Drones Drive Science, Sustainability Efforts
CSIRO is significantly expanding its use of drones for environmental research and data collection across Australia. The agency has grown its fleet to 160 units, utilizing advanced software and sensor technology to improve scientific outcomes.
Why it matters
The proliferation of drone technology is transforming how scientific agencies monitor the environment and manage large-scale research projects.
CSIRO's chief remote pilot has never flown a plane.
Amanda Meys oversees almost 100 other remote pilots across Australia's national science agency.
The aircraft they fly are not planes or helicopters - but drones.
Around 160 of them - up from 25-30 in 2020.
According to Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) figures there are close to 45,000 remote pilot license holders, not including recreational drone users. Up from 16,500 in 2020 and less than 3,300 in 2016.
In a short space of time, drones have changed the way we see our world - and in many cases, the way we do environmental research and collect data.
Coming out of winter, we're entering drone season once again.
Whether they're called remotely piloted aircraft systems (R-PAS), uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) or just drones, through the 2020s they've proliferated as they've become cheaper and easier to use.
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