Delivering supplies to Africans is a struggle because of the continent’s lack of roads and bridges.
Architect Norman Foster has proposed a solution. The Droneport project will carry cargo to remote areas by traversing mountains, lakes, rivers, and desert by unmanned aircraft, as World Architecture Community reports.
The drones can carry goods to places more than 100 kilometers, or 62 miles, away. The plan consists of two network services. The Redline will have smaller drones that will transport medical supplies, and the Blueline will be larger aircraft that will ship electronics, spare parts, and e-commerce.
The drones will land in structures called Droneports, which not only will store drones but also house health clinics, digital fabrication shops, and post and courier rooms.
The project is a collaboration between Redline partners led by Afrotech, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), the Norman Foster Foundation, and Foster + Partners.
Related Stories
Building Technology | Oct 7, 2016
How much is that LEED point worth? A new tool provides answers
Autocase analyzes the financial, social, and environmental benefits of certification.
Sponsored | BIM and Information Technology | Oct 3, 2016
A laser scanning solution for challenging topographic surveys
DeWalt Corporation, which has completed thousands of surveys over the last 50 years, began using 3D laser scanning technology nearly five years ago.
BIM and Information Technology | Sep 15, 2016
8 tips for perfecting co-location
Experts share tips and tricks for maximizing cross-team collaboration.
BIM and Information Technology | Sep 12, 2016
Draft of 2016 version of the LOD Specification has been released for public comment
The comment period is open until Sept. 23.
BIM and Information Technology | Sep 7, 2016
Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool updated to factor in waste management
The costs and benefits of managing 29 types of waste are now included.
BIM and Information Technology | Aug 30, 2016
BIM GIANTS: A ranking of the nation's top BIM design and construction firms
HOK, Perkins+Will, Turner Construction Co., The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., Jacobs, and Thornton Tomasetti top Building Design+Construction’s annual ranking of the nation’s largest BIM AEC firms, as reported in the 2016 Giants 300 Report.
BIM and Information Technology | Aug 30, 2016
New service from CBRE provides deeper insights into in-building wireless network experiences
With dependable cellular and Wi-Fi coverage a must-have amenity for today’s businesses, CBRE to certify in-building network quality through new Cellular Signal Mapping service
BIM and Information Technology | Aug 22, 2016
The wicked problem of interoperability
Building professionals are often put in a situation where solving problems with the ‘best tool for the job’ comes at the cost of not being able to fully leverage data downstream without limitation, writes Proving Ground's Nathan Miller.
Contractors | Aug 10, 2016
Dodge launches new app to simplify pros' search for suitable projects to bid and work on
The product, called PlanRoom, could be particularly useful in sharing data and communications among AEC teams.
BIM and Information Technology | Aug 9, 2016
How to improve a project presentation with animated GIFs
Animated GIFs are a simple tool that can explain a large amount of intricate information in an easy to understand, streamlined manner.