Appraiser testing aerial drones

MILTON, Fla. – The property appraiser’s office in Santa Rosa County is among the first in Florida using unmanned aerial system. The office has been testing the use of drones to supplement and update property data since September 2016. Nine FAA-licensed drone pilots operate four drones. Property Appraiser Greg Brown is responsible for identifying, locating and valuing all property within the county for tax purposes. Previously, every two years Brown's office has had to pay $250,000 per flight for an aerial photography company to fly over the county's 1,100 square miles to get photos. Using the drones pushes that need back to every three or four years. Brown anticipates that in the future they can be used for damage assessment after severe weather. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 01/15/18)