Grapevine

By Standard Media
Jul 24, 2024

How drones are taking over disaster frontlines, key sectors

An image captured by drone of the areas under the Shamba system in Mt Elgon ecosystem. [File, Standard]

The concept of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), or drones, is as old as World War I when American military engineers developed cruise missiles programmed to fly, land, and detonate on targets.

They have developed over the past century, even acquiring civilian uses, including in agriculture, logistics, videography and land surveying, among other creative uses.

Humanitarians use the "small aircraft" to save lives in a world plagued by economically costly natural disasters such as floods and droughts.

Kenya, for instance, needs Sh37 billion to repair transport infrastructure swept away by the recent floods, according to immediate former Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.