The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has awarded Sphere Drones a tender to supply its HubX drone-in-a-box system for environmental monitoring activities.
The award has been made under the NSW Government’s $1.89 million Natural Hazards Technology Program.
Initial deployments of HubX will take place in key national park locations, including Yirraldiya Park, and the Tugalong, Nattai, Yathong and Kosciuszko National Parks.
The operations will enable NPWS to monitor critical areas from a central control centre, boosting its ability to manage natural hazards, preserve biodiversity and protect feral-free zones.
Sphere Drones says it has worked closely with NPWS and its Chief Remote Pilot (CRP), Gareth Pickford, to fully understand the extent of the Service’s BVLOS approvals and applications.
“We’re proud to partner with NPWS to safeguard some of the most ecologically important regions in New South Wales,” said Paris Cockinos, CEO of Sphere Drones.
The company will also collaborate with Forestry Corporation NSW and the NSW Reconstruction Authority to extend the scope of the Natural Hazards Technology Program.
The Program began in January 2024 and will run until June 2025, which includes a 12-month pilot phase.
Other companies conducting projects under the Program include:
- Ninox Robotics: Drone-based recognition and assessment of hazardous trees following a fire operation.
- Unleash live: Delivering rapid insights and intelligence to response agencies during natural hazards using drone photography, LiDAR and machine learning to analyse large data sets.
- CyanoLakes Australia: A state-wide blue-green algal bloom forecasting and early-warning system using innovative satellite remote sensing technology and machine learning.
