Imagine a future where our farms thrive, animals are healthier, and communities are stronger. Achieving this starts with preventing, controlling, and eradicating animal and zoonotic diseases. Protecting animal health is key to building a resilient and sustainable livestock industry. Established in 1888, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) in Malaysia has been dedicated to controlling both exotic and domestic animal diseases, a mission that is now enshrined in the nation’s Constitution.
Recently, we had the opportunity to collaborate with DVS to improve their animal trace and track monitoring. While DVS has traditionally relied on manual methods like camera traps, these techniques can be time-consuming, limited by terrain, and hard to access. This often slows data collection and delays action. By integrating advanced drone technology, we are now able to provide DVS with faster, more accurate data collection, helping them make quicker, more informed decisions.
Understanding DVS's requirements, Aonic carefully selected three key pieces of equipment to support their trace and track monitoring efforts. We chose these specific tools and software — the DJI Matrice 350 RTK, DJI Zenmuse H30T, and DJI Pilot 2 — because of their proven capabilities to optimize operations and address the challenges that DVS previously faced in the field.
Equipment & Uses
The DJI Matrice 350 RTK is more than just a drone — it’s a game-changer for animal monitoring and inspection. Equipped with RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) positioning, it delivers centimeter-level accuracy, ensuring precise data collection even in the most challenging terrains. Whether navigating through dense forests, uneven landscapes, or remote areas, this drone’s dual-vision sensors and night-vision FPV camera enable continuous operation, day or night. The night-vision capability allows for effective animal monitoring in low-light conditions, providing clear imagery and data even in the dark, where traditional methods fail. Its long flight time, robust payload capacity, and advanced obstacle avoidance ensure that operations remain consistent and reliable, regardless of the environment. By streamlining data collection, the Matrice 350 RTK empowers teams to focus on in-depth analysis and swift decision-making. Whether it’s tracking wildlife in remote locations or conducting health inspections of livestock, this drone not only enhances accuracy but also elevates the efficiency of monitoring and inspection processes, making it an indispensable tool for better, faster, and more informed outcomes.
The DJI Zenmuse H30T is a remarkable camera system that takes animal monitoring and inspection to the next level. With its high-resolution thermal imaging and 4K optical zoom camera, it offers unparalleled precision and clarity in tracking animals, even in challenging environments. Whether it’s detecting heat signatures of wildlife in dense forests or scanning vast open areas for livestock, the H30T delivers real-time, actionable insights. The thermal capabilities allow for night-time monitoring, identifying animals in the dark, and even spotting potential health issues such as fever or injury that may otherwise go unnoticed. Paired with its advanced zoom function, the camera enables operators to monitor from a safe distance, reducing the risk of disturbing wildlife or creating unnecessary stress for animals. Its seamless integration with the DJI Matrice 350 RTK ensures that the captured thermal and visual data is accurately geo-tagged and ready for immediate analysis. With the Zenmuse H30T, tracking and inspecting animals becomes not only more efficient but also more insightful, empowering teams to make faster, data-driven decisions and improve animal welfare on a whole new scale.
The DJI Pilot 2 is an advanced flight control software designed to enhance the efficiency and precision of animal monitoring, inspection, and conservation operations. Compatible with the DJI Matrice 350 RTK and installable on the DJI RC Plus remote controller, this powerful system offers an intuitive interface, real-time data processing, and intelligent flight planning capabilities. Operators can effortlessly set up and manage automated flight paths, allowing the drone to follow precise, pre-programmed routes—ideal for consistent wildlife tracking or livestock monitoring. With dual-screen support and comprehensive mission planning tools, DJI Pilot 2 streamlines field operations, reduces manual workload, and significantly improves the accuracy and reliability of animal health assessments and environmental surveys.
Point of Interest
We also understand that DVS manages two distinct ecosystems vital for animal stability and habitat: the forest and plantation environments. To effectively carry out this monitoring mission, we have designated these two habitats as key points of interest. The primary goal of focusing on the forest is to track animal movement within the natural habitat, while the plantation serves as a site to monitor farm animal movement and assess the condition of the plantation.
According to DVS, there are three main subjects that require regular monitoring and inspection: farm animals, to assess their condition, movement, and habitat; wildlife, to track their presence within plantation areas; and humans, to monitor human activity within these areas. Recognizing the importance of these concerns, we have incorporated all three subjects into our list of key points of interest, as they are critical to the success of the monitoring efforts.
Mission Execution
To execute the mission, we integrated all three pieces of equipment and associated software to ensure the collection of highly reliable data for further inspection by DVS, enabling faster decision-making.
With the use of DJI Pilot 2, personnel can easily create flight paths for the drone and allow it to execute missions autonomously. Additionally, one of the key benefits of DJI Pilot 2 is its live streaming capability, providing real-time video feeds. This feature is essential for organizations that require rapid responses, allowing them to address potential issues effectively before they escalate into more complex problems.
With the powerful capabilities of the DJI Matrice 350 RTK paired with the DJI H30T camera payload, DVS can stream live video feeds directly from the H30T camera. The H30T's highly capable camera provides crisp, high-resolution images, ensuring clear and detailed viewing. This combination of thermal and visual sensors makes it an ultimate solution for animal trace and track monitoring, offering exceptional situational awareness in both day and night conditions. It also makes tracing and tracking lost farm animals more efficient, especially at night, where visibility is often limited. The integration of these technologies provides DVS with an aerial perspective, enabling efficient coverage of expansive plantation areas and significantly enhancing the overall monitoring process.
The integration of these advanced capabilities, including aerial viewing, not only enhances monitoring but also acts as a deterrent to potential intruders with harmful intentions, such as stealing farm animals for personal gain. By providing a comprehensive aerial perspective, this technology adds an extra layer of security to plantation and forest areas. This shift from traditional methods, such as camera traps, to aerial surveillance can significantly streamline DVS operations, improving efficiency and effectiveness in the future.
Conclusion
Unlike traditional methods, the Matrice 350 RTK drone can efficiently cover large plantation areas in a fraction of the time, providing comprehensive data collection from hard-to-reach locations. With the Zenmuse H30T, data can be gathered from a long distance without disturbing wildlife, ensuring a non-intrusive monitoring process. This solution is particularly effective in inaccessible areas, such as high-altitude terrains, hazardous zones, and dense forests, enabling DVS to operate in environments that were previously challenging.
In conclusion, while traditional animal monitoring methods have proven effective, they often come with the drawback of being time-consuming and requiring human presence on-site. This can complicate DVS operations and delay response times. By integrating drones and advanced equipment into their processes, DVS can streamline operations, improve the quality of data collected, and enhance their overall credibility in monitoring farm animals, wildlife, and plantation sites. This shift allows for faster decision-making and more accurate insights, ultimately making DVS’s work more efficient and impactful than before.
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