OSGOF deploys drone technology for Abuja topographical map

The Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation has launched a project to create a detailed topographical map of the Federal Capital Territory using drone technology.

The Surveyor-General, Abuduganiyu Adebomehin, disclosed this at a workshop in Abuja.

The workshop, organised by OSGOF, focused on the use of high-resolution drone imagery and street-view data collected from parts of the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

Adebomehin noted that the project, undertaken with PLACE, a U.S.-based organisation, marked a milestone in Nigeria’s adoption of geospatial data for sustainable development and smart cities.

“We are processing about 17,000 images, and if you are not taking it to the cloud, it is not something you can easily handle. It is geospatial management and information that shape the world. We do not want Nigeria left behind, so we must take proactive steps.

“This is one of the achievements of the Renewed Hope Agenda, made possible by ministers who helped secure the necessary approvals. We all know what drones can do today,” he said.

He added that the technology, the first of its kind in Africa, would aid search and rescue, curb insecurity, and provide disaster alerts, urging organisations to collaborate in leveraging the innovation.

The Head of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing at OSGOF, Azeez Afeez, said OSGOF’s mandate includes coordinating survey and mapping activities and producing and disseminating accurate geospatial data.

He said, “The mapping technology could address humanitarian challenges, enhance agriculture, improve disaster response, and boost security. Digital twin technology is transforming cities. In South Korea, they use it to monitor airport movements in real time.

“We can apply it in Nigeria for border control, tracking aircraft and people at airports, and even urban planning. To a layman, a digital twin is a virtual model of a building, allowing renovations and modifications to be tested digitally before implementation.

“It is the foundation of a smart city, without which Nigeria cannot achieve autonomous land management.”