Sargassum Drone Monitoring Protocol

SargAdapt Good Practice Guide - Volume One

Massive sargassum influx events have continued to plague the Caribbean over the last decade, yet there are very few examples of sustained monitoring of beached sargassum anywhere. This information is needed to inform management efforts, to validate sargassum forecasts, and to inform entrepreneurs looking to use the seaweed. We at CERMES,UWI have developed a simple, rapid sargassum monitoring protocol (SMP) using drones to encourage widespread, standardized monitoring of beached sargassum volume across the region. This mapping protocol uses rapid field survey measurements combined with ‘off-the-shelf’ drones and cloud-based drone analysis software platform that does not require prior GIS expertise or specialised computer power to easily provide both an accurate and non-technical, standardized workflow to visualize and estimate the abundance of freshly beached sargassum. In addition we have developed easy-to-follow, illustrated users guides for this SMP with drones used in conjunction with this online training course. The SMP is easy-to-implement & requires only limited time, labour & technical expertise making it accessible to a broad range of stakeholders across the Caribbean. Sign up and get started today!!
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Learn how to apply the Sargassum Drone Monitoring Protocol

This Training Course Includes

Learn the SargAdapt Project: Sargassum Monitoring Protocol (SMP) using Drones Methodology

  • Blended Cohort Course Format

    This practical training is delivered over a month period as a either as a fully-virtual, self paced course or periodically run as a cohort where you'll learn along with other teams in the Caribbean. I'll guide you through the entire SMP-Drones protocol, from planning and setting up monitoring flight surveys, conducting field measurements & even data handling and information creation so you can quickly and accurately estimate the abundance of sargassum found on your beach.

  • Datasheets & Mapping Software

    The course includes self-paced readings, multi-media lessons and field exercises to guide your team each step of the way! You will be given an overview of drone flight safety procedures and provided with my UAS flight planning checklists and sargassum monitoring field datasheets. You will also given access to DroneDeploy to process and share your drone mapping data as well as contribute to on-going regional monitoring efforts.

  • Archive of Learning Resources

    You have access to all of the CERMES SargAdapt Project's sargassum research and management resources library. This extensive electronic archive includes many useful case studies, research article, management plans, technical reports, users guides, flyers, articles, videos, podcasts, educational resources and links to other useful websites - categorised for easy access and periodically updated with the newest information and guidance.

It is recommended that you have previous drone flying & mapping experience

Course Prerequisites

  • While enrollment is open to all, this course assumes prior flying and mapping experience. This is NOT an introductory course on drone mapping.

  • You should have access to a mapping drone, hold a valid UAS license, can fulfill all drone flight requirements in your country and always apply flight safety procedures.

  • You should have prior experience participating in national sargassum monitoring, management and/or research initiatives and access to a monitoring beach.

Explore the SargAdapt Project

Centre for Resource Management & Environmental Studies, UWI

Sargassum StoryMaps

Dr. Kim Baldwin

Instructor Bio

I am Dr. Kim Baldwin, a marine ecologist and commercial drone pilot with over 20 years of experience conducting environmental field research and teaching in the Caribbean. As the Director of Marine Spatial Information Solutions (MarSIS), my mission is to empower individuals with the skills and tools to easily collect, understand, and create holistic geospatial information. Together, we can collaboratively develop practical solutions to effectively manage our environment.

Throughout my career, I have trained hundreds of individuals and large organizations across the Caribbean and California in safely flying drones, undertaking commercial operations, and implementing mapping and monitoring strategies. By equipping them with the necessary skills, they are able to collect, analyze, and widely share environmental information, ultimately improving collaborative environmental management.

Over the years, I have refined my stakeholder engagement and mapping techniques, and I am excited to teach you a straightforward approach that can be easily applied to any industry-specific environmental application. Whether you are an individual, organization, or industry, I am here to help you leverage technology and improve your approach to environmental management. Together, we can make a positive impact in our world!

Dr. Kim Baldwin

PhD, MSc, BSc, Drone Pilot & Instructor

Frequently Asked Questions

Sargassum Monitoring Protocol Drone Training Course

  • Do I need to have a mapping drone (or access to a mapping drone) to participate?

    Yes at least one member of each team needs to have a mapping drone, legally licensed to fly and has been previously trained to fly safely and knows process/can obtain any government approvals for flight that may be required. If you are interested please just register above & we will coordinate groups for each project country and inform you once we see who enrolls, resources, etc.

  • Will I be conducting sargassum fieldwork during the course?

    Absolutely! The course will be delivered virtually over a month and includes a variety of self-paced multi-media lessons & supporting learning resources along with weekly Zoom sessions delivered via the Training Academy. Weekly lessons will be supplemented with corresponding practical work (both in-field beach surveys & computer-based). Participants should be willing to dedicate 1 day/week over month of this course and will need to arrange their own transportation to/from the monitoring beach.

  • How much of the workload comprises drone flying?

    Since all drone pilots participating are experienced flyers and have previously conducted drone mapping surveys we will not be discussing how fly drones or use drone mapping software. Trainees will learn how to develop beach monitoring site including supporting drone flight plans and beach field-surveys as well as how to handle, process and use this data to map and estimate the abundance of stranded sargassum.

  • What if I am not located in a SargAdapt Project country or located outside of the Caribbean?

    No worries - this training cohort will be available to anyone who wants to learn how to conduct the Sargassum Monitoring Protocol (drone & beach surveys). Feel free to register above and we will be sure to let you when the next cohort is starting.

My Approach

Transforming How We Work Together

  • Building Capacity & Shared Understanding

    I firmly believe that by strengthening people’s technological skills will allow us to better work together to understand and collaboratively create more holistic environmental information for our challenges as well as enable the development of effective, locally-relevant solutions.

  • Participatory Mapping & Monitoring Techniques

    My participatory drone mapping and monitoring methodology workflow has been developed using 'off-the-shelf' drones, information communication technologies so that you can quickly learn how to plan & conduct drone surveys and easily create comprehensive mapping & geospatial data.

  • Collaboratively Creating & Widely Sharing Information

    My signature 'Participatory UAS' Approach allows you to create understandable information & effectively use your drone's mapping data to collect local knowledge but also leverage ICTs to analyze, summarize and widely share produced information using web-mapping and social media platforms.

Learn the Sargassum Monitoring Protocol

Centre for Resource Management & Environmental Studies, University of the West Indies

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