“Fullerton’s Skies Abuzz with Drones: What’s Behind the Aerial Invasion?”

Fullerton College is training nearly 200 students annually to become certified drone operators, as the use of drones becomes more common. The college offers a basic piloting course where students learn how to fly a drone and get certified to do it. More advanced classes train students in specialties like thermal imaging, LiDAR 3D mapping and scanning, precision agriculture to identify vegetation and crop health, journalism, and cinematography. There are also classes on how to build and repair drones. Fullerton College’s drone thermal imaging class is working with UC Irvine’s Cal Plug Program, funded by the Department of Energy, to train students to identify building efficiency with drones. It helps companies cut costs in their energy expenses.