It has been a particularly wet start to 2025 for most parts of Southern Africa, with heavy rains a welcome sight for many a farmer in the region.
Sadly, the rains have taken a heavy toll of infrastructure too, with floods being reported in Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
In South Africa, the province of KwaZulu Natal, which has borne the brunt of flooding in recent years, took heavy blows again: since the 19th of February this year, heavy rainfall has been hitting KwaZulu-Natal province, causing floods and landslides, which resulted in casualties and damage.
And according to media reports, at least nine people died due to separate landslide and flood events in the south of Durban, Folweni, Demat and Ensimbini. Additionally, residents have been displaced, some infrastructure has been damaged and roads have been closed.
Loss of life and destruction of property is the general results of natural disaster everywhere; and one South African company thinks there is a solution to this.
Using drone-based LiDAR technology to build resilient African urban areas that can withstand the effects of these disasters.
This is according to Durban and Kampala-based aerial survey company 3DroneMapping. The company offers its professional aerial-based surveys all over Africa, specialising in DTM editing, topographic mapping, pointcloud classification, orthophoto production and data processing.
3Dronemapping uses purpose-built drones for medium and long-range deployments that cover areas up to 23,000ha, with the drones bearing the capacity to carry a variety of payloads including metric medium format cameras, high precision IMU and GNSS direct geo-referencing units.
And while drones have proved countless times how indispensable they have become to disaster recovery operations worldwide, 3Dronemapping thinks this usefulness can be extended into preventive measures: using drone and related technology to erect infrastructure that does not succumb easily to collapse due to natural disasters.
In an opinion piece, company director Luke Wijnberg argued that it is possible to use drone and LiDAR technology to raise infrastructure that can withstand the worst effects of natural disasters.
You can learn more of his thoughts below.
The effects of climate change are becoming impossible to ignore, especially in rapidly urbanising African cities.
Events like floods, droughts, and cyclones are causing widespread disruption, destroying lives and infrastructure. As urban planners face these mounting challenges, innovative technologies like drone technology and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) are proving to be essential tools for building resilience.
These technologies assist urban planners in designing cities that can better withstand climate-related risks, paving the way for safer communities.
Understanding Drone Technology and LiDAR
Drone technology, especially unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has dramatically changed how industries operate. These drones provide high-resolution aerial images and enable efficient data collection. When combined with LiDAR, which employs laser scanning to measure distances accurately, they facilitate quick and precise mapping of terrains, buildings, and vegetation.
For urban planners, using drones paired with LiDAR represents a breakthrough in town planning. With these tools, planners can collect extensive datasets that inform smarter decision-making. For example, a study showed that using drones in mapping processes reduced project time by up to 75 percent compared to traditional methods, enhancing a city’s ability to respond to natural disasters.
The Need for Resilient Town Planning in African Cities
African cities face a unique set of challenges that increase their susceptibility to climate change impacts. Limited financial resources, rapid urbanisation, and insufficient infrastructure all contribute to this vulnerability. Effective town planning must address potential threats posed by extreme weather.
Flooding is an urgent concern in many African cities. A study indicated that informal settlements in flood-prone areas are home to 60 percent of the urban population in cities like Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Drones equipped with LiDAR can produce accurate flood risk maps, helping planners pinpoint high-risk regions and design effective drainage systems to protect these communities.
Enhancing Data Collection for Evidence-Based Planning
One of the remarkable strengths of drone technology is its capacity for rapid data collection, often outperforming traditional methods. Drones can access hard-to-reach locations, generating detailed topographical maps within hours instead of weeks or months required for ground surveys.
LiDAR technology contributes high-resolution elevation data that reveals even the smallest landscape changes. This information is crucial for urban planners to understand how water flows, predict flood behaviours, and devise strategies for flood mitigation. For instance, after implementing LiDAR data analysis, a city may see a 40 percent reduction in flood-related damage claims over a five-year period.
Monitoring Urban Development and Changes Over Time
As cities evolve, so do their risk profiles. Urban planners need to monitor ongoing changes effectively to assess potential risks. Drones can facilitate regular aerial surveys, providing a consistent view of urban growth, infrastructure modifications, and environmental changes over time.
Data collected from these surveys can help evaluate ecosystem health and identify areas needing attention due to climate-related risks.
For example, using drone technology, urban planners in Cape Town, South Africa, identified over 1,000 hectares of land suitable for reforestation, contributing to both flood management and carbon offset goals.
Case Studies: Successful Applications of Drone Technology in African Cities
Several African cities are already reaping the benefits of drone technology and LiDAR for urban planning.
In Kigali, Rwanda, for example, UAVs helped create detailed city maps that significantly improved land management and disaster preparedness. By analysing elevation and topography data, city planners have been able to implement strategies that have cut flood risks in half compared to previous years.
In Tanzania, drone surveys have been instrumental in pinpointing areas most vulnerable to flooding. This data allowed local governments to prioritise their infrastructure investments. As a result, regions that previously faced regular flooding have since reported a 35 percent decrease in flood incidents following improvements.
Facilitating Community Engagement and Awareness
The use of drone technology and LiDAR extends beyond technical applications; it also enhances community engagement. By leveraging high-quality aerial imagery, urban planners can create clear visualisations that make complex data easier for community members to grasp.
These visual tools are vital for discussions about land use, risky areas, and potential interventions. When community members understand the data, they become more involved in the planning process. This proactive engagement fosters trust between city officials and residents, creating a collaborative atmosphere needed for effective climate resilience in urban settings.
Future Directions for Drone Technology in Town Planning
The use of drone technology and LiDAR in town planning is only just beginning. As technology continues to advance, its application in urban planning will expand significantly.
Incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into drone data analysis could enhance the ability to predict natural disaster impacts on urban areas further. For instance, AI algorithms could analyse temporal data to foresee flooding patterns, allowing urban planners to anticipate risks and adapt their strategies timely.
Additionally, as more training programs become available, a growing number of urban planners will learn to harness these technologies, strengthening their ability to develop safer, more resilient cities across Africa.
Final Thoughts
As climate change impacts intensify, leveraging drone technology and LiDAR in town planning emerges as a vital strategy for building resilience in African cities. The data and insights these technologies provide are crucial for developing informed, effective plans that protect communities from natural disasters.
By embracing innovative solutions instead of sticking to outdated methods, urban planners can transform challenges into opportunities. The goal is not just to endure climate change but to thrive, creating sustainable, resilient urban spaces that safeguard all their residents.
Adopting drone technology is essential to forward-thinking urban planning that prioritizes safety, sustainability, and inclusivity in African cities.