Drone technology is also playing an
enormous role in this industry. “Today,” said Sorensen, “we use drones in our operations for scouting and overseeing crops. We can very accurately identify where problems are in the field.” The drones under development are larger and they can spot and spray for insects, and manage weed control and fungus with a pinpoint accuracy. “We could have a 10-acre spot in an 100-acre field,” said Sorensen, “and we’re able to treat that spot.” He’s looking forward to even greater advancements in tracing crops. “We have the ability to track a crop fromwhen we put a seed in the ground until it reaches its final destination,” he said. “It allows farmers to differentiate in the marketplace.” It also gives a lot of confidence to the buyer who knows he’s getting exactly what he paid for. “We’re driving maximum value,” Sorensen said, “by knowing where a crop came from.” How Aerial Imagery Is Telling a New Story Up until this year, drones have gotten somewhat of a bad rap. Whether in debates about ethical military use or even the fear that neighbors could have a bird’s eye view into your home, it’s probably only been within the last year that the more positive impact of this high-flying technology is starting to be appreciated by the commercial and consumer sectors alike. Jon Tull, president of Dronifi and a CompTIA Premier Member active in the association’s new Drone Advisory Council, predicts the drone market will increase dramatically in the next two years. “We’re fielding more inquiries than ever about the use of software and drones,” he said from his office near Los Angeles. Tull, who oversees a platform for drone flight service providers, currently offers aerial analysis tools for a wide variety of businesses, including agriculture, real estate, golf courses and solar panel installation. Simply put, Dronifi is taking a wealth of aerial imagery and making it actionable for business. “Accountability,” Tull said, “is a big key to what we do.” By analyzing everything from satellite imagery to thermal points, Dronifi is answering important questions about how drones can be used effectively, and ultimately what the technology can achieve when partnered with smart solutions for reading and analyzing data. In many ways, what Dronifi is doing today is shaping the next wave of drones, how they will be used and what they deliver to big and small business alike.
Sezen Jones, AirMap
35
SPRING 2018 | CompTIAWorld
Made with FlippingBook Online document