have consent from UK’s event management office. The policy further prohibits recreational drone and UAS use on all UK-owned property, which includes the main campus, farms the university owns and operates and Coldstream Research Park. These objects must also not fly within five miles of helipads or airports; there is one heliport at UK HealthCare’s A.B. Chandler Hospital. Use of drones and UAS near Commonwealth Stadium is specifically prohibited in the policy.

All commercial drones and UAS must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration before seeking permission from UK to fly the object. Users of commercial drones and UAS must apply for permission from UK at least seven days before their event. uknow.uky.edu

Cyprus outlines new laws related to drones

According to the Civil Aviation Department guidelines of Cyprus, any violation of the law on drones constitutes and offence. Due to the current increased interest in unmanned aircraft (drones in Cyprus) flying activity, the Department said that owners and users of drones are required to comply with the provisions of the applicable legislation. Violation of the law constitutes an offence and offenders will be liable to penalties.

All remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft from the small consumer devices used for recreation, to large aircraft used for other purposes, are subject to the provisions of the above legislation which aims to the safety of flights and the protection of persons and property on the ground. www.mcw.gov.cy/dca