Much has been written in the last 5-10 years about unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as ""drones," being used in military operations. Global positioning systems (GPS) also had their start in military applications, but now the technology is being used in myriad civilian applications as well. Unmanned aerial vehicle technology could well follow a similar path, particularly in natural resource management, where we often work in rugged, hard to access landscapes, and where data collected aerially supports some very useful forest management tools.

In February, a half-day workshop titled "Drones for Forestry" will introduce participants to unmanned aerial vehicle technology, so they can consider possible applications that would improve forest management in Idaho. The three primary speakers for the program -  Lee Vierling, Eva Strand, and Jan Eitel are all faculty in the University of Idaho Dept. of Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Sciences. The program will be held on Friday, February 27, 2015, 1:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the University of Idaho Extension Office in Kootenai County, 1808 N. 3rd Street in Coeur d'Alene. Those wishing to participate should pre-register by Feb. 20.

Registration is limited to 45 people, and a $15 registration fee covers resource materials and refreshments. For registration questions, contact the University of Idaho Extension Office in Kootenai County at 208-446-1680. A registration form for the program can also be downloaded at http://www.uidaho.edu/extension/forestry. The program is co-sponsored by University of Idaho Extension and the Idaho Department of Lands.