Geology Students at WCU Use Cutting-Edge Technology to Map Landscape of South Campus

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(Image via Daily Local News)

Geology students at West Chester University recently used drones that flew a couple hundred feet above ground to map a hillside on South Campus, writes Bill Rettew for the Daily Local News.

“Drones give us a perspective that we don’t normally get at ground level,” said professor Martin Helmke. “Airplanes fly thousands of feet high and cannot view the details we can see from 200 feet up with a drone.”

Drones equipped with infrared cameras are capable of analyzing images, mapping landslides, and charting underground fires, sinkholes, pipeline leaks, and more.

A number of students who learned to fly drones through the school have been hired to fly them professionally. Helmke said that students’ skills as video game players are transferable to flying drones.

“The students are able to see relationships that they can’t see when on the ground,” said Dr. Sandra Mather, a former WCU professor who donated much of the equipment. “This is my way of giving back to make sure the kids are prepared to go out in the workforce — companies expect drone expertise.”

Click here to read more about using drones as a learning tool in the Daily Local News.

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