2024 UMD Extension Drone Training - 4 Days: Aug 5-8, 2024

August 5 to 8, 2024

We are in our new building at 4240 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042. Check-in on August 5th starts at 7:30. The program starts at 8 a.m.

Purpose of the Drone School:

To train professional horticulturists in practical use of drones through lecture and hands-on experience. Provide information on practical use of drones in horticulture and how it can be applied in commercial ornamental horticultural crop systems. In this entry level course, we will cover the types of drones and what is involved with obtaining a commercial drone pilot’s license, FAA requirements, insurance requirements, and state pesticide certification process. We will show students how to map out an area for a drone application and use drones for photography. Hands-on experience in flying small drones will be provided.

This course is not set up as preparation for taking any licensing tests. This practical drone short course will strive to introduce professional horticulturists to how to use drone technology in their operation.

Audience – who should enroll?

We are training professional IPM Scouts, professional horticulturists, nursery and greenhouse managers, arborists, and certified pesticide applicators.

Notes About the Program:

• Space is limited to 20 people and is on a first come first served basis.

• One individual must sign up for all 4 days.

• You must be pre-registered to attend.

• This training does not provide any certifications.

• We will have drones to practice flying. You cannot bring your own drones because there will be too many types of drones to focus on at one time.

• Cost: $400.00 per person. For all 4 days. Includes lunch.

• No refunds after August 1, 2024. Eventbrite fees are not refundable.

You can register via Eventbrite or by sending a check payable to University of Maryland to August13 IPM Session, 4240 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, 21042.

Our IPM Drone Team:

Kirk Floyd, Kdrones, Services, LLC. Kirk Floyd is registered with the Federal Aviation Administration as a pilot and also has the certification with the Environmental Protection Agency and Homeland Security and Maryland Department of Agriculture for application of agro-chemicals. These certifications are necessary for commercial operation of a UAV and for the application of agro-chemicals using the UAV. Kdrone Services LLC is a 137 agricultural charter aircraft company. Kirk Floyd is a certified 107 Commercial Drone Pilot. Mr. Floyd is A 137 certified pilot and trainer. He is a Maryland pesticide applicator in the category 13, which is aerial applications. In addition, he is also an ISA certified arborist and a Maryland tree expert licensed application. Kirk will be conducting the majority of the training.

University of Maryland Extension Faculty:

Stanton Gill, Extension Specialist in IPM and Entomology, Central Maryland Research and Education Center, University of Maryland Extension [email protected]. Leading the University of Maryland drone/IPM Team. Has been working with drone applications for the last 5 years, publishing the results of our field trials.

David Clement, Extension Plant Pathologist, Home and Garden Information Center University of Maryland Extension. [email protected]. David is working with drone applications of fungicides in commercial nurseries.

Andrew Ristvey, Horticulture Specialist in Water and Nutrient Management, WYE Research and Education Center, University of Maryland Extension [email protected]

Andrew is working with drones using infrared and multispectral cameras for detection of fertility and water management in nurseries and greenhouse operation.

Hemendra Kumar, Extension Educator, Ag Engineering, CMREC-Upper Marlboro

Chuck Schuster, Extension Educator (Emeritus retired), University of Maryland Extension

On Day Four, the speakers will be:

Edwin Remsberg, Remsberg Inc./University of Maryland Extension
David Kivioja, Eagle-Eye Imaging, LLC
Support Staff:

UME Lead Technician: Suzanne Klick, Sheena O'Donnell, Technician, University of Maryland Extension, Central Maryland Research and Education Center, University of Maryland Extension

Day 1: August 5, 2024 (Monday)

8:00 – 8:15 Introduction to the 4-day program David Clement and Stanton Gill

8:15 - 9:00
Kirk Floyd, KDrone Services
1. Intro to using drones in Horticulture and Agriculture.

A. How are drones being used today in Horticulture and Agriculture.

B. How will drones help your business or career?

C. Different drones used in Horticulture and Agriculture.

D. What drones do you need to get the job done?

9:00 – 10:15
Kirk Floyd, KDrone Services
2. Fundamentals of drone operations.

A. Drone systems and controls

B. Pre-Flight checks and check list.

C. Calibration

D. Drone Safety

E. Drone software and apps.

F. Licensing and FAA, DJI, LAANC

10:30 – 12:00
Kirk Floyd, KDrone Services, David Clement, Andrew Ristvey, Stanton Gill, Sheena O’Donnell, and Suzanne Klick, University of Maryland Extension
3. Training on DJI Tello Drone.

A. Introduction to Tello Drone.

B. Start up and controls.

C. Take off, hover and landing.

D. Safe Flying

E. Flying small practices drones outdoors at CMREC facility

1:00 – 3:00
Kirk Floyd, KDrone Services

4. On hands flight training

A. Take off

B. Hovering

C. Landing

D. Emergency Procedures

E. Drone Practice

Day 2: August 6, 2024 (Tuesday)

8:10 – 9:00

Using Drones in the Nursery for Disease Control
David Clement, University of Maryland Extension

This section will demonstrate examples of trials conducted using drones in nurseries to control disease with new low risk fungicides and bio fungicides

9:00 – 10:00

Insect control using drones

Stanton Gill, University of Maryland Extension

This section will demonstrate examples of trials conducted using drones in nurseries to control insect infestation with low risk pesticides and beneficial organisms.

10:15 – 11:00

Kirk Floyd, KDrone Services
2. Mapping with drones and analytic software

A. Flight Software

B. Processing Software

C. Pe-Flight Planning

D. Drones for mapping

E. On Site Prep and Planning

11:00 – 12:00

Use of UAV imaging for early detection of plant nutrient deficiencies and water stress
Andrew Ristvey, University of Maryland Extension
This talk will discuss the potential of the use of drones for determining plant nutrient and water stress, how it will work with some examples of research presently being performed, and finally, the limitations of use.

3. Flying a Flight plan

Kirk Floyd, KDrone Services, and Hemendra Kumar, University of Maryland Extension
A. Site Checks

B. Pre-Flight-Checks

C. Flight Software Checks

D. Takeoff

E. In Flight Procedures

F. Emergency Procedures

G. Landing Procedures

H. Uploading Data

4. Hands on Drone Training
Kirk Floyd, KDrone Services, and David Clement, Andrew Ristvey, Stanton Gill, Sheena O’Donnell, and Suzanne Klick, University of Maryland Extension

Practice maneuvers at CMREC with small drones

Day 3: August 7, 2024 (Wednesday)

8:00 – 9:00
Kirk Floyd, KDrone Services
1. Map review

9:00 – 10:30
Kirk Floyd, KDrone Services
2. The Expense of using drones

A. Cost of equipment

B. Cost of Insurance

C. Operation Cost

D. Repair of Drones

E. Special Licensing

10:45 – 12:00

Kirk Floyd, KDrone Services, and Hemendra Kumar, University of Maryland Extension
A. Pix4D: How to use it
1:00 - 2:15
Kirk Floyd, KDrone Services
Introduction to Spray Drone Operation

A. Spray Equipment

B. Support Equipment

C. Flight Software

D. Site Checks

E. Pre-Flight-Checks

F. Emergency Procedures

2:30 - 3:30
Kirk Floyd, KDrone Services
Spray Drone Operation and Demo

A. Set Up

C. Flight Programing

B. Pre-Flight-Checks

C. Loading

D. Spray Demo

3:30 – 4:00
Kirk Floyd, KDrone Services
Commercial Drone Demo and Fly

A. Demonstration of Commercia Camera Drones.

B. Opportunity to Fly Camera Drone with instructor

C. Free Fly with Tellos.

Day 4: August 8, 2024 (Thursday)

8:30 – 11:00
David Kivioja, Eagle Eye Imaging

8:30 – 9:00 Commercial Drone Regulations
9:00 – 9:30 Drone Artificial Intelligence Spot Spraying
9:45 -10:15 Drone Plant Health and Other Tools Available to the Grower
10:15 -11:00 Spray Drone Flight Demo

11:00 – 12:00

Edwin Remsberg, Remsburg Inc. and University of Maryland Extension

Photographing Using Drones

12:45 – 1:45
Dr. Long, Penn State Experiment Station

Using land drone for spraying – Live Demo

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact Suzanne Klick at [email protected] on or before July 29, 2024.

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