National

Hey guys!

My name is Zach Searle, and I just joined pretty recently. I am currently a student in the Sapphire Coast completing his Y12 HSC, and have begun my Major Design in Design Technology and, as I am passionate about caring for our environment, I have settled on a project for aiding in reforestation. Dubbing it the "Bumblebee',  I am hoping to design a small drone that automatically plants seeds in provided mapped positions (according to where the landowners want the seeds planted). 

However, this is no easy feat - especially for a boy with no past experience in electronics. 

Therefore, I have been working hard towards making the project possible, and have just started by collecting general opinions to prove the need for the project (as well as collecting data to improve its functionality too) through a survey. If you have anytime, feel free to fill it out to help support the project! Thanks!

Survey:

Bumblebee - A Project to Aid in Reforestation

PS: Sorry if you've seen this more than once! I've just been posting to multiple communities for more data! 

Hi Zach,

Great topic. Yes, this technology is needed and there are some developments already happening that may interest you. See this information on Mongabay:

New Tree Tech: Cutting-edge drones give reforestation a helping hand (mongabay.com)

I'm involved in rainforest restoration research in far north Queensland. Here, seed supply is not the biggest issue as birds transport a lot of seeds across the landscape. The biggest problem is competition with pasture grasses when revegetating former grazing land, as seeds are prevented from germinating, or if they do, face stiff competition from the dense grass swathe. Hence, I've had vague thoughts of how very carefully directed grass-selective herbicides could be applied by drone, and/or grass-selective herbicide delivered along with seeds. 

But this is a long way from where you are developing your project, and my advice would be to keep it small and work on a 'proof of concept', but with a focus something that might one day be applied in the landscape where you live. 

I'm not a property owner so I couldn't contribute sensibly to your survey but wish you all the best with your project.

Regards

Amanda