{"id":83042,"date":"2018-05-31T10:05:43","date_gmt":"2018-05-31T14:05:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=83042"},"modified":"2023-11-17T15:48:26","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T20:48:26","slug":"student-uses-drone-photography-to-improve-security-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/student-uses-drone-photography-to-improve-security-management\/","title":{"rendered":"How One Student Uses Drone Photography to Improve Safety at UCF and Arecibo Observatory"},"content":{"rendered":"

After 12 hours, Michael Feinman finally arrived in a remote location in Puerto Rico. It was February, and while riding along the bumpy roads to get to his destination, he could see how badly Hurricane Maria had impacted the island, even five months after the storm. Blue tarps and \u201cFEMA\u201d written in giant, red letters in spray paint covered many of the homes, while the two-lane roads were littered with potholes and broken traffic lights.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never expected as a freshman that I\u2019d be going to Puerto Rico to do this kind of work with drones.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He was there on a special assignment with UCF\u2019s Department of Security and Emergency Management to assess damage to Arecibo Observatory, which is now managed by UCF<\/a>. For two days, he worked to capture images using drone photography of the 118 acres that make up the observatory.<\/p>\n

Back at UCF, Feinman also completes special security management assignments using drone photography. The sophomore integrated business<\/a> major has been able to create aerial mapping of specific areas of campus to improve security measures, all while never leaving the ground.<\/p>\n

Taking Flight<\/h2>\n

Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Feinman often played with remote control toys, like helicopters and boats, as a kid. He grew out of the hobby until high school when he saw one of his advisors using a drone. Despite having no practice with photography, Feinman wanted to use to technology to capture photos.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone takes pictures with their phone, everyone takes pictures with cameras, but when I saw what it looked like from above \u2014 seeing a new perspective on what you could do with a drone \u2014 it was just pretty amazing,\u201d Feinman says.<\/p>\n

“When I saw what it looked like from above \u2014 seeing a new perspective on what you could do with a drone \u2014  it was just pretty amazing.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Although he really couldn\u2019t afford it at the time, Feinman bought a drone and acquired a license with the Federal Aviation Administration. Eventually he covered his costs by doing photography through his company, New Perspective Imaging, for real estate companies within the greater Philadelphia area.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really have to have an eye for it because, even with people using traditional cameras and do[ing] traditional ground photography, it\u2019s a different ball game when you\u2019re looking at something from above,\u201d Feinman says.<\/p>\n

Gaining Exclusive Access<\/h2>\n

Part of the reason Feinman decided to come to UCF was the great weather and beauty of the campus. Wanting to capture those elements with his drone photography, he reached out to UCF\u2019s Department of Security and Emergency Management before arriving on campus to make sure he would follow proper rules and regulations.<\/p>\n

Feinman was hired after Hurricane Irma<\/a> impacted campus and helped developed procedures for drone-related safety management practices for future storms.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

By February, Feinman was given the unique opportunity to fly to Puerto Rico with Souza and assess the damage caused by Hurricane Maria at the Arecibo Observatory. Typically drones are not allowed to be flown in the area because they interfere with technology on the facility, but this time they proved to be helpful.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never expected as a freshman that I\u2019d be going to Puerto Rico to do this kind of work with drones,\u201d Feinman says. \u201cI can\u2019t really describe what it was like to see the telescopes and to see the Arecibo Observatory.\u201d<\/p>\n

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