Conservationists get bird’s eye view with high-tech toy

By Alisha Lewis New Zealand Herald

A high-tech toy plane look-alike is set to gather detailed intelligence on New Zealand.

And although unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, are known for their use by the military, this one will be used as the eyes in the sky of two conservation scientists.

The Auckland University of Technology drone is to be deployed over the country to improve on the poor quality of satellite images charting the flora and fauna.

The UAV is the brainchild of AUT environmental scientist Barbara Bollard-Breen and microbiologist John Brooks.

The university is the first organisation in New Zealand to use a UAV for non-defence purposes.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10818527