UNC Wilmington Launches Coastal Drone Observatory
by Frank Graff
Published on June 19, 2024
Last modified on June 20, 2024
Drones Offer a New Way to Study the NC Coast



By now, we’re accustomed to the amazing aerial photos and videos that drones make possible.

What you may not realize, however, is that drones can also collect scientific data. The Center for Marine Sciences at UNC Wilmington (UNCW) has launched a program to do just that.

The UAS Coastal Observatory utilizes drone technology to map North Carolina’s coastal ecosystem. (UAS stands for “unmanned aircraft systems.”) UNCW is the first university in the Southeast to have such a system thanks to an $850,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

“All of our research activities will include and train students, benefit our community and benefit the global science community,” said Phil Bresnahan, Assistant Professor and Director of the UNCW Coastal Drone Observatory Program. “Empowering students with these high-demand skills will increase their competitiveness in coastal engineering, geography and environmental science job markets and expand representation in the rapidly growing UAS and geospatial employment fields.”

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The UAS Coastal Observatory will focus on several areas related to coastal resilience and sustainability, including:

●Flooding impacts on the built environment, coastal infrastructure and indicators of coastal resilience...snip...more...

https://www.pbsnc.org/blogs/science/unc-wilmington-launches-coastal-drone-observatory/