No longer just a hobby

Drones started as a hobby for Jason Bell. Once people caught word, he was asked to do a number of favors. Before long, he created his own business, BellTography, in Kalona, in order to help out more people.

Bell's story is not unique. Many people started in the drone business as a hobby. From sheriff's departments to farms, many are jumping on the trend of this new technology.

Bell said there are three main uses for drones: creative work, public safety and data collection. For his business, data collection is his specialty.

'We do a lot of work with seed companies to see how farms are working with their seeds,” he said.

By sending a drone overhead, Bell is able to map where the seed is working best which helps the company determine how well their product is working. Farmers have utilized his services for checking on crops.

Usually, a spot check is performed, where only a portion of the field is inspected. With the drone, Bell is able to show them a much larger area.

'By flying overhead, we are more thorough and are able to pinpoint exactly where the problem is,” he said.

This is especially helpful for farmers with automated systems because the drone is able to feed that information to the machine, and the problem areas can be addressed easily.

Nick Freeman, owner of Hedge Farm Aerials near Lockridge, got into drones about five years ago as a way to help out around the family farm. With so much acreage and so little time, he was looking for an easier way to get photos to narrow down where problem areas were and how they could be addressed.

With a full-time job, that was not easy to do on foot. Using drones was much faster and more effective, he said.

Construction and landscape companies also use drone services, Bell said.

Those looking for topographical mapping or looking to build out use the drone to get images to see what the land looks like from a different angle. Construction monitoring is a popular request as it allows contractors to show the progress of their work as well as keep track of the materials on site.

Freeman said his company takes lots of photos, especially before and after shots. Construction companies as well as homeowners like to see the difference and by using the drone, they are able to get an angle they cannot on land.

Many people use them for gifts as well, he said. Aerial shots of farms are a popular request.

In Jefferson County, Deputy Jerry Marcellus with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department said public safety is what he uses a drone for. The department has had one for a little over two years and has used it for a multitude of things.

'We've used it for missing people searches, fugitive searches, things like that,” he said.

Drone usage is becoming more popular in jurisdictions, he said. In order to operate the drone, the officer must be certified through the Federal Aviation Administration and receive an unmanned pilot certificate. This must be done every two years.

'It's not actually pilot training, but it's through the same organization,” Freeman said, mentioning he has been licensed for two years.

Because the drone shares airspace with aircrafts, operators must be certified in order to go above 400 feet.

Being able to use drones instead of manpower not only saves time, but money. Traditionally, all this work would be done via aerial helicopters, which can get costly, Bell said.

'That get's expensive when you're talking about fueling an aircraft,” he said.

The drone is not only easier to fly at low altitudes but less time consumptive and more cost effective.

'It usually takes a lot longer to get answers when using a helicopter than you can get with flying a drone overhead,” he said.

Marcellus said the department has used the drone along the river, in wooded areas and in big cornfields where accessibility is an issue.

'It gets us into places that are hard to get into just on foot,” he said. 'We can get into places so quickly.”

In the last two years, the department has used the drone in eight separate operations.

'It's been very helpful for us,” he said.

Although drones are still considered new technology, Bell said they are a simple, cost effective new way of doing things.

'It's really not complicated. What we do is an extension of what's always been done. We are just using a new tool to get the job done,” he said.

Freeman agreed, adding that although they have many commercial uses, flying drones can be used for a variety of fun experiences as well.

'They can be a great tool to get information from and can really help a family get up and get active and see the world from a new perspective,” he said.