The University of New Brunswick recently received a $98,271 grant from the Canadian federal government for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) research project.

University Professor Howard Li and his research team are developing new UAV equipment to measure, monitor and manage Canada's forests. These vehicles will be able to monitor pest outbreak and take aerial surveys in a more cost-effective manner and with less risk to humans and the environment.

Moncton Flight College will be collaborating with Professor Li's team on training, leading the way in developing a certification program for the next generation of UAV operators in the Atlantic Canada region.

The grant is part of the federal government's investment of $27 million for tools and infrastructure at 37 universities across the country through the Canada Foundation for Innovation's (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund. An additional $8.1 million will go to covering a portion of the operational costs of CFI-funded infrastructure on these campuses.