Drone Pilot

Summary

This program offers you a taste of what it’s like to be a Drone Pilot at Cardno. You will be working on a geotechnical risk assessment project to upgrade the walking trails at the Murramarang South Coast Walk. Your tasks will include digitally mapping the drone’s route, creating a pre-flight safety checklist accounting for the weather conditions and aerodrome forecast, recording a drone flight simulation, and working with 3D map imagery.

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Outline

Week 1: Project brief, industry background on geoscience, GIS, and drone surveying.

Week 2: Things to consider before starting a Drone Surveying project (e.g., image acquisition plan, ground sampling distance, digital surface models, safety regulations for flying drones in Australia).

Week 3: Pre-flight preparation (weather assessment and aerodrome forecast interpretation) and piloting a (virtual) drone.

Week 4: 3D map imagery processing, program summary, career pathways, and additional resources.
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What will you gain

• Understanding of the key disciplines and concepts relevant to the work of a Drone Pilot and GIS Analyst as well as their day-to-day tasks.
• Insight into the established procedures and values driving the decision-making process in a global infrastructure, environmental and social development company like Cardno.
• Experience contributing to a geotechnical risk assessment project, from brief to delivery.
• Feedback on your work and progress from the industry mentor and the program facilitator as well as frequent self-reflection opportunities.
• Certified microcredential titled ‘Drone Pilot and GIS Analyst Virtual Work Experience at Cardno’, that can boost your chances of kick-starting a career in areas related to geoscience.