UC Santa Cruz’s CIDER Program Cultivates the Next Generation of DroneDeploy Power Users

Drone skills without context are just flight hours. UCSC’s CIDER program teaches students to fly with purpose – and analyze like pros.

About the CIDER program

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Demand for skilled drone professionals is soaring. The University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) is answering the call with its CITRIS Initiative for Drone Education and Research (CIDER) – a hands-on program equipping students across disciplines with the tools and experience to turn aerial data into actionable insight.

Unlike traditional drone programs focused solely on flight skills, CIDER pushes further: students learn how to capture, process, and analyze data using industry-standard tools like DroneDeploy. From creating 3D models to generating actionable maps and spatial datasets, CIDER students build capabilities that align with real-world jobsite workflows.

“Every year, students from every academic discipline show interest in learning more about drones,” says Rebecca Fenwick, CIDER’s Program Director. “It’s amazing to see them apply the skills they learn in flying, data capture, and processing to a huge range of work.”

The program’s structure reflects its ambition. A 16-week pilot training course  and a 2-week summer intensive anchor the curriculum. This spring, CIDER welcomed 45 new students: 41 undergraduates and 4 graduate students. After completing FAA Part 107 training and passing their exams, students shift into project-based learning that emphasizes collaboration and real-world application.

These projects span industries: analyzing solar panel performance, tracking crop biomass, monitoring wildlife populations. In each case, students combine DroneDeploy with GIS, spatial analysis, and structured workflows to derive insight – not just imagery.

“The CIDER Pilot Training Program was a game-changer for me,” says Victor Acevedo, a recent CIDER graduate. “Their hands-on training helped me pass the Part 107 exam and gave me the confidence to start my own drone business.”

By the Numbers: CIDER’s Growth (2022–2025)

• 120 students trained
• 93% FAA Part 107 pass rate (112 out of 120)
• 43 different majors represented

CIDER’s multi-modal approach extends beyond coursework. The program includes a summer Drone Camp, cross-departmental research support, and collaboration with community and nonprofit partners. This inclusive and interdisciplinary model ensures students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in STEM gain access to emerging careers in drone technology and data analysis.

And at the center of it all: real-world tools like DroneDeploy. From capturing and modeling to annotation and collaboration, students graduate with experience in platforms used on actual job sites – not academic simulations. That industry alignment is part of what sets CIDER apart.

“Our students walk away with more than a license,” Fenwick adds. “They know how to work with aerial data at scale, how to collaborate on spatial projects, and how to communicate their findings. DroneDeploy makes that possible.”

The program’s impact is already rippling outward. Graduates return to their fields with DroneDeploy experience that boosts job readiness – and many launch their own ventures or embed drone workflows into their first jobs. CIDER isn’t just teaching drone operations. It’s building data-literate professionals fluent in the language of reality capture.

DroneDeploy’s Commitment to Next-Gen Training

CIDER is part of a growing global movement. DroneDeploy currently supports over 150 educational institutions through its nonprofit and training initiatives – providing access to software, curriculum, and hands-on enablement that ensures students graduate with in-demand skills.

Want to bring DroneDeploy to your school or training program?

Visit DroneDeploy.org to learn how we support the next generation of drone professionals.

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