With the aim of evaluating the use of drone-mounted LiDAR technology to better understand landscape topography and ecosystem health, an eight-day aerial mapping expedition was recently completed in the central area of the Maya Forest Corridor, in Belize and Petén, Guatemala.
The expedition used Trinity Quantum Pro and Sky Front Perimeter 8 drones equipped with LiDAR sensors and involved 20 participants, including specialists, technicians, and researchers. This made it possible to collect high-precision information even in areas with dense vegetation cover and low visibility, facilitating analysis of the terrain and vegetation structure.
The work was carried out thanks to collaboration between the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Island Foundation, with support from the Belize Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA), the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC), and Guatemala’s National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP). In addition, the Conservation Technology Accelerator team provided support in fieldwork, the use of technological equipment, and data analysis.
As the data collected are processed, this experience is expected to help strengthen planning, monitoring, and the impact of conservation actions in the region.
LiDAR technology applied through drones is used to assess ecosystem health, estimate carbon stocks, and facilitate work in hard-to-access areas, making operations safer, more efficient, and evidence-based.