In this discussion, viewers learn how drones have revolutionized business operations at Soterra. Key topics included the process of becoming a certified drone pilot, the various roles of drones at Soterra, and a demonstration of a drone flight to assess potential damage on a recreational lease property following a storm.
Participants
- Josh Smith, Manager of the Land Resource Group at Soterra
- John Lett, GIS Manager, Safety Manager, Recreational Lease Manager, and Drone Operator at Soterra
- David Gill, Forester and Drone Pilot at Soterra
Agenda
- Introduction to the use of drones at Soterra
- Interview with John Lett and David Gill about their roles and experiences with drones
- Discussion on the process of becoming a certified drone pilot
- Explanation of how drones have improved safety and efficiency at Soterra
- Demonstration of a drone flight to assess potential property damage
Takeaway 1: The use of drones has significantly changed operations at Soterra
In the conversation, viewers will learn that drones have been crucial in revolutionizing how Soterra conducts its business. They have been heavily incorporated into several operations, including monitoring and managing leases. Josh Smith, the manager of the Land Resource Group at Soterra, revealed that the company has mapped over 200,000 acres using drones.
Smith said, “Soterra has mapped over 200,000 acres with the drone.” He emphasized that this only represents mapped space and not the total number of acres flown by drones. John Lett, the GIS participant in the conversation, further explained that there are two types of drone pilots—recreational and commercial. He clarified that all drone pilots at Soterra are commercial pilots conducting flights for business purposes.
David Gill, who was also part of the conversation, confirmed the significance of drones in their operations. He said, “This reduces the amount of time that I’m in a safety situation. It really eliminates the possibility of falling in a hole, twisting an ankle, getting lost… after a tornado and the woods are really torn up.”
Takeaway 2: Safety and efficiency are the primary benefits of using drones in Satara’s operations
The conversation highlighted that drones have significantly improved safety and efficiency in Soterra’s operations. They have reduced the time and workforce needed in the field and cut down on safety risks associated with navigating harsh conditions in the woods.
Lett explained, “They cut down on any safety risk associated with going and walking through these harsh conditions in the woods.” Gill echoed this sentiment, saying that using drones “really eliminates the possibility of falling in a hole, twisting an ankle, getting lost… like after a tornado and the woods are really torn up.”
Le also pointed out that drones have increased efficiency in their operations. He said, “They reduce manpower and time in the woods. In the old days, simple jobs such as getting an accurate acreage for plating… might have even taken two foresters to do it, whereas now we can put a drone up in there, and we’ll do it in 15-20 minutes.”
Takeaway 3: using drones in Satara has evolved, and they are now integral to the company’s operations
The conversation revealed that the use of drones at Soterra has evolved. Initially, they were just an idea, but now they have become integral to the company’s operations.
Lett spoke to the evolution of drone applications at Soterra, saying, “In the beginning, Andy Callahan just had an idea and bought one drone… He started looking into different programs, different software that we could use, trying to develop different techniques of using them and different scenarios that we could apply with drones.”
Lett also mentioned that drones have been used in various ways, such as getting accurate acreage for plating, checking wildfire damage, and assessing hurricane damage. He said, “Any flight that any of the pilots do, they send that information to me, and then I put it in our geospatial system. I map it out… we have different attributes about that flight.”
David Gill shared his experience of becoming a certified drone pilot and how the introduction of drones has changed his job. He said, “It reduces the amount of time that I’m in a safety situation. So it really eliminates the possibility of falling in a hole, twisting an ankle, getting lost out in a like after a tornado and the woods are really torn up.”
Insights surfaced
- Drones have become integral to Soterra’s operations, including recreational leases and monitoring.
- Becoming a certified drone pilot involves passing a comprehensive test from the Federal Aviation Administration.
- Drones significantly enhance safety by reducing the need for personnel to navigate hazardous terrains.
- Drones also improve efficiency, as they can quickly map large areas that would take humans much longer to traverse.
- Andy Callahan launched the drone program at Soterra and has evolved significantly since its inception.
Quoteables
- “Drones have revolutionized how SAA does business. They’re pretty much a part of anything we do right now.”
- “In order to become a commercial pilot, you have to have a part 107b remote pilot license through the Federal Aviation Administration.”
- “The number one thing is safety. Drones cut down on any safety risk associated with going and walking through these harsh conditions in the woods.”
- “We can put a drone up in there and we’ll do it in 15-20 minutes.”
- “We’ve only had one recordable incident in the last 11 years. That’s probably the one that I’m most proud of. The one that I have the most fun with, I’d say is drone flying.”
