Every flight we take teaches us something new about how technology fits within nature. Sometimes it's visible in the footage, and other times it's what we don't see or hear that matters the most. For our first feature in the Research in Flight series, we're honored to highlight Saadia Afridi, a PhD researcher with the WildDrone Project and the University of Southern Denmark, whose work is helping shape how drones can operate more quietly and responsibly around wildlife.
Saadia's research sits at the intersection of engineering and conservation. With a background in aerospace engineering, she first studied how jet engines perform under extreme conditions. Over time, that focus shifted from how powerful machines can be to how quietly they can move through the world. Her work now explores how the sound and flight behavior of drones affect wildlife, bringing together acoustic science, behavioral observation, and environmental ethics to create a foundation for responsible flight.
"I have always been fascinated by how technology can support nature rather than disrupt it. When I came across this PhD project, it opened up a completely new perspective. It brought engineering and conservation together in a way that felt meaningful."
Understanding the Sound of Flight
Saadia's recent study, Wildlife Responses to Drone Noise: An Integrated Approach for Single and Dual Drone Flights, took place at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. She and her team measured how different flight heights, paths, and drone combinations influenced the behavior of zebras and giraffes. The research used DJI Mavic 3 series aircrafts, including the Mavic 3 Pro and Mavic 3T, and operated between 20 and 75 meters (65 to 245 feet) above ground.
Ground microphones recorded each flight's sound pressure levels, while trained observers monitored animal reactions such as vigilance, alert posture, and avoidance movement. The results showed that noise intensity alone did not explain behavioral changes. Instead, the sound's tonal structure and the way drones moved through the air were key factors.
Saadia explained:
"At lower altitudes, zebras often became more vigilant, while giraffes tended to remain still but alert. Dual-drone flights increased overall noise by about 5 to 8 decibels and created overlapping frequencies that extended alert behavior. Even moderate levels could cause visible responses when tonal peaks or abrupt direction changes occurred."
Her work demonstrates that minimizing disturbance requires both acoustic understanding and flight awareness. Higher altitudes generally reduced behavioral responses, but even that depended on approach angle and hover time. Some species were more sensitive to drone sound during specific activities such as feeding or resting.
Visualizing the Data
The relationship between altitude and behavior becomes clear when viewed through Saadia's results. In her Behavioral Response vs. Drone Altitude chart, each point represents a flight trial. Responses ranged from calm observation (score 0–1) to full avoidance (score 5). Single-drone flights above 60 meters (197 feet) typically stayed below a response score of 2, while dual-drone operations below 30 meters (98 feet) produced the strongest vigilance and avoidance reactions.
A companion acoustic graph illustrates the sound-pressure levels of the Mavic 3 Pro across multiple altitudes. As height increased, tonal peaks dropped sharply, confirming that small altitude changes can shift mechanical frequencies out of the range that triggers stress responses in many animals. Together, these visuals capture a simple, but important message: height and consistency reduce impact.
Designing Drones that Listen
Saadia's research goes beyond describing noise effects; it points toward the future of drone design. She studies bio-inspired propeller shapes, slower blade speeds, and new materials that dampen specific frequencies. Each approach targets a different part of the acoustic spectrum. Some reduce the overall volume, while others minimize the tonal peaks that most often cause startle or alert behavior.
"The next phase of drone design will focus much more on being quiet and considerate. Researchers are developing acoustic models that estimate a drone's sound footprint and use it to plan or even adjust flight paths in real time."
This idea of acoustically aware drones is one of the most promising directions in her field. These systems can predict how sound travels across a landscape and use that data to plan quieter routes automatically. Drones could one day adapt mid-flight to wind or terrain to limit sound exposure for nearby wildlife.
At Suave Droning, this vision aligns naturally with how we operate. We already plan our environmental missions with multiple layers of awareness: spatial, thermal, and ecological. Adding acoustic awareness is the next step. We see the importance of using Saadia's work as a model for how commercial operators can merge technical precision with environmental responsibility.
Defining Responsible Flight
When we asked Saadia what responsible drone use means to her, she said it begins with intent and preparation:
"Every flight should have a clear goal, and be carried out in a way that minimizes stress for animals and disruption to their habitat. It's about knowing how different species respond, keeping safe altitudes and distances, and avoiding sensitive times like breeding or resting periods."
Our own field practices mirror that philosophy. Before each mission, we study local species activity and environmental conditions. We avoid hovering near wildlife, maintain both vertical and horizontal buffers, and keep flight patterns steady to reduce tonal change. We use our 56× zoom and thermal imaging systems to observe from a distance, ensuring that clarity never comes at the cost of stress to the animals below.
Our mission logs include notes on wildlife presence and behavior, so we can refine future flights, and in the future, contribute to academic studies. We never operate directly above animals, and if we notice signs of alertness or agitation, we reposition immediately. Every mission is guided by awareness, not assumption.
Bridging Research and Real-World Practice
When asked how companies like ours can support scientific work, Saadia emphasized collaboration:
"Even small actions, like logging flight parameters, recording sound levels, or noting animal reactions during missions, can provide insights that help refine our understanding of drone-wildlife interactions."
We have taken that to heart. Our workflow now includes environmental context logging for each flight, noting wildlife presence, wind, temperature, and noise conditions. This practice connects real-world data with emerging research, ensuring that our fieldwork continues to inform conservation science.
Looking Ahead
Saadia also mentioned that her team is developing new acoustic guidelines and behavioral datasets that are still being finalized. Once published, these will expand on the thresholds observed in her field studies and provide more detailed recommendations for flight heights and behavioral logging. We look forward to reviewing those results and applying them within our environmental workflow as part of our ongoing collaboration.
Connecting Global Science to Local Flight
Saadia's findings in Kenya align with similar patterns seen in North American studies. A 2023 paper in the Journal of Field Ornithology titled "A Meta-Analysis of Disturbance Caused by Drones on Nesting Birds" found that flights above 50 meters (165 feet) caused no measurable disturbance for nesting birds, while flights at or below that altitude led to stronger reactions, especially among ground and solitary nesters.
These results reinforce what both Saadia and our team have observed: altitude matters. Whenever possible, Suave Droning operates at or above 50 meters when near potential nesting zones, ensuring that our documentation does not interfere with sensitive breeding activity.
Another key U.S. study from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources evaluated drone-based wildlife monitoring. In Assessing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Equipped with Thermal Infrared to Locate and Capture White-Tailed Deer Fawns (Obermoller et al., 2019), researchers used thermal and RGB cameras to identify 43 fawns and 117 adult deer across 792 hectares (1,957 acres) in 47.3 flight hours. The most efficient operations occurred at 60 meters (197 feet) altitude and 6-7 meters per second (13-15 mph).
These findings show that the same altitudes reducing acoustic disturbance also optimize detection and efficiency. Responsible flight is ethical, and simultaneously effective.
Practical Steps for Quieter Flight
From research and experience, several practices define our environmental missions:
Fly at the highest feasible altitude for each task.
Avoid hovering or circling near wildlife.
Maintain consistent flight speed and path.
Use optical or thermal zoom instead of proximity.
Plan flights outside breeding or nesting seasons when possible.
Limit time spent in sensitive areas.
Record any animal reactions for long-term data sharing.
Every small adjustment helps reduce disturbance and contributes to the larger goal of ethical, data-driven operations.
Listening to the Landscape
Our conversation with Saadia Afridi reminded us that flight is about coexistence, not just airspace and technology. Her research shows that quieter skies are not only possible but necessary for meaningful environmental progress.
At Suave Droning, we carry this understanding into every mission. From Kenya to Pennsylvania, from academic datasets to field documentation, we are learning to listen to the landscapes we fly over. The quieter we operate, the more clearly we can see, hear, and understand the living systems below and the stories they tell.
Ready to Fly Responsibly?
Whether you're conducting wildlife research, environmental monitoring, or commercial drone operations, responsible flight practices matter. At Suave Droning, we combine cutting-edge technology with ethical operations to deliver results that respect both your mission and the environment.
Ready to discuss your next project? Contact us today to learn how our certified pilots can bring the same level of precision and environmental awareness to your drone operations.
Connect with Our Team
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Kelly Ortega - CEO | Suave Droning
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Nicolo Cincotta - COO | Suave Droning
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Want to Learn More?
Follow Saadia's incredible research in the field. Her groundbreaking work on drone acoustics and wildlife behavior is shaping the future of responsible aviation.
Follow the Research
Saadia Afridi - PhD Researcher, WildDrone Project
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References
Afridi, S., Laporte-Devylder, L., Maalouf, G., Penny, S. G., Wahlberg, M., & Lundquist, U. P. S. (2025). Wildlife responses to drone noise: An integrated approach for single- and dual-drone flights. WildDrone Project, University of Southern Denmark. Submitted for review.
Images and data courtesy of Saadia Afridi, WildDrone Project, University of Southern Denmark.