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OVerview
OVerview
The Waterloo Drone Mapping Initiative is a strategic program in Sierra Leone designed to generate high-resolution aerial imagery while building a self-sustaining network of local drone experts. By producing data with a precision of up to 5cm resolution, the project provides critical insights for the Office of National Security (ONS) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA). These outputs are essential for enhancing security coordination, disaster management strategies, and both urban and rural development projects led by organizations like CODOHSAPA.
A defining feature of this initiative is its emphasis on national autonomy and inter-agency collaboration. Modeled after the Freetown Drone Mapping campaign but operating without direct on-the-ground international assistance, the project successfully established formal legal frameworks through the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority. To ensure long-term impact, the ONS recruited personnel from the Sierra Leone Police and Air Force, while OpenStreetMap Sierra Leone provided rigorous technical and safety training to transform these recruits into skilled pilots and image processors.
Beyond data collection, the initiative serves as a high-tech showcase for advanced geospatial tools, such as the Drone Tasking Manager and Tasking Manager software. These capabilities were demonstrated to international partners, including JICA and Aero Toyota, highlighting the project's sophisticated approach to remote mapping. By engaging with the Western Area District Council and local stakeholders, the initiative ensures that technological advancement directly translates into tangible benefits for the community’s infrastructure and safety.
TRAINING
TRAINING
The recruitment strategy centered on a "mentor-protégé" model, pairing veteran pilots from OpenStreetMap Sierra Leone with newcomers from the Sierra Leone Police, Armed Forces, and National Disaster Management Authority. By organizing participants into five specialized teams each consisting of one experienced and one inexperienced member the project ensured real-time knowledge transfer and minimized operational errors during high-stakes data collection.
Training transitioned from theoretical software inductions to adaptive field exercises in early February 2026. The program demonstrated its agility when teams recalibrated extensive flight grids into smaller, manageable segments to optimize battery life and mission efficiency. This hands-on approach not only validated equipment readiness but also successfully equipped a diverse cohort of personnel with the technical skills needed for professional open drone mapping.
Drone mapping
Drone mapping
Operating out of the WARDC Hall, the project followed a rigorous daily protocol for data collection and quality assurance. Flight imagery was transferred and meticulously sorted by task number before undergoing a two-stage verification process to ensure geographic accuracy and total coverage. The teams generated composite images to check for blurriness or gaps, and any data that did not meet these stringent standards was immediately flagged for a re-flight, ensuring that only high-quality, verified imagery was cleared for final use.
The field operations were structured to prioritize precision and training through 223 individual flight tasks distributed across five teams. To ensure the highest levels of mapping accuracy, surveyors collaborated with pilots to integrate 10 strategically placed Ground Control Points across the area of interest. This technical workflow was supported by comprehensive logistics, including daily transport stipends for participants and a structured three-day flight cycle, creating an immersive environment that balanced professional data acquisition with hands-on skill development.
High Resolution imagery
High Resolution imagery
At the end of the initiative, we are expected to have a high resolution image of the entire Waterloo municipality that would be used for several purposes.
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