Biodiversity Journal, 2017, 8 (1): 79–86 MONOGRAPH Preliminary observations on the use of drones in the environ- mental monitoring and in the management of protected areas. The case study of “R.N.O. Vendicari”, Syracuse (Italy) Giorgio Sabella1*, Fabio Massimo Viglianisi1, Sergio Rotondi1 & Filadelfo Brogna2 1Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Science, Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy; e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] 2 Regional Department of Rural and Territorial Development, Service Office for the Territory of Syracuse, Italy; e-mail: fbrogna@ regione.sicilia.it *Corresponding author ABSTRACT The possible utilization of UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems), also called drones, as means for the environmental monitoring and the management of protected areas has been investig- ated. The study was carried out in “R.N.O. Vendicari”, Syracuse (Sicily, Italy) in relation to the problems of the fruition's management of the protected area. Some operational proposals on the use of drones for these aims are suggested and the preliminary results are presented. KEY WORDS UAS; Sicily; Protected areas; Environmental monitoring; Management; Drone. Received 21.06.2016; accepted 01.10.2016; printed 30.03.2017 Proceedings of the 3rd International Congress “Biodiversity, Mediterranean, Society”, September 4th-6th 2015, Noto- Vendicari (Italy) INTRODUCTION these remotely piloted aircrafts. On board they can, carry small computers, cameras and various sensors. The study of ecology, especially environmental These can be easily used by non-specialists, who monitoring, has benefited, since the 60s of last cen- can then use them in many work activities to collect tury, of the latest technologies and of the technical data by multiparameter sensors (Thamm & Judex, innovations openig up new possibilities in many 2006). In general, the use of these resources has theoretical and applied branches of the natural helped in increasing, as never before, the acquisi- sciences. Since the 80s of last century, a further con- tion of both qualitative and quantitative environ- tribution to research in this field has been made with mental and spatial data (Marris, 2013). Applications the use of two new technologies: the GPS (Global to this data can be broadly divided into two cat- Positioning System) and the GIS (Geographical egories: research applications and direct conserva- Information System). tion applications (Sandbrook, 2015). In the last decade even the use of Unmanned Apart from the research applications, also the Aircraft Systems (UAS) seem to have had the same control of the risk areas or of protected ones, will kind of impact in the scientific and applied areas certainly benefit from the use of these unmanned (Anderson & Gaston, 2013; Chabot & Bird, 2015). aircraft systems, supporting operators and ensuring The use of drones has strongly increased due to that the management and monitoring of these areas their ease of use and the lowering of the costs of are more reliable convenient and accurate (Krämer 80 GIORGIO SABELLA ET ALII & Thamm, 2006; Kohl & Wich, 2012). This is part of the ongoing relationship between the effort to safeguard protected areas and their fruition (West et al., 2006). The extension of the R.N.O. “Oasi faunistica di Vendicari” (Southern Eastern Sicily) and its critic- ality along with the continued reduction of the supervisory staff, make it difficult to continously monitor. The aim of this paper is to determine whether the use of UAS could make the monitoring and the control of this area easier by reducing costs and at the same time ensuring that the interventions of the teams on the ground are more efficient. In this work we use the word drone or UAS for all types of aircrafts without an on board pilot, although in the literature these vehicles are often classified and designated by various other names (Anderson & Gaston, 2013). MATERIAL AND METHODS Study area and management issues The Oriented Natural Reserve “R.N.O. Oasi faunistica di Vendicari”, instituted by D. A. 14 March 1984 in accordance with L. R. 98/81, is located in the southeast of Sicily, between Noto and Pachino in the province of Syracuse, and occupies an area of about 1,517 hectares (Fig. 1). Its peri- meter is included in those of the ZPS ITA090029 - Pantani della Sicilia sud-orientale, and of the SIC and ZPS ITA09002 - Vendicari, instituted in accord- ance with Directive 1992/43/EEC and with Direct- ive 2009/147/EC. The reserve is also included within the area identified by IBA (International Bird Areas) criteria cod. IBA 1998–2000: IT167 “Pantani di Vendicari e di Capo Passero”, and in the Ramsar area “3IT043 Vendicari”, in accordance with D.P.R. 448 of 13 March 1976, because it is recognized as a key area for the resting and the migration of migratory birds. The reserve is a coastal area of great natural and landscape value, characterized by high plant and animal biodiversity thanks to the variety of habitats (rocky and sandy coasts, brackish and freshwater swamps, salt marshes, Mediterranean scrub, scrub- land and cultivated areas), due to the presence of Figure 1. Geographical framing, maps and logos of various types of substrates, as well as edaphic and The Oriented Nature Reserve “R.N.O. Faunistic oasis of hydrogeological relationships. This did not prevent Vendicari”, Syracuse (Sicily, Italy). Use of the drone in the environmental monitoring and in the management of protected areas, “R.N.O. Vendicari”, (Italy) 81 about half of the reserve’s territory to be used for agricultural activities (AA.VV., 1991). The overall climate is rather dry, characterized by mild winters with little rainfall and hot, dry sum- mers. Average annual rainfall does not reach 400 mm per year, with a maximum of just over 60 mm in October, December and January, and values close to zero in the summer months (June to August). The average annual temperature is 18.2 °C. The coldest months are January and February with a monthly average of 11.9 °C. Quite high temperatures are reached in July and August with average monthly respectively being 25.3 °C and 26.2 °C (AA.VV., 1991). The reserve falls within the lower dry ther- Figure 2. The Phantom 3 Professional built by DJI. momediterranean bioclimatic belt (Scelsi & Spamp- inato, 1998). The management plan of “Pantani della Sicilia with lower quality of photographs. For this reason sudorientale” (2009), approved under the condition we have chosen to operate the flights using a drone with D.D.G. 673/2009 of Regional Councillorship belonging to the second category (whose operations of Land and Environment, highlights several critical are regulated by art. 12 of ENAC Regulation): the aspects of the R.N.O. mainly related to agricultural model Phantom 3 Pro. This has an upper flight activities, but also to the high human pressure linked range of up to 20 minutes and is equipped with a to its touristic fruition, especially in the summer camera with 4k resolution, which has a high level months; during just 2014 an estimate of, by defect, of image definition. These characteristics make it more than 120,000 visitors visited the beaches of appropriate for the purposes of the present study. Vendicari (Iuvara, 2015). The damages caused to the For whichever flight scenario, it is mandatory protected areas by an excessive fruition have already that the driver is recognized by ENAC (art. 21) been studied and documented (Muhar et al., 2002). through the adequate certification. The drone must also be insured. Technical characteristics of the utilized ma- Based on the experience and on the fact that the terials ENAC regulations are constantly evolving and clear guidelines have yet to be enacted, we propose the The drone used is the Phantom 3 Professional following methodological process consisting of a (Fig. 2). The technical characteristics of the drone series of good practices to be followed in the case and its equipment are summarized in Table 1. of any flight plan processing: Download from the Aviation website (www. Regulatory information on UAS flights aeronautica.difesa.it) the updated version of the Italian Aviation Map (CAI) in which the obstacles The only current regulation for UAS flights is the to the flight and the zone types to air controlled Unmanned Aircraft Systems Regulation of ENAC traffic (VFR Visual Flight Rules) are shown. (Civil Aviation Authority) (2nd edition published in Identify the flight area and take action based on 16 July 2015 and updated in 21 December 2015). the type of the overfly zone. The prohibited air- There are several types of the UAS and there are spaces, according to paragraph 4 of the article 24 different classifications in which they are grouped of the ENAC Regulation, are those within the ATZ per weight, range, use, etc. (see Anderson & (Aerodrome Traffic Zone) of an airport, or located Gaston, 2013 for a review). Among the different at a distance of less than 5 km from an airport and UAS types, the two most common are those weigh- those within the active regulated areas and the ing less than 300 grams and 2 kg. The lightest prohibited areas. In the latter all protected areas are models (weighing less than 300 g) are characterized included and so it is to necessary to request the prior by low flight range (under 10 minutes) combined authorization of the Managing Authority. When 82 GIORGIO SABELLA ET ALII obtained this authorization must also be requested ENAC Regulation) and with a medical certification from the ENAC Authority (article 24, paragraph 6 of class II issued by the standards relating to the li- of ENAC Regulation). cense LAPL (Light Aircraft Pilots Licence) (article The visual flight (Visual Line of Sight or VLOS) 21, paragraph 2 of ENAC Regulation).