Last Friday, the City of Campbell River acquired photos along the Campbell River to aid in flood mapping – using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), provided and operated by Nanaimo’s Integrated Information Systems Ltd., a licensed pilot certified by Transport Canada. UAVs are widely used for data capture, and this is the first time the City has used this method acquire high resolution photos.
While it can cost thousands of dollars to acquire aerial imagery and usually involves a long wait time for a plane or helicopter, the UAV was in the air with just 24 hours of notice – and the cost of this test project was less than $1,000, and may be funded through the provincial emergency program’s disaster financial assistance. If the imagery can be easily and seamlessly integrated with the City’s existing geographical information systems, it will make important data and visual information available to decision makers in record time.
– Contributed by the City of Campbell River
