Sky’s the Limit for Drone Projects at Vassar
The Vassar Innovation Lab (VIL), Vassar’s makerspace located in the basement of College Center, has recently expanded its UAV (“drone”) capabilities to include three quadcopters capable of aerial photography, videography, and capturing images for photogrammetric processing (maps and 3D renderings).
In Fall 2024, the VIL partnered with the Film department to host a drone photography and videography workshop at Sunset Lake. Students who attended that workshop later captured aerial photographs for a fine arts class project and recorded oblique aerial video of the athletic fields, which were edited into post-game highlight reels and posted on Instagram.
In Fall 2024 and Spring 2025, drone mapping workshops were held at Vassar Barns for the Hudson Valley chapter of the Society for Conservation GIS, and at the archery field for students in the Remote Sensing class (ESCI/GEOG/ 226) and other attendees. These events included a demonstration of photogrammetry processing of the captured images into a 2D map.
Other projects making use of the VIL’s drones include mapping changes in the Beaver Pond area of the Ecological Preserve, monitoring the tree planting area near Vassar Barns, and planning the Experimental Garden at the Town Houses.
Students and faculty interested in using the VIL drones to capture aerial images and video, or to perform 2D or 3D photogrammetry surveys may contact Neil Curri (necurri@vassar.edu / x7708) for more information.
Native American labyrinth inspired installation including drone photos and exhibited to ART 322 (Digital Art), by Raymond Wang, Fall 2024.
Overhead view of Experimental Garden at the Town Houses, Spring 2025.
Discussing drone flight planning for mapping at the Fall meeting of the Hudson Valley chapter of the Society for Conservation GIS at Vassar Barns in Fall 2024.
Vassar students learning the controls at the drone photography and cinematography workshop at Sunset Lake in Fall 2024.
Small image of the Phantom IV Pro v2 drone in flight.
