Field Master Systems

27/08/2026

Serrated tussock is one w**d worth getting onto before spring.

Even small patches can become a much bigger problem once plants mature and seed spreads.

Agriculture Victoria recommends spraying serrated tussock between February and October, so late winter is still a good time to identify problem areas and plan treatment.

If you’ve got serrated tussock on your property, get in touch with the Field Master Systems team to discuss the best time to spray.

https://www.fieldmastersystems.com.au/contact

Want to use drones for your next project but don't know where to start? Get in touch with our friendly team today to see how we can help you.

25/08/2026

Our next Field Master Systems newsletter goes out this Friday.

We send the newsletter every couple of months with a round-up of what the team has been working on, recent projects and a few things we’ve learnt along the way.

If you’d like to keep up with what we’re doing, you can sign up below

https://fieldmastersystems.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ed0eb2bcb5df86b7955ac666a&id=0889e7b9c2

20/08/2026

WeedSmart recently shared an interesting update on spray drones, particularly for wet conditions where ground equipment can’t easily access paddocks.

We see a similar benefit on steep or difficult terrain. Drones aren’t right for every job, but in the right conditions they can make w**d control much simpler.

With spring approaching, we’re starting to plan upcoming spray work.

Read more: https://www.w**dsmart.org.au/content/drone-spraying-and-spreading-technology-update/

Will agricultural drones become a routine spraying option on farms, or will they remain as a wet weather backup option?

17/08/2026

If you know you’ll need w**d spraying this spring or early summer, it’s worth getting in touch now.

Once the weather starts warming up, w**ds can move quickly and our spraying calendar starts to get busier too.

Timing also depends on having the right weather conditions to spray, so knowing about your project early gives us more flexibility to find a suitable window and get the work done at the right time.

If you’ve got areas that will need attention over the next few months, get in touch and have a chat with the team.
https://www.fieldmastersystems.com.au/contact

Want to use drones for your next project but don't know where to start? Get in touch with our friendly team today to see how we can help you.

06/08/2026

Here is a snapshot of what we detected during a recent thermal drone survey in Caveat.

Across around 143 hectares, our team detected:
13 koalas
5 brushtail possums
2 ringtail possums
1 Krefft’s glider
29 Sambar deer
1 Fallow deer

We also spotted wombats, an echidna and a swamp wallaby.

When a heat signature appears, the pilot can leave the flight line, move closer, confirm the species using the zoom camera and spotlight, then save the exact GPS location before continuing the survey.

A great way to build a clearer picture of what is moving through the bush at night.

31/07/2026

Missed our webinar on drone-based wildlife surveys? The recording is now available.
Our Chief Remote Pilot, John Davison, explains how thermal drone surveys are planned, where they fit within ecological projects and the kind of information they can provide.

He also goes through the survey outputs, including flight paths, animal detections, GPS locations, captured images and GIS files that can be viewed in Google Earth.

Watch the recording here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfQGHOiCLQc

Drone-based thermal wildlife surveys are becoming an increasingly v...

29/07/2026

This project in Caveat, north-east Victoria, shows some of the planning and technology behind a drone-based animal survey.

We were engaged by the Strathbogie Ranges CMN to survey around 143 hectares of privately owned native forest, with the Southern Greater Glider as the focal species.

The area was split across seven separate survey zones. Each boundary was mapped in Google Earth before a flight plan was prepared to make sure the entire area was covered consistently.

During the night survey, thermal cameras, zoom cameras, spotlights and laser rangefinders were then used to help detect and confirm arboreal mammals across the site.

It's the combination of mapping, flight planning and the right sensor mix that makes these surveys so effective.

The image shows an example of what the pilots see in thermal vision

22/07/2026

What do you receive after a drone-based animal survey?

The survey data can be loaded into Google Earth, allowing you to view the area flown, the drone’s flight path and the exact location of each animal detected.

You can zoom into the site, click on individual detections and view the GPS coordinates and images captured during the survey.

It provides a clear visual record of what was found and exactly where it was located across the site.

Here’s a quick screen recording showing how it works.

15/07/2026

Winter is a good time to start planning spring w**d control.

Drone mapping can identify the exact location and size of infestations before spraying begins - including patches that may be difficult to see from ground level.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆, 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱.

For w**ds such as 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲, which is best treated in spring before it seeds, doing the groundwork now, in winter, can make the treatment program much more effective.

14/07/2026

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿! 🦉

𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟮:𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗺 𝗔𝗘𝗦𝗧, our Chief Remote Pilot, John Davison, will be presenting a practical webinar with the Ecological Society of Australia.

Johno will share insights from real-world projects, covering survey design, detection strengths and limitations, and how drone-based thermal surveys support ecological decision-making.

We'd love to see you there.

Register here:

Presenter John Davison Chief Remote Pilot, Field Master Systems Webinar Overview: Drone-based thermal wildlife surveys are becoming an increasingly valuable tool for ecologists looking to efficiently survey large, complex or hard-to-access sites. In this practical webinar, John Davison (Chief Remote...