Exponential growth: The global drone market is projected to reach a value of around $127 billion by 2020
Drones are expected to play a key role in helping the Sultanate realize its ambitions in the establishment of, among other things, smart cities, enhanced logistics, and smarter infrastructure. The uptake of drone technology for recreational and commercial applications is projected to soar as well
Conrad Prabhu -
MUSCAT, FEB.6 -
Oman’s maiden forum on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) — popularly known as drones — will shed light on opportunities for local investors and technology developers to make inroads into the multibillion-dollar global drone manufacturing industry, according to the organisers of the event.
The ‘Drones Oman Workshop and Live Demonstration’, which will be held during February 27 - 28, 2017, is backed by the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA). The two-day event, organised by well-known UAE-based events management firm IQPC, will be held at the PACA Ballroom near Muscat International Airport.
In a while paper published by the organisers in the lead up to the event, IQPC said that drones are expected to play a key role in helping the Sultanate realise its ambitions in the establishment of, among other things, smart cities, enhanced logistics, and smarter infrastructure. Given Oman’s young, tech-savvy population, the uptake of drone technology for recreational and commercial applications is projected to soar as well, it noted.
Citing the findings of professional services provider PwC, IQPC pointed out that the global drone market is projected to reach a value of around $127 billion by 2020, up from the current estimated value of $2 billion. Oman, and the wider Middle East, has the potential to carve out a promising share of this booming market, it said.
Already, examples abound of successful UAV technology use in the Sultanate. Majority state-owned Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has relied on drone technology for live inspections of flare stacks at various oilfield locations. Use of this technology has since been expanded to encompass a variety of environmental inspection and monitoring functions.
Experts also envision a significant role for drones in the development and roll-out of the government’s small city initiatives. “Thanks to the advanced computing capabilities of systems connected through mobile and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, drones will be able to significantly boost the logistical capabilities of smart city systems,” IQPC said in its white paper.
“From carrying out monitoring tasks, remote inspections and repair works to city infrastructure, to delivering medical supplies to hospitals and citizens’ homes, the potential applications of UAV in the smart cities of Oman’s future are near limitless. Demonstrating that potential is a key focus of recent and upcoming technology conferences in Oman and the Middle East, in order to encourage speedier adoption of UAV tech,” the organisers stated.
Equally promising is the use of drones in carrying out such functions as 3D mapping, aerial photogrammetry of archaeological sites and landscapes, architectural drawings, and for the production of digital elevation tools, according to IQPC. Significantly,, UAV technology was extensively used, albeit with regulatory approval, in the mapping of the Bisya / Salut archaeological site, it is learnt.
The Drones Oman Workshop is being held against a backdrop of efforts by regulatory authorities across the wider Middle East to codify laws and regulations governing the application of UAV technology and operation of drones for recreational and commercial purposes. Speakers representing various regulatory bodies from around the GCC and Middle East are expected to make presentations on the way forward for the uptake of UAV technology and investment in this region.
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