Queensland drones play key role in disaster recovery

A Brisbane company at the cutting-edge of drone technology is leading the way in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for disaster recovery in the wake of Cyclone Gita.

Innovation Minister Kate Jones said V-Tol Aerospace, backed by the Palaszczuk Government, had received a $100,000 grant under the Ignite Ideas Fund to help commercialise VEURON Technology - an onboard super-computer designed to process visual data instantly.

“Queensland companies are at the cutting-edge when it comes to developing drone technology and using drones to find innovative solutions to problems,” she said.

“V-Tol Aerospace is a perfect example of this – the work they’re doing in Tonga’s disaster recovery program is an excellent example of the innovative uses of drones for public benefit.

“The Rocklea-based business is working under contract to the World Bank and with support from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to assist the Tongan Government to conduct aerial surveys in the aftermath of Cyclone Gita.

“By providing the accurate information about the damage sustained in what has been the worst cyclone to hit Tonga in generations, this Brisbane technology company is playing a part in helping the people of Tonga rebuild their communities.”

V-Tol Aerospace managing director Mark Xavier said VEURON technology used a form of artificial intelligence to compare imagery collected before the disaster to the situation now, identifying the scale and level of damage suffered by the various communities across the islands.

“Each day we will fly an area up to 90km² and process the imagery into photographic maps overnight which can then be used by damage assessment teams to prioritize the recovery effort,” Mr Xavier said.

“This approach will increase significantly the speed of target resourcing the recovery.”

Innovation Minister Kate Jones said Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas funding enabled V-TOL to validate its technology by conducting mapping exercises in Queensland and Tonga as part of the World Bank’s UAV4Resilience Project.

“Advance Queensland is the Palaszczuk Government’s $513 million initiative to transform the state’s economy and create sustainable jobs for Queenslanders,” she said.

“We’re committed to investing in industries that will support Queenslanders for generations to come.”

For more information, visit the Ignite Ideas Fund at advance.qld.gov.au/igniteideas

Media contact: Jack Harbour 0419 620 447