Africa Drone Summit

The Africa Commercial Drone Summit is s to become the biggest platform for commercial drone technology stakeholders across the continent to converge and compare notes on how commercial drones are at the forefront of innovation, revolutionising African industrial operations, from agriculture, to mining, to logistics, to security, to survey and mapping and way beyond.

The summit will be the birthplace of all the great ideas for how to elevate the African commercial drone space towards equal status with the other top markets in the world. We will bring in the brightest experts with the best ideas on design, development and application of drone technology; regulation and safety operations; to share insights, forge partnerships, and shape the future of drone technology in Africa.

The event aims to serve as a forum for the dissemination and discussion of cutting-edge research, advancements, and innovations on this rapidly evolving field of a wide range of topics. The scope of the conference will span a diverse range of topics, in all fields of autonomous systems, algorithm, automate software, hardware and applications related to drones and autonomous systems.

A key focus will be on the convergence of drones with artificial intelligence, exploring how AI can revolutionise unmanned systems in areas such as autonomy, decision-making, and data analysis.

If you are a drone technology stakeholder keen on understanding the latest advancements, and exploring the limitless possibilities that drones offer, then this summit is for you and every colleague within your circle of networks. It will be crucial to helping you stay ahead of the curve; and is one not to miss for industry leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts who are passionate about the transformative potential of drones in various sectors.

​Industry applications and sectors to be discussed, highlighting both current practices and future trends. The emerging fields of space drones, micro- and mini-drones, and the integration of unmanned systems in construction monitoring will be explored, identifying new opportunities for innovation and deployment.

By filling gaps in existing knowledge and fostering collaboration across disciplines, this conference aims to accelerate the advancement of drone technology and its integration into various applications, ultimately contributing to the development of more efficient, safe, and intelligent unmanned systems.

• Chief Executives
• Operations executives and managers
• Parks and Wildlife Managers
• Mining executives
• Logistics professionals
• Mining operations managers
• Warehouse managers
• Courier Services managers
• Farm managers
• Municipal operations managers
• Beach safety workers
• Police officers
• Health Services Providers
• University Students
• Film Producers
• Film Directors
• Editors
• Photojournalists
• Relief and aid workers
• UAS Pilots
• UAS Training experts
• IT Managers
• Civil Aviation Authority managers
• UAS manufacture and assembly executives
• Advertising professionals
• Archaeologists
• Fire Chiefs
• Real Estate Agents
• Land surveyors
• Geodesists
• Geomatics Specialists
• Electrical engineers
• Solar and photovoltaic professionals
• UAS Manufacturers
• Original Equipment Manufacturers
• UAS Pilot Trainers
• Mining
• Agriculture
• Construction
• Energy
• Insurance
• Media
• Film and Motion Picture
• Health
• Non-Government Organisations
• Government Departments
• Municipalities
• Universities
• Civil Aviation
• Parks, Environment and Wildlife
• Port and Offshore operations
• Advertising
• Cargo Transporters
• Fire Departments
• Property and Real Estate
• Solar power Generation
• Airframe Manufacturers
• Component Suppliers
• Software Developers
• Service Companies
• Asset Owners and Operators
• EPCs (Engineering/Procurement/Construction)
• AECs (Architects/Engineers/Construction)
• Surveyors
• Technology Leads
• Project Managers
• Farmers & Crop Consultants
• First Responders and Law Enforcement
• Construction
• Drone Delivery
• Energy & Utilities
• Forestry & Agriculture
• Infrastructure & Transportation
• Mining & Aggregates
• Public Safety & Emergency Services
• Security
• Surveying & Mapping

• Knowledge and Insights: Gain access to cutting-edge research, expert opinions, and the latest trends in drone technology. Enhance your understanding and stay informed about industry developments.
• Hands-On Experience: Participate in live demonstrations and workshops to see the latest drone technologies in action. Get hands-on experience with new tools and techniques.
• Business Growth: Discover new markets, applications, and strategies to grow your business. Learn from success stories and case studies that can inspire and guide your own ventures.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry leaders, innovators, and potential partners. Build relationships that can lead to collaborations and new business opportunities.

DRAFT AGENDA

 

DAY 1  WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2025

 

08:30    Drone technology and the low altitude economy

• Exploring drone technology’s capacity in the low-altitude economy to foster high-value jobs, bolster innovation in science and technology, and inject momentum into the national economy
• Understanding the key aspects of the low-altitude economy: Talent, Regulations, and Infrastructure
• Reshaping consumer experience, logistics efficiency, and public safety
• Dealing with operational concerns that overshadow the development of the low-altitude economy, such as safety and accidents
• The China case study

Invited Speaker: Victoria Jing Xiang: Chief Operating Officer; EU & LatAm: EHang

 

09:30    Drone Technology and AI integration

 

10:30    Tea Break

 

11:00    Creating a strong African industrial drone space

• Establishing Industry Standards to Ensure Quality Operators and Technicians
• Addressing drone operation challenges and pain points
• Finding common ground with regulatory authorities to reduce high regulatory barriers and allow more participation in drone technology
• Identifying the factors that will make the commercial drone space indispensable
• Increasing demand for drone services: making more industries realise the benefits of drones, leading to a surge in demand for drone services.
• Investing in new technology: research into new applications that will drive the industry forward.
• Finding ways to reduce costs
• Decreasing costs are contributing to the industry's growth.
• Discovering more ways in which drones can be deployed to a wide range of industries, including agriculture, construction, real estate, energy, and logistics.
• Reducing the capital required to enter the drone business will help the industry grow.
• Supporting young entrepreneurs and upskilling youth
• Creating strong UTM and UAM operations in the Global South

Invited Speaker: Eno Umouh

 

12:30    About those drone swarms

• Understanding drone swarms and their rising commercial applications, including:
• Agriculture: Improving precision farming by tripling productivity in crop treatment.
• Environmental monitoring: Surveying large areas to collect data on forest health, crop diseases, and disaster impacts.
• Infrastructure inspection: Inspecting large-scale infrastructure.
• Search and rescue
• Surveillance
• How many different commercial and public use cases could benefit from the application of drone swarming
• The complexities surrounding the use of drone swarm technology
• Legislative issues and operational waivers
• The benefits of cellular communication for drone swarm applications

Speaker: Ed Alvarado: Head of Communications: Drone Industry Insights

 

13:00    LUNCH

 

 

14:00    Public safety disaster management

• Real-time surveillance
• Crime scene documentation
• Intrusion detection
• Information gathering
• Shooter incident investigation
• Threat assessment
• Traffic crash reconstruction
• On-scene reconnaissance
• SWAT and tactical operations
• Forensic investigations
• Search and rescue missions
• Understanding of safe operations while operating drones in public

Invited Speaker: Western Cape EMS

 

15:00    Drones, zero-emission aircraft and achieving sustainability goals

• Showcasing advancements in hydrogen-electric propulsion systems and how these innovations are driving sustainable aviation practices and shaping the future of air travel
• Commercial operations of fuel cell UAS
• Summarising the advantages, disadvantages and developments of using hydrogen fuel cells for powering commercial UAS.
• Why AI is critical for advanced hydrogen drones
• Understanding the unique risks for the use of hydrogen as fuel in drones and how to mitigate and insure against these
• Challenges posed by hydrogen as an emerging energy source, including its volatility, storage issues, and the potential for disaster: the strategies and innovations in risk assessment, management, and mitigation tailored to hydrogen technologies
• Attendees will gain insights into how the insurance industry is adapting to support the growth of hydrogen applications, ensuring that when things go wrong, there are robust mechanisms in place to manage and recover from incidents.
• Standards to Advance Hydrogen Technologies and Applications

Invited Speaker: Amit Ramdath: Founder: Autonosky

 

16:00    End of Day 1

 

Day 2   THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025

 

08:30    Elevating Agriculture: Harness the Power of Drones and Tech for Precision Farming

• Drones and Agriculture in the Africa
• How to develop the agricultural drone market in Africa to grow it into a key global player
• How universities can play a role in drone-based precision agriculture
• How agrochemical companies are affected by drones in agriculture
• How drones benefit farmers financially and physically
• What to expect in the future for drones in agriculture
• AI Processing of Drone LiDAR for Automatic Tree Detection and Parameter Estimation in Urban and Forest Environments
• New methods for Individual Tree Detection (ITD) utilizing UAV LiDAR data and deep learning algorithms
• Practical implications for updating tree inventories that can be instrumental in ground-truthing large-scale satellite-based forest structure and biomass estimation efforts, among other applications.
• Other real-world applications of drones in agriculture: Practical examples of what has worked on farm operations when utilising drones in agriculture.
• Requirements around spray drones and an outlook on where the industry is headed.

Speaker: Aerobotics

 

09:30    Case study: Drones and mining operations

            Invited Speaker:

 

10:30    Tea Break

 

11:00    Drones for dangerous jobs: Why drones are essential for improving workplace safety

• Drones doing dangerous work to keep humans safe
• Identifying the key industries where drones improve worker safety (Construction, Railroads and Transportation, Utilities: Photovoltaics, Wind, and Power Lines; Emergency, Disaster, Search and Rescue Response)
• Inspecting facilities with drones in industries where it is not safe for humans to carry out (wind turbines, tower inspections, etc)
• Applying drones in situations that will expose humans to environmental hazards
• Drones as the future for job site safety
• Implementing drones at your company for safety
• Understanding drone safety operations when applying drones to improve safety (laws and regulations; properly operating and maintain the drone; emergency procedures; proper attire with personal protective equipment (PPE); securely collecting and maintaining data properly; spotting good take-off and landing zones; weather conditions specific to drones)

Invited Speaker: UAV & Drone Solutions

 

12:00    Drones and security operations

            Invited Speaker: UAV Aerial Works

 

13:00    LUNCH

 

14:00    Emphasising safety in drone technology adoption: Defining value in drone safety management systems

• In-depth analysis of what it means to have a safety management system implemented in UAS operations, on both a large and small scale.
• How to use these systems to support operations, defining the roles for flight crews, organisations, and the vehicles themselves and the value they provide in mitigating risks.
• Implementing a Safety Management System for Unmanned Aviation: Providing a general framework of the main areas that must be implemented to implement a safety management system in unmanned aviation
• Showing how SMS programs aid organisations of all sizes in effectively managing risk, creating safer operations and aiding a culture of safety
• An overview of SMS program structure, the four key components of an SMS (safety policy, safety risk management, safety assurance and safety promotion) and how the implementation of an effective SMS positively supports an organisation’s safe and sustainable growth.

Invited Speaker:

 

15:00    Latest on drones in insurance

 

16:00    End of Day 2

 

DAY 3  FRIDAY, MAY 203, 2025

 

Workshop on Drone Survey and Mapping Operations

This workshop is aimed at equipping survey and mapping professionals with a complete picture of drone applications in the survey and mapping industry. Includes fundamental concepts and hand on exercise on, flight planning, simulation, data downloading, image processing using different photogrammetric software’s. Participant can process data them self and visualize the outcome result in different formats, no flying exercise for individuals included in the course.

Attendees will also get deeper insights about the software used in drone surveying and mapping, including AutoCAD, Pix4D, DroneDeploy, Agisoft and Microostation

 

Objectives

• Introduction to survey drones: assembly, safety, payload, battery life, Specs for good results
• Understanding Consideration for hardware selections
• Learning about ground control points consideration in drone surveying
• Pre, Post Flight planning: procedure, simulation, requirement for surveying job
• Procedures on Post-flight review
• Introduction to Autopilot
• Downloading and visualization of data
• Leading about survey and mapping drone software and autonomous UAV drone control
• Getting to grips with data processing software and methods

 

Agenda      08:30-13:00

• Industry Applications
• Equipment Essentials
• LiDAR and Photogrammetry Basics
• Accurate Mapping Techniques
• Basic Mission Planning
• Generating Accurate Maps with GCPs
• Capturing a basic 2D and 3D map in the field and setting up GCPs.
• How to process captured data using Pix4D Mapper, generating ortho photos, point clouds, DSM, DTM, and contours.
• RTK & PPK Concepts: Learn how to process RTK and PPK data using Pix4D Mapper and other software tools like Emlid Studio.
• How to view exported data in applications like QGIS and ROCK Desktop.

 

13:00    End of Conference