Nathan Lu is a drone cartographer, a person who uses drones to study and make maps. Before he sets his drone in the air, Nathan makes sure there aren’t any low-flying planes in the area. He also makes sure there are no geo zones (virtual boundaries). If there are, he obtains permission to send his drone into that airspace.

He explains, “Just something as simple as taking aerial photos of my house has made me appreciate how special drones are… I like to see my drone as not only a cool toy but as a tool to showcase my area to the world…You don’t have to have the best equipment, or the fanciest drone.” 

Nathan achieved the 2021 Guinness World Record title “Youngest Drone Cartographer”. By age 15, he became the youngest drone pilot and photographer in the entire Soar database. Soar, initially launched in 2012, for governments, creates digital super-map images.
(Long Beach, California: 2020)