Drone habitat mapping

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, provide a highly effective tool for mapping shallow marine habitats with very high spatial resolution. By acquiring high-quality imagery under optimal environmental conditions, UAS enable the detailed identification and delineation of coastal habitats such as seagrass meadows. The collected imagery can be processed into orthophotomaps and spatial datasets that support accurate habitat mapping, and environmental monitoring & management. UAS-based mapping is particularly valuable in shallow coastal environments and works as a complementary method to in-situ surveys and satellite remote sensing, while providing an effective solution in cases where these methods are limited due to environmental, spatial, or resolution constraints. This approach supports marine habitat assessment, environmental monitoring, and coastal management applications.