Associate Professor, Lian Pin Koh recently had the honour of judging the inaugural Drones for Good award, organised by UAE’s Prime Minister’s office.
The Wadi Drone won the national competition. This winning entry was from a group of students from NYU Abu Dhabi who created a fully automated data-transmitting drone.
The team collaborated with Wadi Wurayah National Park to create the drone. Parks like Wadi Wurayah, a WWF site and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, all use camera traps to monitor wildlife and detect intruders. Many have also recognised the value of drone technology for aerial photography and mapping.
The Wadi Drone is a hybrid that combines tested conservation methods like camera trapping with the efficiency of drone technology. It makes camera trap data available more quickly, more frequently, and at a lower cost than before.
