OSPRI NZ has released this RFI to obtain information from the market to support the possible funding of a field pilot that will assess the feasibility of a drone platform using thermal imaging to confirm possum density assessment in comparison to OSPRI's well established on-ground surveillance methods. This is to ensure that the data collected can be validated against known methods and possum numbers.

A critical goal for OSPRI NZ is the eradication of bovine TB within New Zealand and is orientated through reducing populations of possums to levels where the bovine TB persistence and transmission cycle is broken, and the disease is ultimately eradicated. However, determining possum densities in remote locations is a significant challenge.

We propose to test the markets feasibility for supporting this innovative solution using thermal imaging drones to undertake possum density assessment in parallel with our BAU methods for undertaking density assessment.

Our current understanding is that drones are likely to become increasingly important for monitoring vector species in more open remote habitats, especially as possum densities fall.