Essential Uses of Drone Videos
Written By: Shane Clark on September 30, 2021
No one could have guessed when Muybridge invented the motion picture in 1887 that one day we would all have the chance to fly tiny machines that can capture the world in 4K while winds buffet them 400 feet in the air!
Consumer drones have given us so much more freedom, and the increasingly complex and convenient capabilities of drones also give us more ways to expand our horizons. Drones are now also available to anyone who has a bit of money for the gear and, more importantly, extra time to learn how to pilot drones safely and effectively. Drones are a fantastic technological advancement with a plethora of new uses.
Think Higher Production Values
We’ve all seen breathtaking aerial images taken from helicopters in prized blockbuster movies. Aerial videography contributes to the high-end, professional look of these films. The same camera perspectives that technology used to limit to big-budget video productions now grace the aesthetic of many web videos, TV commercials, and online videos.
4K drones are now available for purchase at rates substantially lower than leasing a helicopter for a day. In addition, people no longer have to pick helicopters if they have access to a drone pilot.
Drones can fly in regions where helicopters can’t because of their diminutive size and lightweight construction. Drone use has resulted in some highly innovative footage. Daring drone pilots regularly shoot new and intriguing video perspectives that may never have been possible if drones never came to be.
Drones Aid Journalism
Many journalists also use drones. But let’s be clear – journalism isn’t precisely about production values, how they apply to YouTube videos, or commercial films.
Drones can quickly and safely reach regions inaccessible by foot, providing viewers with intriguing footage of otherwise unreachable events.
Journalists in Australia, for example, used drones to cover important stories during the raging bushfires. In Hong Kong, a drone business used its technology to acquire unrivaled views of protesters. Another advancement is commercial sUAVs to live stream video footage, allowing for real-time public broadcast of drone footage.
Drones Can Provide Assistance in Disaster Areas
Drone footage is also quite helpful in surveying disaster areas. For example, news crews and Australian firefighters employed drones during the bushfires. The drones used thermal imaging technology and, of course, onboard video to assess the conditions of koalas that the fire and smoke had harmed.
The authorities also used live streaming to send images to the Aussie police and emergency personnel stationed in strategic outposts.
Thailand’s Tham Luang cave incident in 2018 was also another opportunity for drones to take center stage. Rescuers utilized commercial drones to find the cave entrances and construct a three-dimensional aerial map of the cave network.
Survey Archaeological Sites with Precision
Drone footage is also excellent for photographing archeological and historical sites. Commercial drones can reach places like the tops of high walls, dangerous excavation sites, and roof structures that archeologists can’t see from average ground level.
Drones give experts a new perspective on ancient study sites. Archeologists can also couple drones with other technologies like lidar to generate an exact 3D model of a given site. Archeological teams can then view lidar videos in real-time, on-site.
Safety Inspections Made Easier
Drone footage is also an excellent tool for performing different types of safety inspections. For example, health and safety authorities frequently use drones to inspect the status of wind turbines and other structures. Experts then combine their oversight with specific algorithms that are designed to detect problems. Drones, rather than helicopters, are used in certain situations to reduce risks to human life.
Agricultural Innovations
Farmers are increasingly using drones because of the high viewpoint; they reveal critical information about the land. Drones also perform these assessments more efficiently than a manual assessments. Drone scans can detect immediate problems like irrigation blockages, fungal infestations, and soil variance early on. Drone scans can also track crop growth.
Commercial sUAVs can also be equipped with special sensors, including thermal, laser, ultrasonic, and hyperspectral. These additional sensors provide more detailed information to farmers. These sensors can even guide agricultural spraying, which is usually reserved for significantly more expensive fixed-wing aircraft.
Police Surveillance
Drones can be used for enhancing and maintaining public safety in a variety of ways. For example, UK Police began employing drones last year to chase down risky drivers on British highways. Police have also started experimenting with using thermal cameras attached to drones to track down fleeing offenders. This approach has shown to be highly effective. In addition, drones are handy for monitoring events with huge crowds, like protests and football games, because their bird’s-eye view helps officers identify problems before officers on the ground can.
Drones Support Search and Rescue Operations
Drone technology also benefits emergency personnel such as police, firefighters, and medical personnel. For example, firefighters can use drones to locate fire victims in inaccessible structures. Thermal imaging technology is super valuable for these instances.
Drones allow the authorities to conduct a rescue with greater efficiency and less risk to human life.
Wildlife Monitoring and Environmental Protection
We’ve all seen breathtaking drone footage on nature shows like Our Planet and National Geographic. These shows employ stunning aerial pictures to entertain and educate us. Drone footage allows us to capture wildlife in their natural habitats and will enable us to monitor our planet in new and exciting ways.
For example, sUAVs can assist with wildlife population counts and mapping of both marine and terrestrial ecosystems — all from above. Drones will not cause the same disruptions as the older methods of interaction.
Summary:
Drones offer us extraordinary ways to accomplish tasks that used to be more complex. Drones aren’t just useful for science and research – it is also revolutionizing business and marketing as we speak. If you are interested in knowing how professional drone video editing works and how it can help your business, email Shane today.
