My landing pad is used for the safety and cleanliness of my Mavic, as stated above, but I learned another useful purpose yesterday...
While flying at Fort Funston, one of last accepted places to fly a drone in San Francisco, my friends and I placed our landing pads in the same spot where hang gliders launch/land. We’re only allowed to fly there when the hang gliders are neither aloft nor preparing to run off the cliff.
Dog walkers and families with kids walk all over this area, even when hang gliders are around. But when they see our landing pads, they steer clear, or keep a safe distance to watch what we’re doing, We just remember to launch and fly up and over the cliff, away from everyone, but we know our landing area will be clear when our drones return.