Global Drone Operations Awards by SPH Engineering
What are the Global Drone Operations Awards?
Full mission workflow
We evaluate the complete operational chain: mission planning, sensor integration, field execution, data collection, processing, and final deliverables.
Real-world outcomes
Projects must demonstrate measurable value like saved time, reduced risk, improved data quality, or better operational decisions. Outcomes must be quantifiable, not qualitative.
Professional rigor
The Awards are designed for professional teams working with complex sensing, geophysics, hydrography, inspection, construction, environmental monitoring, and research applications.
Who can participate?
Open to any team pushing the limits of commercial drone and unmanned field operations:
Drone Award Categories
Choose the category that best matches your project’s main industry, application area, or operational focus.
Mining Operations
For drone-based projects supporting mining, mineral exploration, site assessment, or related field operations.
Oil & Gas Operations
For drone-based solutions in exploration, inspection, monitoring, environmental assessment, methane detection, or site surveying.
Academia & Research
For scientific research, academic studies, field experiments, and applied technical investigation.
Construction & Site Intelligence
For advanced projects in subsurface assessment, infrastructure inspection, environmental analysis, monitoring, and multi-sensor workflows.*
Jury Special Recognition
For drone-based projects supporting mining, mineral exploration, site assessment, or related field operations.
*Eligibility note: Standard photogrammetry, LiDAR, mapping, or routine site monitoring alone are not eligible. These methods may be included in a broader technical workflow with added complexity, measurable results, and clear operational value.
Not sure which category your project fits into? Submit it anyway, our team will help categorize it.
What makes a strong submission?
Five questions every winning entry answers. Use this as a self-assessment checklist before you submit.
Problem
What operational, environmental, safety, or data challenge was addressed?
Solution
Which drone, sensor, payload, software, and workflow were used?
Execution
How was the mission planned and completed in the field?
Results
What changed after using the drone-based method?
Impact
What measurable value was achieved?
Evaluation Criteria
Technical Complexity
Mission difficulty, challenging terrain, complex sensors, and non-standard conditions.
Data Quality
Accuracy, clarity, resolution, reliability, and usefulness of the final data.
Business Impact / ROI
Time, cost, safety, or operational improvements compared with traditional surveying methods.
Methodological Innovation
Creative use of software, sensors, payloads, mounts, or workflow adaptations.
Professional Outreach
Clarity of the case description and its value for educating the professional community.
How it works
Prizes and Recognition
Winners receive global recognition for their achievements.
Winner Package
- Travel and accommodation for the Budapest Awards Event, October 11–13, 2026*
- Official SPH Engineering Awards Certificate
- Winner announcement across SPH Engineering channels
- Dedicated spotlight on the winning project
- Opportunities for case studies, webinars, and industry content
*SPH Engineering will arrange and cover eligible travel and accommodation. No cash alternative is available. Details will be confirmed with each invited winner.
Budapest Awards Event
October 11–13, 2026 · Budapest, Hungary Bringing together winners, selected finalists, jury members, SPH Engineering experts, and leading drone professionals.
Your project submission must include:
- A real field project using drones and relevant payloads or sensors.
- A clearly described technical workflow.
- Clear results and measurable operational, scientific, or business value.
- Supporting materials, such as field photos, screenshots, maps, processed outputs, reports, or videos.
- Confirmed permission to publish the submitted project materials.
- A LinkedIn post or article presenting the project, with relevant visuals and a tag to SPH Engineering. Publish your project on LinkedIn, tag SPH Engineering, and submit the post or article link with your application.
Submission Form
Showcase your expertise, gain industry recognition, and connect with a global community of drone professionals, technical experts, and industry leaders.
FAQs
Who can submit a project?
Any company, operator, research team, or industrial end-user with a real drone-based field project. This includes commercial drone service providers, SPH Engineering partners and resellers, universities, geophysicists, hydrographers, and teams from mining, oil & gas, construction, utilities, and environmental monitoring. You do not need to be an SPH Engineering customer.
Can I submit more than one project?
Yes. Each project must be submitted separately through its own form entry. There is no limit on the number of projects a single company may submit, but each must meet the eligibility requirements independently.
Can I submit a project based on photogrammetry or LiDAR?
Projects focused only on standard photogrammetry, LiDAR scanning, mapping, or routine site monitoring are not eligible. However, photogrammetry and LiDAR may be included if they are part of a broader and more technically complex workflow involving additional sensors, integrations, surveying methods, challenging field conditions, or advanced data analysis. The submission should clearly demonstrate the full technical workflow and measurable value beyond standard aerial data collection.
Do I need to be an SPH Engineering customer or partner?
No. The Awards are open to any team doing rigorous drone-based surveying, regardless of which software or hardware they use. SPH Engineering partners are welcome to highlight client deployments, but non-customers compete on exactly the same terms.
What materials should I provide?
Photos from the field, data accuracy reports, videos of the flight or mission, and any published reports or papers. Provide a shared link to a folder containing all assets. Strong submissions typically include both raw documentation and polished outputs.
How are winners selected?
Shortlisted projects are evaluated by the jury on technical complexity, data quality, business impact, innovation, and professional outreach.
I’m not sure which category fits my project. What should I do?
Submit under the category you think is closest, or use the "Others" category if your project genuinely crosses disciplines. The SPH Engineering review team will verify categorization before shortlisting and may reach out to discuss reclassification if needed. Don't let category uncertainty stop you from submitting.
How are the winners selected?
All eligible submissions are reviewed by the SPH Engineering team, and a shortlist is prepared per category. Shortlisted entries are evaluated by an independent jury of industry experts against five criteria: technical complexity (25%), data quality (25%), business impact (25%), methodological innovation (15%), and professional outreach value (10%). Jury decisions are final.
When and how will the winners be announced?
Winners will be announced publicly on September 1, 2026, across the SPH Engineering website, LinkedIn, newsletter, and other communication channels. All shortlisted finalists will be notified privately before the public announcement. Category winners and selected finalists may also be invited to the SPH Engineering Awards Event on October 11–13, 2026, in Budapest, Hungary.
Will there be an offline awards event?
Yes. The SPH Engineering Awards Event is planned for October 11–13, 2026, in Budapest, Hungary. Category winners and selected finalists may be invited to attend, present or discuss their projects, meet the Awards jury, and connect with the professional drone community. SPH Engineering will provide category winners with a directly booked travel and accommodation package.