Rapidly changing technology and falling prices have put good commercial drones within reach of most arborists. Are drones finally worth the time and money for the tree care profession? This two-part article, updating the author's October 2016 articleon drones ("Making a Business Decision for Drones," pp. 22-25), will discuss the current capabilities of drones for arboriculture across several scales to assess their value to the tree care professions today This first article will provide background onthe current state of drone technology, then discuss technologies and opportunities at the urban forest and utility vegetation management scales, including the ne% tools and laws needed for large-scale drone operations. The next article will explore drone arboriculture in more detail and at parcel- and smaller-scale operations, including equipment, apps, and applicable laws. This feature series will conclude by making several predictions regarding where the technology will be in the next several years.
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