When most people think of drones, they’ll probably think of the flying machines that hail indiscriminate death down across the Middle East. But not Ben Kreimer. For him they are a way of seeing the world in a new and exciting light, and occasionally for doing a bit of accidental journalism along the way.
Even at a young age, Ben was doing things differently. He made his own toys from wood and metal, so when he was told he’d have to build his own brackets to hold cameras under drones, he leapt at the chance.
“When the drone thing came around I was getting a degree in journalism. Not because I wanted to become reporter but because I’m curious, I like exploring the world and seeing things and experiencing things.”
And he has indeed explored the world with his drones, from filming urban crocodiles in India to chasing endangered species in Tanzania and mapping landfills in Kenya. But of them all, his favourite is the Drone Safari.
“I’d never been on a safari before so being able to see the animals, to be able to film them, was really exciting.
“Doing it was fun and then people’s reactions to it afterwards. Most people have seen pictures and video of these animals, but when people see it from this perspective, flying around a giraffe’s head? They get a kick out of it. It’s the same story, but from a new perspective. That’s what I like about it.”
The challenges of drone journalism
Drone journalism is not without its own unique challenges. In 2014 the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) told the University of Nebraska they didn’t have permission to fly drones, and had to apply for it, and was just the beginning for Ben.
“In the past year I’ve spent more time in India and Kenya than the US, and now both countries have explicitly said that civilians can’t use drones without permission from the defence branch. So that makes it hard, as I don’t want to break those regulations as a foreigner. I think the issue is foreigners coming in and flying around for fun.”
The landfill
Whilst in Kenya he used a drone to map a landfill, but that could be just the beginning. The air around the landfill is full of pollutants, enough to cause respiratory problems if you’re around it long enough.
“I was thinking of building an air pollution sensor. You could fly that around the dump, and around the area around the dump and see what we’re breathing. How’s the pollution travelling out, and can we visualise that data and show a three dimensional plume of bad air that emanates from the dump? And can you do that elsewhere?”
Ben remains adamant that the laws that are currently causing him so many problems won’t be around for very long, and in the mean time he already has ambitious plans to work with UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and make 3D models of historical sites around the world. But, as always, his reasoning is refreshingly plain.
“It’s 2015 and why can’t we look at a three dimensional model of the Angkor Wat? I think it’s time for that. I get interested in things when I realise they’re possible. I like travelling just to go to a new place and see how things are there.
“Now’s a good time to get into the journalism part too. As far as I know there are only two universities in the US that are looking into that. But you have to go do something with it.”