Includes bibliographical references and index.

From radio controlled model aircraft to drones -- Aquatic vegetation monitoring with UAS -- Unmanned aerial vehicles for riverine environments -- Low-Cost UAVs for environmental monitoring, mapping, and modelling of the coastal zone -- Unmanned aerial system applications to coastal environments -- UAV image acquisition using structure from motion to visualise a coastal dune system -- Monitoring, mapping, and modelling saltmarsh with UAVs -- Autonomous UAV-based insect monitoring -- UAV imagery to monitor, map, and model a vineyard canopy to aid the application of precision viticulture to small-area vineyards -- Forest ecosystem monitoring using unmanned aerial systems -- Monitoring oil and gas pipelines with small UAV systems -- Drone-based imaging in archaeology : current applications and future prospects -- Unmanned aerial system (UAS) applications in the built environment : towards automated building inspection procedures using drones -- The application of UAVs to inform coastal area management -- From land to sea : monitoring the underwater environment with drone technology -- A question of UAS ground control : frequency and distribution -- Launch and recovery system for improved fixed-wing UAV deployment in complex environments. "In response to the rapidly evolving technology and applications UAS technology, this book discusses both UAV and similar systems' platforms and environmental applications. The platforms and sensors provide the setting while the applications chapters are focused on the environment from monitoring to mapping. The book also addresses the constraints placed on the use of the technology in some circumstances e.g. safety, invasion of privacy etc. The book provides a comprehensive overview on a rapidly developing area of technology"--