Palomar College in San Marcos hosted Drone-Con 2018 Friday, a conference discussing the future of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Students had the option to fly miniature drones and learn more about new technologies in the sphere.
Speakers at Drone-Con discussed the different fields of drone use, from photography to GPS tracking to fighting fires. Experts are now using the technology to combat brush fires with more efficiency and ease.
Palomar College is one of the only schools in the country to offer a degree in Drone Technology. There are about 40 students in the program, only two are female.
One of the female students is Mikela Garza, who is going into her second year of the program. She hopes to own her own drone company after she graduates.
"Five years from now, drones are going to be everywhere. It' going to be incorporated in all industries," said Garza.
She said she decided to choose the major because drones give a unique perspective.
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"You're able to capture a bird's-eye view," said Garza. "That's why I like drones: capturing photos from a different perspective."
During the conference, Garza said she was surprised to learn about the advancements of drones in the area of GPS mapping and surveying.
The program has been around for the last two years. Students earn an associate's degree at the end of it.
