My keynote for the "Drone Educators Conference" at Cal Poly in Pomona, CA on February 6, 2016.

1. ROMEO DURSCHER
Director of Education
Twitter: @RomeoCH
Instagram: VisualAerials
EDUCATION TAKES FLIGHT

2. R O M E O D U R S C H E R

10. LEADER IN HARDWARE TECHNOLOGY
Ease of Use
AffordabilityAccessibility

11. DJI University
Educating New Pilots
& Possible Customers
Changing Public
Perception

12. DJI University
Educating Industry Working with Government

13. DJI University
Getting Hardware & Software
into academia

14. DJI University
Humanitarian &
First Responders

17. August 19, 2015

27. Monitor and control aircraft flight behavior with the
Onboard API functions, while utilizing the built-in
Intelligent Navigation Modes to create autonomous
flight paths and maneuvers.
TAKE CONTROL
Create customized mobile applications or
communicate with the DJI flight controller over a
direct serial connection.
Advanced programs can analyze images to create 3D
models and measure distances with a very high
degree of accuracy.
MOBILE OR ONBOARD SDK
Empower your applications with artificial intelligence
and analyze data in real time with DJI’s powerful
onboard computer.
ONBOARD COMPUTER
1
2
3
BENEFITS OF THE SDK
developer.dji.com

31. DEVELOPER
CHALLENGE

32. UAVs IN EMERGENCY
RESPONSE SITUATIONS

34. BENEFIT OF UAVs
• Time is of essence
• Quick deployment & live view
• Identify safe / dangerous
zones
• Detailed, more accurate
mapping
• Identify missing people
• Overall damage assessment
• Access to real time data
• Cost Effectiveness
• Delivery Platforms
• Defillibrators, Mediations
• Life Saving Devices

35. BENEFIT OF UAVs
• Areas mapped regularly
show changes in the
environment
• Visual
• Atmospheric
• Radiological
• Intelligent features for
autonomous flying
• Limitless number of
applications
• Spot illegally parked cars
• Precision farming
• Fire monitoring

36. CASE STUDIES

37. In 2014, first responders in China used
drones to determine the hardest-hit areas
following a massive earthquake that killed
more than 600 people.
SITUATION
YUNNAN EARTHQUAKE
UAVs provided first responders with a detailed
overview of the situation and allowed them to
optimize logistics.
DJI sent a team of pilots to assist the China
Association for Disaster and Emergency
Response Medicine (CADERM) following the
earthquake. This was the first time China used
UAVs in its relief efforts.
MISSION
Aerial images were used by workers in the
epicenter area of Longtoushan, where most of
the buildings in the area collapsed. The dense
rubble and vegetation made ground surveying
difficult and the aerial overview helped relief
teams find survivors.
IMPACT

38. Access to information is a major challenge in
Nepal after the earthquake in 2015. As
communities rebuild, they need new maps to
in order to inform reconstruction efforts and
identify gaps in services
COMMUNITY MAPPING
IN NEPAL
A multidisciplinary team hosted by
Kathmandu University flew over 60 sorties
over the village of Panga to create high
resolution maps. The week long mission not
only involved UAV flights, but also training of
local teams and technology transfer.
MISSION
The resulting maps were used to engage the
community in both mapping – they classified
facilities on the map with tags – and the
wider reconstruction planning. UAVs enabled
the democratization of information and a
more participatory development model
IMPACT
SITUATION

39. SITUATIONFORENSIC ANALYSIS
MISSION
IMPACT
Three people were killed in a heavy
fog near Fresno, California when
three trucks and two cars collided.
Questions arose as to what actually
occurred.
San Jose-based Visual Law used
UAVs to precisely document the
physical evidence at the scene and
to build a 3D computer model of the
scene that was presented during the
courtroom trial in Oakland, CA.
Photogrammetric mapping using
UAV-borne cameras provides far
more accurate detail than has been
available using conventional
ground-based surveys. As a forensic
tool, UAVs are unmatched in terms
of cost and quality.

40. SITUATION
LIFEGUARDS ON
THE GREEK COASTLINE
Using a DJI Inspire 1, Radley Angelo from Spark
Aerial was able to spot downed boats in the water
and coordinate this information with first
responders in the water, truly maximizing limited
resources.
MISSION
Lifeguards were able to efficiently spot and aid
victims in the water that would otherwise go
unnoticed. The DJI Inspire 1 provided Mission
Critical and time sensitive data when it was
needed most, and filled a vital role in the
information pipeline for the operation.
IMPACT
The refugee crisis from political unrest has
resulted in almost 1,500 asylum seekers making
the treacherous crossing from Turkey to Greece
each day. Improper life jackets and boats that
disintegrate along the way create an immediate
emergency need for lifeguards monitoring the
passage.

41. SITUATION
SEARCH AND RESCUE
MISSION
IMPACT
Donegal Mountain Search and Rescue in
Ireland have struggled to find people in need
within an acceptable time. Before using UAVs,
it took 120 minutes for a five-man team to find
a casualty in a 1 km2 area.
A special S&R app was developed which
enables the drone operator to share images
and GPS location of objects found with the
search team, emergency services and coast
guard helicopter. The app allows delivery of 1
kg of medical supplies/radio equipment from
drone to casualty and enables “beacon mode”.
Finding a casualty with a DJI Phantom 3
together with the S&R app takes 20 minutes
which cut down the search time with 80
percent, while adding additional benefits such
as delivery of mission-critical equipment.

42. During the heavy flooding in Johnson
County, Texas in 2015, lives, property
and infrastructure were at risk.
SITUATION
TEXAS FLOODING
UAVs were deployed to capture
imagery which was used to assess
the situation and look for missing
people. When people were found in
areas difficult to reach, lifelines and
life vests were delivered to people in
danger.
MISSION
Aerial imaging and photogrammetry
techniques enabled responders to
assess and respond to the situation.
People who were left adrift could
wait for rescue teams in safety.
IMPACT

43. A large blaze in a stone quarry
caused a serious risk as it was
burning in close proximity to over
hundreds of pounds of explosives.
The local Fire Department Chief
didn’t want to risk the lives of a
rescue team and was therefore
hesitant to send a crew.
SITUATION
BLAZE BURNING CLOSE
TO EXPLOSIVES
A volunteer firefighter used a DJI
Phantom to get an overall aerial
assessment of the situation.
MISSION
The Fire Department could make a
risk assessment and could optimize
the mission response for the specific
situation.
IMPACT

47. ABC Good Morning America

48. April 14 - 22, 2015
Survey Trip

52. Oxalis Adventure - Phong Nha

62. Production Trip
May 5-14, 2015

66. 4x DJI Inspire 1
3x DJI Phantom 3
3x GoProfessional Cases
2x Inspire Backpacks
3x Phantom 3 Backpacks

86. DJI University
edu.dji.com