[et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_header admin_label=”Fullwidth Header” title=”Tracking migration In Haiti” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”center” header_fullscreen=”off” header_scroll_down=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” content_orientation=”center” image_orientation=”center” custom_button_one=”off” button_one_letter_spacing=”0″ button_one_use_icon=”default” button_one_icon_placement=”right” button_one_on_hover=”on” button_one_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ custom_button_two=”off” button_two_letter_spacing=”0″ button_two_use_icon=”default” button_two_icon_placement=”right” button_two_on_hover=”on” button_two_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ header_image_url=”http:\/\/cusjc.ca\/drones\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/shoe-in-Canaan.gif” subhead=”In Haiti, cartographer Pressler Jean uses his UAV to track the migration of people displaced after the earthquake in 2010″] [\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n
On a hot, humid and blustery day on the outskirts of Port-Au-Prince, Pressler Jean keenly studies the map on his laptop. The program he is using to program his UAV is informing him that the conditions won\u2019t be optimal for flying.<\/p>\n
Despite the warnings, the 29-year-old walks over to the case that contains the UAV he plans to fly. He reaches down and flips the latches keeping it closed. The lid opens with a click, and he pulls out the pieces of UAV he will be launching.<\/p>\n
He first he slides the wings into place. Next comes the rudder and nose propeller. Finally, he turns on a small digital camera before inserting it into a compartment in the UAV\u2019s body. Jean briefly checks his laptop and types in a few more coordinates before walking out into the middle of the field to launch the aircraft.<\/p>\n
![\"Pressler-putting-drone-together\"](\"http:\/\/cusjc.ca\/drones\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Pressler-putting-drone-together.gif\")
Pressler Jean assembles his UAV for a mapping flight over Canaan. Photo \u00a9 Matthew Allen.<\/p><\/div>\n
He looks up. It doesn\u2019t look like the wind will be calming anytime soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll still give it a try,\u201d he says with a shrug.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf anything goes wrong, the UAV will come back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Three shakes and the UAV jolts to life with a beep, the propeller attached to its nose beginning to spin. Jean positions himself to launch the UAV facing into the wind, helping the plane\u2019s wings achieve maximum lift. Then, in one smooth motion, he casts his tool into the air.<\/p>\n
After pausing for a few moments to make sure that the UAV has successfully begun its flight, Jean walks back to the laptop. He taps the laptop anxiously and frowns. Just as he suspected, the wind will be cutting his flight short, and he won\u2019t be able to gather the pictures necessary to complete the day\u2019s mapping.<\/p>\n
The UAV flies back on the same path that it was launched, sliding to a smooth halt on the lush Haitian grass. Jean runs out to collect the machine, and downloads what precious data he was able to gather into his laptop.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis happens sometimes,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to come back tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0Maps telling a story<\/h2>\n