International Drone Services Company Hojung Reaches Beyond Borders Despite COVID Crisis: Helping to Modernize Land Management Systems in Afghanistan

International drone services company Hojung Solutions is successfully reaching beyond borders despite the COVID crisis.

Hojung Solutions is a respected South Korean engineering firm with a well-developed drone program, using the award-winning Remo-M fixed wing mapping and inspection platform.  They’ve formed strong international partnerships across the globe: in Africa, in Asia, and now, in Afghanistan: despite the strict travel restrictions imposed by the current COVID crisis.

Hojung is participating in a World Bank project with The Ministry of Urban Development and Land of Afghanistan (MUDL).  As part of the World Bank’s project, MUDL has been tasked with modernizing land management systems in the country.  Modernization will provide the technical and administrative foundations for implementing infrastructure projects, for designing and implementing policies and plans for socio-economic development, and for attracting investment to Afghanistan.

MUDL engaged Hojung Solutions to introduce drone-based data acquisition for land management: including creating a training program for the operation of the Remo-M; and in the use of LIDAR, mounted on a hexacopter from Mobiltech.

The mountainous terrain of Korea, for which the Remo-M was developed, is similar to the landscape in Afghanistan.  This makes the Remo-M ideally suited for the purpose, with an ability to land in small spaces through its deep-stall landing, and to adjust the altitude in the auto-mission planning on every way-point of the flight.

While the plan was in place, the unexpected global pandemic required significant adjustments – but in a demonstration of what can be accomplished despite the environment, both sides have made it work. “It is difficult to stand still forever due to Covid19,” says Munseok Lee, Hojung Solutions CEO. “This project is unique in the sense that all negotiations, program planning, and much of the implementation process was completed remotely through dedicated cooperation between MUDL and Hojung – and numerous video conferences.” The companies complied with Korean COVID-19 travel requirements, including a two-week quarantine in Korea by the MUDL engineers, through rigorous planning.  Engineers from Afghanistan completed a training program in Deajeon, Korea; they in turn will create a UAV operations training program for several dozen more survey engineers when they return to Kabul.

MUDL Director Yahya Mohaqeq noted that UAV applications are a new concept that will significantly improve cadastral surveying in Afghanistan.  “There are many ideas for implementing digital land data collection in Afghanistan,” said Mohaqeq.  “With growing peace and stability and new projects, it’s becoming very necessary.”

“It is not easy to travel to Korea because of COVID-19, and on top of that to be under quarantine for two weeks, so I appreciate the willingness of the staff from Afghanistan,” said Munseok Lee CEO of Hojung Solutions.  “In a country where the word ‘drone’ was associated with the military operations, the Remo -M and the introduction of drones by the civilian sector for the development and improvement of land use is meaningful.”