Data From Drones To Help Save Ash Trees

By Conni Kunzler | July 17, 2017

Source: Noel Brennan, “Drones are joining the fight against the emerald ash borer,” KUSA; “Drones Used To Track Emerald Ash Borer,” CBSLocal

Boulder, CO (July 13, 2017) – Drones are joining the fight against the emerald ash borer in Colorado. Denver is funding researchers from Colorado College and a Colorado Springs-based startup called Spectrabotics to use data collected from drones that they hope will help save Ash trees.

The EAB is tiny, but the insect is responsible for the death of millions of ash trees across 27 states. “If you catch trees in early stages of infestation you can often save that tree,” said Dan Staley.

He’s an urban forester leading an effort to save ash trees in Colorado. He heads up Arbor Drone LLC. “We’re taking techniques that are used in precision agriculture right now and adapting them to the urban forest,” he said...