US States Use Drones to Predict Rockslides, Watch Wildlife

美国各州使用无人机预测山崩，观测野生动物

In the western American state of Utah, drone aircraft are flying near avalanches to watch snow crashing down from mountains.

在美国西部的犹他州，无人机正在雪崩附近飞行，观测从山上崩塌的雪体。

Drones are also being used in the southeastern United States. For example, in North Carolina, they are searching for endangered birds and the places they use to raise their young.

美国东南部也在使用无人机。例如，在北卡罗莱纳，无人机正在搜寻濒临灭绝的鸟类和它们用来养育幼鸟的地方。

Public transportation agencies are using drones in nearly every state. That information comes from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or AASHTO.

几乎每个州的公共交通机构都在使用无人机。这些信息来自美国国家公路和运输官员协会。

In a report released this month, the nonprofit group found a large increase in the use of drones over the past few years. The aircraft are also called unmanned aerial vehicles.

在本月发布的一份报告中，这家非盈利组织发现，无人机的使用在过去几年大幅增加。这种飞机也被称为“无人驾驶飞行器”。

The association’s survey found that governments as well as private citizens have accepted the technology. They include individuals who love flying model aircraft.

该协会的调查发现，政府以及普通公民都接受了这项技术。其中包括模型飞机的爱好者。

In 2016, the group found that no state transportation agency was using drones every day. Now, 36 states employ certified drone pilots.

在2016年，该组织发现，还没有任何州运输机构每天使用无人机。如今，有36个州雇佣了有执照的无人机操控员。

Jim Tymon is the executive director of the association. “You’ve seen the cost of drones come down significantly, and the capabilities that come along with some drones increase significantly as well,” he said.

吉姆·泰蒙是该协会的执行董事。他说:“无人机的成本显著下降，而且一些无人机的性能也显著提高。”

Jared Esselman is the director of aeronautics at the Utah Department of Transportation. He says that drones are valuable for all kinds of work.

贾里德·埃塞尔曼是犹他州交通部航空主管。他说无人机对各种工作都很有价值。

“We can predict not only snow slides, but mudslides and water runoff as the snow melts,” Esselman said. “Drones are a perfect tool for any job that is dangerous or dirty.”

埃塞尔曼说:“我们不仅可以预测雪崩，还能预测积雪融化引发的泥石流和洪水。无人机是处理危险或脏乱工作的完美工具。”

In North Carolina, drones are finding the nests of endangered species like the red-cockaded woodpecker, reports Basil Yap. He is the unmanned aerial systems program manager at the state’s transportation department.

巴兹尔·雅普报告称，北卡罗来纳州无人机正在搜寻濒危物种的巢穴，如红啄木鸟。他是该州交通部无人机系统项目经理。

People once used helicopters or all-terrain vehicles to inspect for evidence of woodpeckers before building new projects. But the drones can do the job quicker with fewer problems, Yap said.

雅普表示，在新项目建造前，人们曾经利用直升机或全地形汽车来检测啄木鸟的迹象。而无人机能够更快完成任务，而且遇到的问题也更少。

A number of states are beginning to explore how to create laws to control a flood of private drone traffic that is likely to come in the future. In Ohio, the state government is working on an air-traffic control system, called SkyVision, which would enable drones to recognize and avoid other aircraft in flight.

一些州开始探索如何制定法律来控制未来可能大量出现的私人无人机飞行。在俄亥俄州，州政府正在研究一种名为的空中交通管制系统，该系统可让无人机识别并避让其它飞行中的飞机。

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