Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), also known as “drones” are a cost-effective technology for acquiring high resolution aerial imagery, spatial data, and data sensing. For instance, traditional mapping through field surveys, which is time-consuming and labour-intensive could be conducted by drones at a much lower price. Furthermore, drones can collect data from areas, which are difficult, sometimes even dangerous, to access by walking. On the other hand, satellite images have limitations of access, resolution, cloud cover and availability to end users in real time.
The drone technology is currently being used in developed countries for crop yield analysis and logistics companies are discussing how drones can be used for their services. In Africa drones are used for environmental survey and conservation. However, drone application in the area of watershed management is only now emerging.
The ECOSWat Project is applying drone technology for improved monitoring of river behaviour, ecology and hydraulic systems. This will lead to better understanding and the additional information gathered by drones will improve the decision-making and design process.
In 2015 ECOSWat organized workshops on “The Integration of Drones into the Thai Water Sector” for the Thai water sector organizations. Representatives from Department of Water Resources, the Royal Irrigation Department, the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute, Walailak and Khon Kaen universities as well as from the private sector participated in these workshops.
Since then Walailak University has on several occasions applied the new knowledge and conducted flights in the Tha Di sub-river basin, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, for the Department for Water resources.
Between 19 and 23 March Walailak University surveyed areas in the Lum Pha Chi River Basin, Ratchaburi Province to gather aerial images and has used the data to generate 3D models for improving the design process of proposed ecosystem-based adaptation measures, which seem to be suitable for preventing floods and droughts.
The use of low-cost innovative technology will undoubtedly improve the effectiveness of water management in Thailand.