Fundamental practices for drone remote sensing research across disciplines

Abstract

Drone remote sensing research has surged over the last few decades as the technology has become increasingly accessible. Relatively easy-to-operate drones put data collection directly in the hands of the remote sensing community. While an abundance of remote sensing studies using drones in myriad areas of application (e.g., agriculture, forestry, and geomorphology) have been published, little consensus has emerged regarding best practices for drone usage and incorporation into research. Therefore, this paper synthesizes relevant literature, supported by the collective experiences of the authors, to propose ten fundamental practices for drone remote sensing research, including (1) focus on your question, not just the tool, (2) know the law and abide by it, (3) respect privacy and be ethical, (4) be mindful consumers of technology, (5) develop or adopt a data collection protocol, (6) treat Structure from Motion (SfM) as a new form of photogrammetry, (7) consider new approaches to analyze hyperspatial data, (8) think beyond imagery, (9) be transparent and report error, and (10) work collaboratively. These fundamental practices, meant for all remote sensing researchers using drones regardless of area of interest or disciplinary background, are elaborated upon and situated within the context of broader remote sensing research.