What is available?
As of 2026, Carleton’s Academic Technology owns two drones:
- DJI Inspire 2 (cinematic)
- Autel Evo II Rugged (thermal)
Why might this be useful?
Examples of drone use in higher education:
- Capturing aerial footage for film classes
- Collecting geography and archeological data for mapping
- Teaching mapping or surveying techniques
- Gathering environmental video for research of rivers, crop growth, erosion, pollution, habitat, etc.
- Studying engineering or architecture of existing buildings or current construction projects
- Inspecting difficult to reach locations or objects
- Creating an interactive map or tour
- … and more!
How can I use them at Carleton?
If you have a project in mind or just some drone related questions, consider reaching out for a consultation with Dann Hurlbert.
Examples of projects incorporating drone use at Carleton:
(Photo credit: Harry Pound)
Articles about drone use in education:
- Drones in Geoscience SERC article from In the Trenches
- Drones in Higher Education article, with examples, from Adorama.
- Drones in Education article, with examples, from International Journal of Latest Engineering Research and Applications.
- Review of Drones in STEM education article from Science Direct.
Carleton Drone Policy Information
Carleton College’s Unmanned Aircraft Policy allows FAA Certified UAS pilots to fly a drone on campus “for the benefit of the college community.”
Faculty/staff who are FAA certified pilots may check out one of the ITS drones through Academic Technology. Faculty/staff who are not certified may collaborate with Dann Hurlbert, an Academic Technology staff member and FAA Certified UAS pilot, for a variety of research purposes or classroom projects.
When the appropriate criteria are met within the college’s UAS Policy, and after the risk manager grants written permission, faculty and staff may also fly their own drones or bring in an outside vendor for drone work.