AGRICULTURE, ANIMAL & ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
The Vertical Co. delivers monitoring workflows for agriculture, land management and research programs. Our capability includes advanced thermal operations, repeatable survey design, distance sampling analysis and GIS‑ready outputs.
Key Capabilities
Night thermal feral and wildlife monitoring
We conduct advanced night-time thermal monitoring and surveying to detect and assess feral and wildlife populations during their natural nocturnal feeding periods. Operating after dark allows more accurate detection while reducing noise disturbances that are common with other aerial methods that operate at dawn or dusk. These workflows support land managers and research teams with reliable, repeatable datasets suitable for planning control programs.
Livestock and Animal Health Observation
Our drone operations support livestock monitoring across large or difficult-to-access properties. High-resolution and thermal payloads enable remote assessment of animal distribution, welfare indicators and abnormal behaviour patterns. This reduces the need for manual patrols while improving visibility across extensive holdings.
Mapping, Inspection and Monitoring Workflows
We deliver structured aerial mapping and inspection programs tailored to agricultural and environmental environments. Applications include water infrastructure monitoring, fence-line inspections, crop assessment and general site observation. All workflows are designed to produce consistent outputs suitable for operational review or integration into GIS platform
Biosecurity-Sensitive Operations (Clean-In / Clean-Out)
We operate in environments where biosecurity controls are critical. Our teams follow documented clean-in and clean-out procedures, equipment hygiene protocols and site-specific access requirements to minimise cross-site contamination risks. This ensures alignment with agricultural research and government land management standards.
Repeatable Survey Design and Structured Reporting
Our monitoring programs are built around repeatable survey design principles, enabling consistent data collection across defined intervals. Structured flight planning and documented methodologies support long-term comparison, trend analysis and defensible reporting outcomes for research and operational decision-making.
AI-Enabled Detection & GIS Data Integration
We apply AI-assisted detection and computer vision workflows to extract actionable insights from aerial imagery, including automated identification and geolocation of animals and other defined features. Outputs are structured into GIS-compatible datasets, enabling immediate spatial review, layered analysis and integration into existing management systems. This helps to bridge the gap between data capture and operational decision-making.
Agriculture, Animal & Environmental Monitoring – FAQs
Yes. We specialise in night-time thermal monitoring where appropriate. Lots of animals are nocturnal, so monitoring them during their normal behaviour patterns can yield better results. Plus operating after dark can improve detection outcomes for certain species and reduce disturbance compared to traditional aerial methods. All night operations are conducted within approved CASA regulatory frameworks.
Survey outputs can be provided as structured reports, georeferenced imagery and GIS-ready datasets. Where AI-assisted detection is used, identified features such as animal locations can be delivered in spatial formats suitable for integration into common GIS platforms.
Yes. Our monitoring programs are designed around repeatable survey principles, allowing consistent data collection across defined intervals. This supports trend analysis, seasonal comparison and long-term program evaluation. In same cases a DiAB (Drone in a box) can be placed on site so surveys can be completed remotely a number of times to average or compare results.
Yes. We follow documented clean-in and clean-out procedures and site-specific access requirements when operating in agricultural and research environments to minimise contamination risk.
We support agricultural research stations, livestock operations, government land management programs and large rural holdings requiring structured aerial monitoring.
Yes. We provide BVLOS drone operations across Australia for agricultural and environmental monitoring programs, subject to operational approvals and site assessment. This can help improve survey outcomes by allowing us to monitor larger areas and complex sites.