The Centre for Settlements Studies (CSS), in collaboration with the College of Engineering (CoE) Innovation Centre and Soko Aerials, has commenced a five-day training session on the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, in the built environment.
The training, which focuses on drone piloting, data processing, and data analysis, runs from 27th to 31st January 2025.
Speaking at the opening session, the Dean of the Faculty of Built Environment, Prof. Christian Koranteng emphasized the need for modernization in the field.
“The built environment is undergoing significant changes, and we cannot continue to do things as we did in the past. Looking at global changes, there is much that can be achieved in settlement planning using modern technology,” he stated.
Head of the Centre for Settlements Studies, Professor Owusu Amponsah explained that the introduction of UAV technology is a key innovation aimed at simplifying fieldwork in settlement planning. To ensure effective implementation, the Centre has partnered with other departments to train members of the College in the use of drone technology.
He expressed hope that this initiative would lead to the development and rollout of a short course to benefit industry players, starting with this pilot training session.
Soko Aerials, a leading training consultancy in drone technology established in 2017, provides professional training for the built environment and settlement planning sectors in Ghana.
According to Professor Amponsah, the CoE Innovation Centre, which is already involved in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and drone technology, is a reliable partner for advanced training, including assembling and manufacturing UAVs for future applications.
The Chairman of the UAV Info-Session Committee, Mr. Henry Kwaku Boafo, highlighted the importance of detailed drone training for built environment professionals.
“The Centre aims to provide comprehensive training in drone usage to support the operations of professionals in the built environment,” he said.
Participants in the session included professionals from diverse fields such as architecture, land economics, real estate, quantity surveying, development planning and settlement planning.
The applications of UAVs span various sectors, including security, project management, agriculture, real-time monitoring, quality assurance, and safety monitoring in construction management. They are also valuable in architecture, design, on-site security, and operations to enhance productivity.
Mr. Henry Kwabena Boafo expressed optimism that participants would acquire the skills needed to effectively integrate drone technology into their respective fields, leading to greater efficiency and speed.
During the session, Maximus Ashittey, Chief Operations Officer at Soko Aerials, took participants through the history and evolution of drones, types of drones and their applications, and basic drone components and systems. The training also included hands-on simulator flight sessions, providing participants with practical experience.
