Skip to main content

DJI unveils real-time wildfire geofencing tech for drones

sweden drones 48687886 l
Marek Uliasz/123rf
DJI has teamed up with AirMap to introduce some exciting new live geofencing update functionality for its drones. Previously, the geofencing information on each user’s phone was only updated periodically as DJI was notified about new areas that needed to be fenced off or opened up.

This new technology gets alerts directly from AirMap, which has access to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s incident command system, updating the geofencing settings live as incidents arise. The example being used mostly is in the case of wildfires. This new technology would allow for drones to be blocked from the area around a wildlife within minutes of it being reported to the incident command system.

“AirMap delivers dynamic airspace intelligence to unmanned aircraft in order to provide the safest operating environment possible,” said Ben Marcus, CEO of AirMap. “Through our partnership with DJI and other drone manufacturers and application developers, more than 70 percent of the drones operated in the United States now benefit from wildfire information in real time.”

In the case of wildfires, there have been many high-profile incidents where drone pilots have gotten in the way of planes and helicopters trying to help fight the flames. This new update, as noted in the quote from Airmap there, will now make it possible to block drones in the area quickly, thus preventing issues during the most critical period of a firefighting effort.

Some 300 to 500 new wildfires are tracked by the U.S. Department of the Interior on a daily basis during the summer months. This technology should improve things in regard to drone interference at these locations going forward. More information about DJI’s geofencing system is available on their site.

[amz_nsa_keyword keyword=”DJI Phantom”]

Editors' Recommendations

Anthony Thurston
Anthony is an internationally published photographer based in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Specializing primarily in…
DJI’s latest Mavic 3 update made me love the drone all over again
The DJI Mavic 3 in flight in front of blurred green trees.

DJI recently launched a new update for its DJI Mavic 3 drone that adds some significant upgrades to the camera. This comes after months of progress that has seen the drone steadily improved since it was released last year. In many ways, the Mavic 3 in 2022 is almost a new drone entirely compared to what it was in 2021. Here's what I consider to be the most notable upgrades to the Mavic 3 in the latest firmware update, v01.00.0700.

Spring Journeys with the DJI Mavic 3
Greatly improved GPS
The constant problem that has dogged the Mavic 3 throughout its lifetime so far has been the abysmal speed at which it acquires a satellite connection. For many months, whenever I wanted to fly the Mavic 3, I'd have to stand there and wait patiently for far too long. When trying to capture a fleeting moment, this is incredibly frustrating. However, this latest update seems to have finally solved the long-standing flaw of this otherwise excellent device.

Read more
The Insta360 Sphere is a virtual invisibility cloak for drones
Graphic rendering of the Insta360 Sphere drone camera attachment.

On paper, drones and 360 cameras go together like pineapple and pizza, that is to say, they are an excellent if rather niche combination. However, the problem has always been when filming with a camera that sees everything, that the view also includes whatever the camera is attached to. This means that filming with a 360 camera on a drone feels more like riding a speeder on Endor than flying unsupported through the sky. The Insta360 Sphere solves this issue by turning the drone invisible, thus fully immersing you in the experience of flight.

The Sphere accomplishes this by placing one lens on top of the drone and one beneath. The Sphere then uses software to stitch the footage from each half together so that the drone vanishes from the video, creating a seamless sphere. It’s exclusively compatible with the Mavic Air 2 and Air 2S drones from DJI and has been designed so that it doesn’t interfere with the structural integrity or various wireless systems on the drone, such as GPS. The Sphere clamps on securely around the middle of the drone in such a way that vital sensors aren’t obscured.

Read more
DJI may be prepping launch of Cinewhoop-style drone
DJI's rumored Cinewhoop-style drone.

Just days after DJI unveiled its revamped Mini drone in the form of the Mini 3 Pro, news has dropped that the company could be about to release its second FPV (first-person view) drone, only this one looks to be even smaller and designed to fly indoors.

The news comes via two sources with a decent reputation for getting it right with DJI-related rumors.

Read more