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The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), through the Agricultural Engineering Division (BPI-AED), organized a Training on Drone Operations held at the BPI – Los Baños National Crop Research, Development, and Production Support Center (BPI-LBNCRDPSC) from April 28 to 30, 2025.

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The training aimed to equip BPI staff with knowledge of drone operations and their applications in agriculture. Participants included representatives from the BPI Crop Research and Production Support Division (BPI-CRPSD), Crop Pest Management Division (BPI-CPMD), National Plant Quarantine Services Division (BPI-NPQSD), BPI Guimaras NCRDPSC, BPI Los Baños NCRDPSC, and the AED.

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The training commenced on April 29, 2025, with a simple opening program led by Dr. Joel L. Adorada, Officer-in-Charge of BPI-LBNCRDPSC. After a warm welcome and introductions, participants took a pre-test to assess their existing knowledge of drone operations and applicable regulations.

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The first lecture featured Mr. Justin Marc D.S. Sontillanosa, a Geodetic Engineer and licensed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) pilot. He discussed Aerial LiDAR Mapping and Data Processing, along with relevant regulations issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). Following the discussion, participants proceeded to a live flight demonstration and practical drone operation. The drone used was a DJI Matrice 350 RTK, equipped with a DJI Zenmuse L2 LiDAR payload. The DJI Zenmuse L2 is an advanced aerial LiDAR system that integrates a high-precision LiDAR module, a self-developed inertial measurement unit (IMU), and a 20MP RGB mapping camera, all mounted on a 3-axis gimbal. Designed for professional applications such as surveying, forestry, and infrastructure inspection, it delivers high accuracy and operational efficiency.

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Each participant had the opportunity to operate the drone and practice various flight patterns commonly used in CAAP certification exams. The hands-on session also covered the setup, disassembly, and storage of the drone and its Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) system.

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After the practical session, Mr. Sontillanosa demonstrated the use of software such as Google Earth Pro and DJI Terra for processing images captured during drone flights. He also discussed recommended settings and parameters for effective flight planning and map generation.

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The training was deemed successful, as participants were encouraged to apply the skills and knowledge gained toward future BPI initiatives, particularly in mapping BPI properties and centers, assessing production output potential, and supporting applications such as pest monitoring and surveillance.

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