Three universities are combining their expertise in using drones to create vital 3-D maps to help with natural disasters.

Associate Dean of geography at TRU, Chrystal Huscroft along with specialists from UBC Okanagan and UNBC are putting their heads together to create 3-D hazard maps.

She explains way the maps are so important. “After a fire has gone through, municipalities, communities and even the province need to create, rapidly, hazard maps identifying areas where there’s people or houses or bridges or even sections of highways that are at risk and for that you need to have high precision, three dimensional maps.”

She says the maps are needed to help determine evacuation routes.

Huscroft adds drones are also saving them money in getting this crucial work done as opposed to hiring and outfitting a helicopter.