Tag Archives: drones

The Falkirk Mine near Underwood, North Dakota, was the first surface coal mine to operate a survey drone with approval from federal authorities. The drone is used for pre- and post-mining surveys. Photo via the Lignite Energy Council

Megan Babel: North Dakota’s Falkirk Mine Leads the Nation in Drone-Based Mine Surveying Techniques

- September 9, 2016 - ,

Megan Babel: North Dakota’s Falkirk Mine Leads the Nation in Drone-Based Mine Surveying Techniques

- September 9, 2016 - ,

It takes imagination to look at a new, mostly recreational-based technology and make a connection to its use in the coal mining industry, but the Technical Group at North American Coal’s Falkirk Mining Company did just that. Their vision helped the Falkirk Mine become the nation’s first surface coal mine to operate a survey drone…

North Dakota Law Enforcement Being Disingenuous About Potential For Armed Drones

- August 28, 2015 - ,

Earlier this week an article by Justin Glawe, a former Grand Forks Herald reporter who now writes for many different national outlets, raised some eyebrows. Glawe’s study detailed some carefully changed wording in legislation passed earlier this year which allows law enforcement in North Dakota to put non-lethal weapons on drones. That story has been met…

State House Passes Limitations On Law Enforcement Drone Use

- February 23, 2015 - ,

Last session a bill to address law enforcement use of drones failed after it ticked off law enforcement officials and cheerleaders for the drone programs at the University of North Dakota. This time around the bill, again introduced by Rep. Rick Becker (R-Bismarck), did better after some amendment. “Some in law enforcement felt it targeted…

Glawe Column: Drones Issue Doesn't Get Coverage It Deserves From ND Media

- February 11, 2014 - ,

Williston once again was given the Wild West treatment last week. This time with an evangelical twist courtesy of a local pastor and Charlie LeDuff, author of the longest obituary in American literature. If I were from North Dakota this is where the indignance would begin, but I’m not and it won’t. While LeDuff fell…

North Dakotans Get Mixed Messages About Privacy From Drones

- February 10, 2014 - ,

Late last month I wrote an article for WatchDog.org about the development of the drone industry in North Dakota and the privacy concerns surrounding it. For that article I interviewed Rep. Rick Becker, a Bismarck Republican, who saw legislation he proposed last year get steamrolled by concerns that it might hinder North Dakota’s bid to…

Drones In North Dakota Make Big Headlines After Conviction

- January 31, 2014 - ,

Farmer Rodney Brossart, whose case made big national headlines when the Nelson County Sheriff called in a US Border Patrol drone to help with his arrest, was convicted recently. Not for the original crime of cattle rustling which brought law enforcement to his doorstep but rather for his standoff with the cops. The conviction, like…

The Proponents Of Drones Want You To Stop Calling Them Drones

- June 1, 2013 -

According to this report in the Grand Forks Herald the proponents of the coming drone mission in North Dakota – state political leaders and the University of North Dakota have teamed up to push the state as a sort of national testing grounds for them – want you to stop calling the unmanned flying objects…

Drones Are Stealing North Dakota Air Space

- March 20, 2013 - ,

North Dakota blogger, and pilot, Julie Neidliner has a lengthy and detailed post about the impact on state air space of the drone research program moving in at the University of North Dakota. To date most of the concerns about drones have focused, understandably, on privacy concerns. But as a pilot, Neidlinger has a different…

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