Droneport For Emergency Supplies
Drone technology has made a lot of waves in the photography, goods delivery and surveillance industry, but a field where its potential can truly be exploited is the medical industry. Drones possess the ability to access far flung and inaccessible areas with relative ease, and that has made them a huge success in delivering lifesaving medical supplies to people who have a hard time accessing such facilities. Be it war torn Syria or strife ridden Sudan, drones have proven to be a lifesaver by providing much needed logistical support for emergency aid and relief workers.
The Idea of of using drones for transporting goods has lead to to the inception of the first of its kind, “droneport”. Located in Rwanda, East Africa, the port aims to transport blood and other life saving drugs to areas inaccessible by road and in the process saving valuable time. British architect Sir Norman Foster will be designing the port in collaboration with technology company Afrotech. The droneport features facilities like a health clinic, fabrication shop, post and courier room, e-commerce hub etc.
making the complex intertwined with the local civil fabric. The design calls for the building itself to be assembled on site and a prefab approach is to be followed with respect to certain asspects of construction. The framework of the building will be assembled on site in the form of five large dome shaped skeletons. the facade is slated to be made using locally produced red clay bricks. Africa’s population and the infrastructure is suffering from an immense lag and this initiative will help overcome the problems that the african people are suffering due to a lack of roads and other transport framework. The project is expected to be completed by 2020 and will be able to cover an 44% of Rwanda.
Project Info:
Architect: Foster and Partners
Location: Africa
By: Sumer Singh
Ibrahim Abdelhady is an architect, academic, and media entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in architecture and digital publishing. He is the Founder and CEO of Arch2O.com, a leading platform in architectural media, renowned for showcasing innovative projects, student work, and critical discourse in design. Holding dual PhDs in Architecture, Dr. Abdelhady combines academic rigor with industry insight, shaping both future architects and architectural thought. He actively teaches, conducts research, and contributes to the global architecture community through his writing, lectures, and media ventures. His work bridges the gap between practice and academia, pushing the boundaries of how architecture is communicated in the digital age.