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University of Guam Drone Corps outlines research, safety and community outreach to Mayor’s Council of Guam
Summary
University of Guam Drone Corps presented to the Mayor’s Council of Guam about its mapping and monitoring work, partnerships with federal and local agencies, FAA licensing distinctions, and steps residents can take to identify and report drone missions.
The University of Guam Drone Corps told the Mayor’s Council of Guam on Wednesday that it collects high-resolution aerial data to help local resource managers monitor coral reefs, post-fire reforestation and agricultural sites and to detect invasive species.
The Corps, cofounded by NASA Guam Space Grant and NASA Guam EPSCoR, said it launched in 2021 to train local pilots and keep data local. "Our goal is to have local pilots collecting local data for local causes," a University of Guam Drone Corps representative said during the presentation to the council.
The presenters emphasized that their flights are research- and education-focused and that they rarely fly over residential areas except during natural emergencies such as typhoons. "All the work we do is for research and educational purposes only," the representative said.
Janelle, a member of the Drone Corps, outlined partnerships with agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Guam’s Department of Agriculture and Forestry and described products such as 3D coral mapping and pre- and post-typhoon comparisons for farms. She said the Corps has used imagery to support reforestation monitoring and to detect coconut rhinoceros beetle infestations.
Presenters also reviewed regulatory rules for pilots. They said under FAA rules, commercial operators must hold a Part 107 certificate while recreational flyers are expected to take the free Recreational UAS Safety Test. The Corps advised mayors that Guam’s airspace is congested and contains restricted areas near airports and military bases, and listed villages and locations around those zones.
To reduce community concern, the Corps described visual cues residents can use to identify authorized missions: a tripod for GPS equipment, safety cones, team members in orange long-sleeve uniforms and a marked vehicle. Presenters noted that drones at operational altitudes (around 400 feet) can appear as small black dots in the sky.
The presenters reiterated data-handling practices: data are kept secure and shared only with authorized agencies and residential imagery is collected only with explicit permission or in declared emergencies. They warned that "willfully disrupting an aircraft or shooting down an aircraft including drones is a felony that can lead to imprisonment," and urged residents to report suspected activity to local or federal authorities rather than intervening.
The presentation closed with an invitation for village leaders to join a Drone Corps community group chat for advance notice of planned missions and a reminder that other private companies and recreational pilots also operate on Guam. The Corps thanked the council for the platform and said it will continue to seek transparency as drone regulations evolve.
