Transforming Hospital Expansion with Drone-Based Land Use Mapping in Tanzania

A leading hospital in Tanzania faced challenges in planning an extension to improve medical care and community development. Engineers Without Borders, Norway Division (IUG), took the lead, employing drone technology and GIS Cloud to address the lack of up-to-date property data. The hospital’s existing technical documentation dated back to 1984, failing to reflect significant changes in configuration and land use.

Using drones, the team captured high-resolution orthographic photos of the hospital property, which were then stitched together to form a comprehensive, detailed map. The GIS Cloud platform, with its user-friendly interface, was deployed for map visualization, data editing, and collaborative planning. The real-time accessibility allowed engineers, planners, and stakeholders to access the maps and contribute effectively from any location.

The solution not only provided an accurate depiction of the current land use in a cost-effective manner, but also facilitated efficient planning for the hospital extension. It reduced the dependency on specialized GIS software, empowering team members without GIS expertise to participate actively in the project.