flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Norman Foster proposes 'drone ports' as a way to ship goods across Africa

BIM and Information Technology

Norman Foster proposes 'drone ports' as a way to ship goods across Africa

The structures would store cargo-shipping drones and serve as community centers.


By Mike Chamernik, Associate Editor | September 16, 2015
Norman Foster proposes Droneports as way to ship goods across Africa

Droneport renderings courstey Foster + Partners (via World Architecture Community)

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

University Buildings | Jul 21, 2015

Maker spaces: Designing places to test, break, and rebuild

Gensler's Kenneth Fisher and Keller Roughton highlight recent maker space projects at MIT and the University of Nebraska that provide just the right mix of equipment, tools, spaces, and disciplines to spark innovation. 

BIM and Information Technology | Jul 20, 2015

New stylus brings digital sketching to the next level

Without buttons, users can change the weight of the stylus’ stroke.

BIM and Information Technology | Jul 16, 2015

BIM for O+M: New app streamlines project documentation handover process

The Building Ops app enables owners to begin operations on the first day with a turnkey maintenance and asset management solution, according to its maker, Autodesk.

BIM and Information Technology | Jul 15, 2015

Google launches open-source beacon platform: Eddystone

Though beacons usually broadcast information publicly, Eddystone has the option to communicate privately as well, which greatly expands the applications for the technology.

BIM and Information Technology | Jul 14, 2015

New city-modeling software quantifies the movement of urban dwellers

UNA for Rhino 3D helps determine the impact that urban design can have on where pedestrians go.

BIM and Information Technology | Jul 14, 2015

Nation’s first 'drone park' breaks ground in North Dakota

This is one of six testing sites around the country that are developing flight standards and evaluating the utility of drones for different tasks. 

BIM and Information Technology | Jul 6, 2015

BIM/VDC training is more than learning the features

Training can be a taxing experience for both the class and the instructor. CASE's Nathan Miller offers four ways to make training more relevant to practitioners.

BIM and Information Technology | Jul 6, 2015

Researchers increase GPS precision to centimeter-accurate

A new startup is working with Samsung to develop a snap-on accessory for centimeter-accurate global positioning.

BIM and Information Technology | Jul 6, 2015

New documentary shows Legos as touchstones of creativity

The film's narrator, actor Jason Bateman, says it’s a story “about a simple toy and how its unique properties ushered in a new era of creativity for a whole generation.” 

BIM and Information Technology | Jul 1, 2015

World’s first fully 3D-printed office to be produced in Dubai

A 20-foot-tall printer will be needed for the project, spewing out construction material consisting of special reinforced concrete, fiber reinforced plastic, and glass fiber reinforced gypsum.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




Great Solutions

41 Great Solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors

AI ChatBots, ambient computing, floating MRIs, low-carbon cement, sunshine on demand, next-generation top-down construction. These and 35 other innovations make up our 2024 Great Solutions Report, which highlights fresh ideas and innovations from leading architecture, engineering, and construction firms.

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021