A new study published in PLOS ONE tests the performance of UAV-based observation techniques in measuring pedestrian activity in two comparative settings in Santiago de Chile. Scientists developed an alternative approach of systematic behavioral observation of daily activities in the street based on the use of a UAV. They adapted the data acquisition techniques of behavior mapping to be: (1) centered on the place, (2) based on on-site observations, detailing the necessary steps in the collection of the information in the place, in the subsequent acquisition of the data, and (3) coding the data in a Geographic Information System (GIS). The method benefits from the recognized advantages of UAVs over conventional data collection techniques, such as the elevated position of the observation point, the constant speed of UAV flight, and the backup of data with the subsequent revision that the videos acquired on the flight allow.
