A DRONELIFE exclusive interview with Margherita Bruscolini of GLOBHE about her work in providing the vital information that disaster management teams around the world need to save lives and land.
As climate change leads to more and more deadly climate events, that data serves a critical role in disaster management. A drone pilot with a background in geology and environmental science, Margherita Bruscolini is a committed advocate for technology solutions to meet environmental issues.
“I am passionate about using innovation and technology to tackle global challenges,” said Bruscolini. “We’re using tools that can really change things and have a positive impact on meeting the challenges of climate change.”
Local Impact, Global Purpose
Bruscolini’s team organizes drone operations globally, working with local teams of trained and licensed pilots to deliver critical drone data for global corporations or relief organizations. Bruscolini makes the connection between clients and local drone pilots, ensuring that the deliverables match project requirements. It’s a model that generates value for all stakeholders, and it’s a pillar of GLOBHE’s business.
Managing Floods in Malawi: Prevention, Response, and Recovery
Managing disasters is a complex process, Bruscolini said: and drone data can add value throughout the disaster management ecosystem, from prevention to recovery.
Prevention
Drones can help prevent damage by providing data on water levels, weather patterns, and ground conditions before a disaster hits. “We can help communities establish early warning systems by monitoring these conditions over time, helping identify extreme weather events in advance,” Bruscolini explained. “These early warning systems are really helpful. For example, flood risk maps can be produced using drone data complemented with satellite data. Modeling can simulate the state of rivers and predict how they will develop during weather events. We can create maps that show the areas that are most vulnerable so that the communities can take action to mitigate the effect of a flood.”
Response
“In a crisis, drones are capable of providing a lot of assistance in disaster response, search and rescue. Drones can get past roadblocks: and equipped with cameras, thermal and LiDAR, they can be deployed very quickly for search and rescue to locate people who need assistance,” Bruscolini explained.
Recovery
Drones can rapidly assess damage to infrastructure and buildings, providing situational awareness to response teams. Drones can safely assess the structural integrity of buildings and locate resources. Maps and images can be used for planning and monitoring recovery operations. For property and land owners, drone data provides important documentation after an extreme weather event. “Documenting the extent of the damage expedites insurance claims and speeds up recovery for the population,” said Bruscolini.
Soaring to new heights, together.
Be sure to visit the BWU Technology Partnerships Initiative website to learn more about how our NEOFIX program drives economic growth, promotes policy and infrastructure to improve drone safety and efficiency in various industries, and ensures that drone technology is being used responsibly.