There are three A World Bridge™ projects underway in Florida:
Lake Apopka North Shore Restoration Project – St. Johns River Water Management District
In cooperation with Deborah Stone, Invasive Plant Program Supervisor, St. Johns River Water Management District, a prototype test is currently under design and development, which intends to determine the effectiveness of UAS technologies to support the invasive species and restoration initiative. The Lake Apopa North Shore area represents approximately 20,000 acres.
University of Central Florida Arboretum
In cooperation with: Amanda Lindsay, Senior Biologist, UCF Natural Resources Program, and Jennifer Elliott, Coordinator, UCF Arboretum Programs.
Senior Biologist Amanda Lindsay helped set up logistics and identified a target area for the Trillium aerial Unmanned Aviation System (UAS) mapping mission; she also monitored and assisted Trillium with flight operations. Additionally, a Site Use Permit was applied for electronically. The Research and Course Site Use application is now on record and is also used to develop technology that will help identify invasive plants in natural areas. The flight was performed on Friday, Feb. 12, and Amanda also informed the campus police.
The initial target area for prototype mapping is the main Arboretum site. The following image illustrates the full orthomosaic created from over 90 images captured by the high-definition mapping UAS, and in contrast to the old satellite imagery surrounding it.
Seminole County Natural Lands Program
In cooperation with: Sherry Williams, Chair, Florida Exotic Pest Plants Council; Biologist and Park Ranger for the Seminole County Greenways and Natural Lands Division. Sherry is responsible for the invasives program on 10,000 acres of natural lands, passive parks, paved trails and active parks including prescribed fire monitoring. In addition, Sherry serves as the Steering Committee Chair for the Central Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) and as Vice President for the Cuplet Fern Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society.
Sherry identified the Econ River Wilderness Area, Lake Jessup Wilderness Area as priority sites for high-definition UAS mapping.