On February 26, 2025, Fair Lifts Drone Services completed an aerial survey drone project for the Indian Hammock Hunt & Riding Club, a private recreational community in Okeechobee County, Florida. The goal was to capture high-resolution imagery and evaluate the effectiveness of an October 2024 wet drone herbicide spray operation targeting invasive lygodium vines across 70 acres.
Indian Hammock Hunt & Riding Club
Indian Hammock Hunt & Riding Club, Inc
Spanning over 3,600 acres of Florida woodlands, the Indian Hammock Hunt & Riding Club is a gated private retreat offering equestrian activities, hunting, and conservation initiatives. Committed to environmental stewardship, the club prioritizes invasive species control to preserve its landscape’s biodiversity.
Initial Project: 70-Acre Wet Drone Spray for Lygodium Control
In October 2024, Fair Lifts Drone Services performed a precision aerial herbicide spray using unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to combat Lygodium microphyllum (Old World climbing fern), an invasive vine that chokes native vegetation in South Florida’s forests.
Prior to treatment, we conducted an aerial survey with our WingtraOne Gen II drone to map infestation patterns and identify high-priority zones. The operation required careful planning to address the client’s primary concerns: preventing herbicide drift near residential areas and protecting the sensitive creek ecosystem bordering the treatment zone.
Throughout the spray operation, our team navigated persistent high-wind conditions that necessitated strategic scheduling of flight windows to maintain precision application standards. We implemented 100-foot biological buffers around sensitive areas to ensure proper containment. This precision approach – guided by our initial aerial survey – achieved 98% lygodium coverage in treated zones while preventing drift beyond target areas, successfully protecting surrounding native vegetation and water resources.
Spray Objectives & Challenges
- Target lygodium-infested treetops without harming native species.
- Ensure uniform coverage despite dense foliage and uneven terrain.
- Minimize overspray and chemical waste using data-driven mapping.
- Prepare the area for future ground-based spot treatments.
Environmental Considerations
Florida’s rainy season (May–October) required precise timing—applications had to avoid rainfall to prevent herbicide dilution. Despite these hurdles, optimal weather coordination and advanced UAS technology ensured a successful operation.
Aerial Survey Drone Project: Measuring Herbicide Success
In February 2025, Fair Lifts returned to conduct a post-treatment aerial survey, validating results and providing visual insights into the spray’s efficacy.
Equipment: WingtraOne Gen II Drone
Fair Lifts’ WingtraOne Gen II Aerial Survey Drone
We deployed the WingtraOne Gen II, a VTOL drone with a 42MP camera and RTK/PPK-GNSS for centimeter-accurate orthomosaics and elevation models. High-resolution imagery revealed significant lygodium suppression.
Key Findings & Deliverables
- NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) analysis: Confirmed improved vegetation health.
- Geographic Information System (GIS) maps: Enabled long-term monitoring for future treatments.
- Tree preservation: Native species remained unharmed, proving minimal overspray.
The data confirmed our precision spraying worked, balancing ecological health while improving understory accessibility for follow-up treatments.
Why Aerial Survey Drones Are Vital for Land Management
This project underscores the value of aerial survey drones in conservation, particularly in Florida’s complex ecosystems. Drones provide:
- Efficient large-area monitoring.
- Minimal ground disturbance.
- Repeatable, scalable assessments.
- Quantifiable invasive species reduction.
- Data-driven decision-making.
WingtraOne Drone Deployment for Post-Treatment Analysis
As part of our follow-up aerial drone survey, Fair Lifts captured footage of the WingtraOne Gen II taking off and landing on-site at Indian Hammock. This short video demonstrates the precision and portability of the fixed-wing VTOL aircraft used to collect high-resolution imagery of the 70-acre treatment area.
The drone’s smooth deployment highlights the efficiency of our unmanned operations and the role advanced technology plays in modern ecological monitoring.
Fair Lifts’ Commitment to Long-Term Success
We don’t just spray—we verify. Our follow-up survey saved Indian Hammock time and resources, proving our treatment was so effective that no additional sprays were needed. By delivering actionable data, we turned their invasive species concern into a solved problem—not a recurring expense.
Partner with Fair Lifts for Your Aerial Survey Drone Project
From invasive species control to agricultural mapping, Fair Lifts Drone Services delivers precision, professionalism, and cutting-edge technology.
Contact us today or call directly at 945-253-3661 to discuss how our aerial drone solutions can elevate your land management strategy.