Unmanned Aerial Vehicle {a.k.a Drone} Services

capturing imagery from new heights with the professionlism of a CAA 102 certificated operator

Aerial Imagery

UAVs fly at a low elevation which allows for high resolution aerial imagery. Pixel resolution is between 1 to 10 cm, allowing for every detail to be noticed.

3D Surface Models

Using advanced photogrammetry tools allows us to create a surface point cloud from our UAV imagery. This allows us to build a 3D model of just about anything that can be viewed from every angle.

Volumetric Analysis

From woodchip piles, log stacks, slope cut and fill to quarry stock pile volumes, the use of the UAV derived 3D models enable volumes and measurements to made in a timely and precise manner.

Live First Person Video

Live video from the UAV provides a unique perspective on operations. 

Multispectural Vegetation Imagery

Multispectral near-infrared imagery allows calculation of vegetation indexes such as NDVI and EVI to manage monitor plant growth and survival.

Thermal Imagery

Use of thermal aerial imagery after a forest fire allows targeted use of firefighting resources.

Fieldworker Drone Ready to Fly Kit

We work with you to operate your own drone for your organization.  This is a recipe for success including procedures and checklists to reduce the complexity and risk of your drone use as a field worker.

UAV Pilot Sklls Training and Wings Badge

This course is suitable for anyone wanting to get started in using drone technology as a tool in the forestry industry and rural fire sectors. 

Mapping Skills Courses

Learn to use Drone Deploy and Maps Made Easy for conducting small aerial mapping operations.  Designed for fieldworkers with only a little GIS knowledge, whereby they can use online mapping services to create aerial photography updates.

Drone LiDAR

Interpine can also capture LiDAR using our Emesent Hovermap SLAM LiDAR sensor.

Out in Industry

Assessing Chip Pile Volumes inside Tight Warehouses With Drones

Our Drone UAV team uses drone-based SLAM LiDAR technology that can work in GPS-denied environments to collect data and calculate product/material volumes for inventory stocktaking.  Getting warehouse stockpile volumes in tight spaces and internal warehouses could...

Post Event Woody Debris Assessment – Cyclone Gabrielle Hawke’s Bay

The Hawkes Bay Forestry Group has released the findings of their post-Cyclone Gabrielle Woody Debris Assessment, encompassing the coastal areas and significant catchments of Hawke's Bay. In this study, our team utilized Planet satellite data which has available within...

Drone LiDAR for Post Storm Event Recovery and Future Preparedness (Snow Avalanches in Mt Cook)

In July 2022 a winter storm dropped 550 mm of precipitation on the Southern Alps of New Zealand. This initiated large snow avalanches and a mass movement cycle of debris flows, and erosion, which was the largest observed in decades. Our drone lidar surveys were used...

Using AI for Quantifying Windthrow or Toppled Trees

Using AI to detect windthrow or toppled trees and quantify damage across a stand can allow forest managers to understand the next steps. In this example, a heatmap on the damaged windthrown stems per hectare is provided using down-tree detection using deep learning....

Woody Debris and Slash Sampling Methodology Post Storm Events

Objective Quantify woody debris / slash content along the coastal, and inland catchment areas, characterizing it by woody debris source or type, volume per hectare, and the total volume accumulated. Sampling Methodology Review Line Intercept Sampling Plots Due to the...

Enhancing Safety Outside Controlled Airspace with FlightAdvisorNZ.io

The Interpine team has recently been working with RNZAF Flight Advisor Service which has been created with NZDF and Aeropath.  It is a simple way pilots can access any of our registered UAV flights simply and easily via Flight Advisor (flightadvisornz.io).  Targeting...

Drone Solutions for Wildfire

Learn more about the innovation in drones and there use in wildfires with this great webinar where Interpine is presenting alongside with the DJI Enterprise team on the advancements drones and their place on the modern fire ground. https://youtu.be/DFq8L3-XjAE

‘Technology on Steroids’ Remote Sensing, Forest Data Capture & Inventory Management – Past, Present and Future

2022 ForestTech Conference, Rotorua, New Zealand.  Key Note Address | 'Technology on Steroids': Remote Sensing, Forest Data Capture & Inventory Management – Past, Present and Future.David Herries, Director, Interpine ForestTECH Events has, since 2007, been...

Drone based LiDAR services extended with the DJI Zenmuse L1 Livox LiDAR and RGB Solution

2021 continues to be a leap forward in drone-based UAV LiDAR here at Interpine.  To compliment our two Emesent Hovermap LiDAR units we have also recently purchased the DJI Zenmuse L1 LiDAR + RGB solution for the DJI Matrice 300 RTK.  Simultaneous collection of...

Drone based Harvesting Cutover Merchantable Volume Assessment

Our GM / Director of Interpine, David Herries recently presented at HarvestTech 2021 in Rotorua, New Zealand on a new system for merchantable volume assessments using drones.  Improving safety and efficiency while being able to quantify harvest residues across often...

“Use of UAV’s for quantifying our stock pile volumes has been a great step forward in a timely and more accurate process wood fibre management. Interpine have provided a innovative service that shows the usefulness of UAV’s in the forest industry”

Richard Sherratt

EBOP Wood Supply Manager, Oji Fibre Solutions

“Fantastic use of UAV technology to deliver a timely and needed service for our quarries. Thanks to the Interpine team for introducing this technology to the Timberlands team, and we look forward to using UAV’s more in our forest management operations”

Cheryl Hindle

Team Leader - Forest Information, Timberlands Ltd

Frequently Asked Questions

What certification does Interpine hold for use of UAV's ?

Interpine hold Civil Aviation Authority CAR Part 102 certification.   Part 102 is based on the risk of the operations. Interpine have an  ‘exposition’ showing that we have identified hazards and risks of our operation, and ways they will mitigate those risks. Each applicant for a Part 102 is considered on its merit – this allows for the wide scope of operations made possible by RPAS. (more info: CAA Website http://www.caa.govt.nz/rpas/#Part_102)

Part 102 captures all unmanned aircraft that do not operate under Part 101. This includes any autonomous aircraft. The most common type of unmanned aircraft are remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS). Again, for the purpose of the Civil Aviation Rules (CARs), a remotely piloted aircraft is: ‘an unmanned aircraft piloted from a remote station and includes a remotely controlled model aircraft’.

Any unmanned aircraft operation will introduce hazards and risks that will need to be managed. Certificate holders must have an operational Safety Management System (SMS). This is a crucial to the acknowledgement of all the potential hazards, the level of risk each hazard poses, and the measures that will be taken to mitigate these risks. The focus is on certificate holders demonstrating that their operations will be safe. The CAA Director will look at the people involved in the operation, the aircraft, and the scope of the operation. The Director must be satisfied that the operation is safe, and that the operator is able to mitigate and control the risks before issuing the certificate. This requires the application of extensive standard operating procedures (SOP). These SOP include a process for conducting a risk assessment on the type of operation, and the organisation intends to undertake.

Interpine currently hold endorsement for the following operations outside of CAA CAR Part 101.

  • Above 400 ft AGL
  • Night Operations
  • Operations in Low Flying Zones
  • Operations Over Persons and Property
  • Operations with Aircraft weighing up to 25kg take off weight
  • Operating within 4km of an aerodrome.

With operations managed for:

  • Aerial photography and videography
  • Aerial mapping
  • Aerial inspection
  • Scientific / Engineering Research
  • Forestry Support
  • Search and Rescue
  • Fire Fighting and Support
  • Police Operational Support
With endorsements for:
  • Pilot Training
  • UAS Support Crew and Observer
  • Firefighter UAS Training
What safety measures are in place while operating UAV's over our operations?

Our standard operating procedures are focused on safe operation of any of our UAV craft. Pilots undergo rigorous training and annual re-certification to operate.   Our operations operate under our CAA CAR Part 102 certification. Our craft are all fitted with emergency systems suitable for the type of operation being conducted.   In the event of an incident our public liability, aircraft and professional indemnity insurances are endorsed for operating UAVs for all our operations.

What insurances does Interpine hold specific to our drone operations ?

The following insurance is held and is endorsed for our UAV / Drone operations.

  • Specific Aviation Insurance specific to our drone operations to the value of $1 million.  
  • Public Liability Insurance to the value of $10 million with drone operations endorsement.
  • Professional Indemnity Insurance to the value of $5 million for professional services delivery.  
  • Motor vehicle cover for 3rd party to $10 Million.
What camera / sensors are available on our UAV's?

We operate a range of normal RGB, multi-spectral NIR, thermal IR resolution cameras together with LiDAR Scanners.   

These include dual thermal IR and RGB camera systems such as the DJI FLIR XTR, DJI Mavic Enterprise Dual, DJI FLIR XT2 Dual and up to 30x optical and 180x digital zoom systems with the DJI Zenmuse Z30 and DJI Zenmuse H20T.  With resolutions up to 45mp with our DJI Zenmuse P1 optimized Photogrammetry sensor for large scale or high resolution mapping there will be a  sensor optimized to fit your needs.   

Our multispectral capabilities include up to 10-band RedEdge MX Dual Micasense sensor, including a range of 5 band sensors with up to 4K resolution.

Our drone-based LiDAR is using our Emesent Hoverap and DJI Zenmuse L1 LiDAR units.

What kind of projects are we involved with ?

We regularly update our blog / articles with a range of services and projects our UAV Drone team are involved with, and our clients have permitted us to share.  You will see some of these profiled in the “Out in Industry Link” above.   Else follow this link to review a full range of articles.

How do we activate our after hours operations, what is our contact details ?

If you are requesting our drone operations as part of a Fire and Emergency NZ, or  NZ Police response, our contact details are held by the COMCEN.   To activate a request for our services throughout NZ just ask for Interpine RPAS Drone Operations contact.   We have a range of contacts that remain available 24hrs.

If we didn't answer all of your questions, feel free to drop us a line anytime.