The Department of Interior’s fleet of drones are mostly hand-me-downs from the Department of Defense and cost less than a single one of its manned aircraft. They have been useful in jobs like dam inspections and wildlife surveys, cutting down the time to complete the task at a fraction of the cost. “Traditionally drones have been thought of as instruments of the military … ” said Mark Bathrick, director of the Office of Aviation Services at the Department of Interior. The agency, however, has been able to use drones for land surveillance, wildlife monitoring, and visual assistance when dealing with natural disasters.
Full Story: Federal Times
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