These are just some of the ways Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students jumped in to help after Hurricane Ian recently ravaged much of the state with high winds and massive flooding.
Dr. John Robbins, professor and dean of the Department of Aeronautical Sciences at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus, recently led a team of graduate and undergraduate students to use an unmanned aerial system (UAS) to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Assessed the damage to the local church.
My colleagues and I are determined to do whatever we can to help our residents recover from this storm.
“This is what we really want to do as part of our service learning initiative,” said Robbins. “It gives students real-world experience while also giving them the opportunity to do something meaningful in the community.”
Students used camera-equipped drones to search for roof damage and perform a vertical inspection of the bell tower of the First Presbyterian Church in Daytona Beach. They planned and conducted missions and processed the data they collected.
Students Michael Alexiev, Michael D’Alonzo and Evan Martin, who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Unmanned Aerial Systems, say UAS has many useful applications in areas such as public safety and disaster recovery. .
“I have a job where insurance companies take pictures of roofs and look for damage,” said Martin, who is from DeLand.
Two other members of the UAS team—Joe Cabrera, a graduate student and UAS Flight Instructor/Research Support Specialist, and Blake Neal, a Master of Science student in Unmanned Systems—are involved in ongoing international projects using UAS data. I’m here. His Embry-Riddle study, conducted in collaboration with the University of Michigan and funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, uses UAS to assess crop recovery and to help improve recovery after Puerto Rico’s Hurricane His Maria. We will collect other data later.
“I think [disaster recovery] It’s one of the biggest uses of UAS, especially in Florida,” said Neil, who became interested in UAS while attending the Gates Aerospace Institute at Flagler Palm Coast High School. “We are saving people time and money.”
neighbor helping neighbor
Many Embry-Riddle student organizations and student groups are volunteering to provide disaster relief around the Daytona Beach community and even southwestern Florida hit hard by Hurricane Ian.
Nicholas A. Damiano, Assistant Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life at the university, said several Embry-Riddle fraternities, including Fai Gamma Delta (FIJI), Beta Theta Pie Fraternity, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon, are supporting local recovery efforts. said there is. They assisted local community groups, cleared debris, and distributed food and water.
Embry-Riddle’s Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity partnered with the Daytona Dream Center to provide food to local residents affected by Hurricane Ian. Many students helped with local hurricane recovery efforts. (Photo: Embry Riddle Fraternity & Sorority Life)
“Hurricane Ian has denied many Daytona Beach families fresh food, groceries and essentials over the last few days,” said FIJI President Christian Ogburn. Provide hot meals and groceries. “
In addition, students at Embry-Riddle ROTC have helped local businesses with their cleanup efforts, said Negar Afshar, associate director of student engagement at the university. The university’s Muslim Students Association is hosting the Daytona Beach Islamic Center’s weekly Jumaa service at Embry-Riddle’s Student Union building after the local mosque was badly flooded in the storm, said Embry-Riddle pastor David Pastor Keck said.
Meanwhile, Embry-Riddle senior Derek Coppola has launched a fundraiser to help Southwest Florida residents.
“Hurricane Ian wreaked havoc across all parts of Florida, but was particularly devastating in the Southwest Florida region,” Coppola said.
He and a team of volunteers collect donations of non-perishable food, water, sports drinks and clothing to distribute to residents, the Red Cross and local organizations. Coppola and several members of his team are also licensed captains with access to boats that can transport residents and goods to areas cut off from the mainland. His efforts are supported by multiple student organizations and groups on campus, including WIKD 102.5 FM.
“My friends and I are determined to do everything we can to help residents recover from this storm,” Coppola said.
Posted in: Aviation | Unmanned Systems
