Project Overview

Following the devastating impact of Typhoon Mawar, many communities in Guam were left with damaged homes, destroyed furniture, and prolonged power and water outages. The aftermath brought significant challenges, but it also united the island, with extensive assistance efforts provided to those in need.

As part of the disaster response, EPA Region IX was deployed to Guam to manage several temporary dump sites where residents could dispose of damaged goods, electronics, and furniture. A crucial part of this effort was ensuring these sites were efficiently managed, properly monitored, and environmentally safe.

To support this initiative, 2cofly was contracted by the U.S. EPA Region IX and Sierra Overhead Analytics to conduct aerial monitoring of these disposal sites using advanced drone technology and multi-sensor data collection.

The Challenge

Managing multiple large-scale waste disposal sites in a post-disaster environment presents significant logistical and environmental challenges, including:

• Tracking and managing waste accumulation over time

• Ensuring efficient site organization to maximize disposal capacity

• Detecting potential environmental hazards such as fire risks and hazardous waste

• Providing real-time situational awareness to decision-makers

Traditional monitoring methods—such as ground-based inspections—would have been time-consuming, labor-intensive, and inefficient for large-scale site management. Drone technology offered a faster, safer, and more comprehensive solution.

Approach & Methodology

Frequent Aerial Monitoring2cofly deployed drones multiple times per week to capture and analyze waste site conditions using a combination of visual, thermal, and spatial data collection techniques.

Multi-sensor Data Collection Each site was documented using various drone-mounted sensors, providing a multi-dimensional perspective for environmental monitoring:

• Aerial Photos – Provided a bird’s-eye view for situational awareness

• Orthomosaic Mapping – Created a high-resolution, georeferenced map for comprehensive site analysis and volume tracking

• 360° Photos – Captured immersive site visuals for remote stakeholders

• Thermal Imaging – Identified potential fire hazards and dangerous temperature hotspots

By integrating these different data types, EPA Region IX could efficiently monitor and manage each disposal site, track changes over time, and make informed operational decisions.

Results & Project Impact

Enhanced Situational Awareness By providing regular aerial updates, 2cofly gave EPA officials real-time visibility into site conditions, allowing them to assess waste accumulation, site capacity, and potential risks.

Improved Environmental Safety

Thermal imaging allowed for early detection of dangerous heat zones, helping to prevent fires or hazardous material incidents in high-risk areas.

Faster & More Efficient Monitoring

Drone-based surveillance eliminated the need for manual ground inspections, significantly reducing time and labor costs while covering larger areas with greater accuracy.

Historical Documentation & Analysis

By capturing frequent aerial data, EPA Region IX could track waste movement over time, document cleanup efforts, and ensure compliance with environmental safety regulations.

Conclusion

This project showcased the critical role of drones in disaster recovery efforts, particularly in environmental monitoring, waste site management, and hazard detection. By leveraging advanced aerial imaging and data analysis, 2cofly provided EPA Region IX with the tools needed to efficiently manage Guam’s disaster response waste sites.

For government agencies, environmental organizations, and emergency response teams requiring high-precision aerial monitoring, thermal imaging, or site mapping, 2cofly offers scalable drone solutions to enhance efficiency, safety, and decision-making.

2cofly (pronounced Ecofly) is Micronesia's leading drone service and education provider. Our core competency lies in remote sensing via various sensing technologies such as photogrammetry, LiDAR, thermal and more.

Few key deliverables we can output with our drones & sensors:

• Orthomosaic Mapping (+ Planimetric Mapping)

• Topographic Mapping (via LiDAR & photogrammetry)

• General LiDAR Mapping (land feasibility study, power line, etc)

• Aerial Inspection

• Aerial Magnetometry (underground metal detection)

• Thermal Map (radiometric)

We are also the largest drone training and education provider, offering:

• Online Course

• In-person workshops

• Custom curriculums for students and professionals

Schedule a free consultation

(671) 988-1532 | dwl@2cofly.com