The Power of Flying Labs Use Cases

By Kenneth Ramah

Why Use Cases?

The Flying Labs Network brings together local experts and professionals in drone, data, robotics, and AI services to collaborate, co-create, and share in their work to improve communities. Sharing is one of the values guiding the Network, which continues to shape the contributions and impact of Flying Labs.

Each Flying Labs benefits from creating and publishing use cases in many ways. Once the use cases are published, they have the potential to reach a larger audience and attract new clients, partners, and donors. Use cases maximize the power of storytelling to educate communities, promote their work and that of the Network as a whole, share social-good stories, and build a positive image of drones in the community. To foster an environment of learning and sharing, the Flying Labs document their activities, whether projects or training, through use cases. 

Côte d’Ivoire using drones in precision agriculture

The use cases provide an informative summary of these activities and enhance the intentionality of sharing and learning within the Network. For instance, an agricultural use case from Nigeria Flying Labs inspired Namibia Flying Labs to raise awareness on the use of drones in agriculture and nature conservation shared through this use case. 

“Agricultural use cases, specifically from Nigeria Flying Labs, have inspired us to create awareness in Namibia through drone in agriculture training and workshops.” - Virginie Uwimana, Namibia Flying Labs

These use cases are also published on WeShare, an internal resource hub, for access by other Flying Labs and on the Flying Labs website for public access.

How Are Use Cases Created?

WeRobotics provides different use case templates for use by the Flying Labs. These templates ensure standardization in reporting and time efficiency, give guidelines on reporting aspects, and simplify reporting. Project use case templates are available for mapping, cargo, spraying, or vector control projects, while a separate template is available for all training activities. For instance, Zimbabwe Flying Labs used the training template to document how they trained participants from Zimbabwe’s Civil Protection Unit to use drone data acquisition and processing for Disaster Risk Reduction. More about the training can be found here.

The format of the use cases brings a synergy of technical, descriptive, and storytelling components, helping readers easily comprehend the work and impact of the Flying Labs. Additionally, the templates follow a similar format to improve readability and make them easier to follow.

The Flying Labs submit their use cases through an internal submission form for review and publication. The WeRobotics team is dedicated to ensuring that the Flying Labs have adequate support in developing their use cases. Did you know the Flying Labs can also write their use cases in French or Spanish for more localized reach based on the Flying Labs' preference?

Philippines Flying Labs setting up for an inter-island cargo delivery.

Use Cases Themes

The use cases are generally classified under program-specific themes to provide direct linkage to development sectors and the Sustainable Development Goals. The themes include;

• Development includes projects and training to improve human conditions, livelihoods and reduce inequalities.
• Disaster includes projects and training that leverage the applications of emerging technologies to improve disaster risk reduction, response, and recovery operations.
• Health includes projects and training that leverage local expertise in applying emerging technologies to improve public health services for remote and hard-to-reach communities.
• Climate Action & Agriculture includes projects and training contributing to the fight against climate change and supports conservation and more sustainable agriculture practices. 
• Youth / STEM includes projects and training that provide youth, educators, and schools with relevant and demand-driven STEM training and projects.

Access and explore use cases under each theme previously created by Flying Labs by visiting the Flying Labs website's use cases section.