Resumen de Bird’s-Eye View of Sampling Sites: Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles To Make Chemistry Fieldwork Videos
Fun Man Fung, Simon Francis Watts
Drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), usually helicopters or airplanes, are commonly used for warfare, aerial surveillance, and recreation. In recent years, drones have become more accessible to the public as a platform for photography. In this report, we explore the use of drones as a new technological filming tool to enhance student learning in the field of analytical and environmental chemistry. In particular, chemistry students have difficulty in applying knowledge learned in the practical context, e.g., finding potential sites for soil sampling. Our effort was focused on improving the understanding of terrain and examining potential “good” sampling sites by providing instructor’s point of view (IPOV) videos filmed with a drone. Students responded positively to this innovative filming method in a perception survey. The merits and challenges of filming with drones will be discussed.
