Drones to be used for surveying slope disaster

 ...Bhutan will have favourable method of studying slope disaster with the use of drones.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) handed two drones and flight simulators to the Department of Roads (DoR) for surveying slope disasters on roads, at the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement yesterday. 

The JICA Chief Representative Tomoyuki Yamada handed over the equipment to the director general of DoR during the 6th joint coordination meeting. It is a part of the “Project for capacity development on counter-measures of slope disaster on roads in Bhutan.” 

According to Tomoyuki Yamada, the implementation of the project should improve the capacity of the counterparts of the department of roads. 

“We are glad to see that most of the project activities are on track despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.  

Due to geographical and geological conditions, the roadways of Bhutan are subject to slope disaster risks at numerous locations. Slope disasters, including slope failure and debris flow, are common in the country, particularly during the rainy season.

At the regional level, the project committee would train the DoR officials on the usage of drones to survey the slopes.