Drones in Biosecurity

Drone technology has become a valuable tool in international biosecurity, providing safer, faster and more comprehensive surveillance than many traditional inspection methods. While drones cannot replace trained biosecurity inspectors, they significantly improve the ability to detect, monitor and document biosecurity risks across ports, vessels, offshore facilities, industrial projects, hard to access areas, and remote environments.

Key Applications of Drones in International Biosecurity
  
 1. Vessel Biosecurity Inspections
Drones allow inspectors to examine areas of vessels that are difficult, dangerous or expensive to access, including:

Mooring decks
Cargo holds (where safe and permitted)
Hatch covers
Superstructure
Crane structures
Accommodation roofs
Lifeboat areas
Funnel and exhaust platforms
This assists in identifying:

Bird nesting
Rodent harbourage
Standing water
Accumulated organic matter
Potential insect breeding sites
Evidence of invasive species
 
2. Offshore Sail-Away Inspections
One of the fastest growing applications is supporting offshore inspections before cargo departs for Australia.

Drones provide rapid documentation of:

Fabrication yards
Module laydown areas
Heavy lift preparations
Transport routes
Loading operations
Cargo cleanliness
Vegetation management
Drainage systems
High-resolution imagery creates an auditable record demonstrating that biosecurity risks were appropriately managed before shipment.

 3. Port Surveillance
Drones can routinely monitor:

Wharf infrastructure
Cargo storage areas
Bulk material stockpiles
Timber storage
Laydown yards
Quarantine zones
Perimeter fencing

Potential risks include:

Weed infestations
Standing water
Bird activity
Rodent habitats
Vegetation encroachment
 
4. Shipping Container Inspections
Before containers are loaded, drones can rapidly inspect:

Container roofs
Upper corner castings
External contamination
Mud accumulation
Bird droppings
Organic debris
This is particularly useful when inspecting large volumes of containers within tight schedules.

 5. Environmental Monitoring
Biosecurity extends well beyond imported cargo.

Drones can monitor:

Mangrove health
Wetlands
Waterways
Coastal vegetation
Waste areas
Stormwater systems
These environments often act as reservoirs for invasive pests.