OTH52 - Drone up! The use of drones to study and monitor ecological changes in the Arctic

Wildlife and their habitats are experiencing rapid changes in the Arctic due to climate change and the increased presence of human activities. Drones (or remotely piloted aircraft systems) offer a new vantage point for the monitoring and study of these important changes in the Arctic. As drones provide a relatively non-invasive, easy-to-use, and inexpensive tool to monitor remote ecosystems, their use has increased rapidly. For example, drone photogrammetry is used to calculate the body condition of narwhals and other Arctic wildlife, monitor eroding Arctic coastlines and calculate precise measurements of permafrost thaw, snow depth and hydrology change, becoming one of the world leading tools to capture habitat change in tundra ecosystems. Most importantly, drone research is accessible and leading to several collaborative and Indigenous community-led research and monitoring projects across the Canadian Arctic. This ArcticNet session aims at providing an inclusive space for presentations from different fields. 

Co-Chairs: Marianne Marcoux, Fisheries and Oceans Canada 

Marie Auger-Méthé, University of British Columbia 

Isla Myers-Smith, University of British Columbia 

Dustin Whalen, Natural Resources Canada