Drones and Data by Seemab Kazmi

Seemab Kazmi

Professor Tallon

IS251

Blog Post #2: Drones and Data

            One of the more recent and exciting additions to the tech-business world is drones. Beyond being used for media and graphics collections by Youtubers and film-makers, drones are changing the game for big businesses in data collection. Drones are an upgrade from static Internet of Things (IoT) technologies as they can do the job of many. The data being collected by these devices is can include more than just graphics—like emission gasses, radio signals, geodetic data, and much more. But, this data is not being automatically printed onto the screens of outsourced big business IT technicians. No, this data needs to be analyzed and assessed. But, the data being provided by drones is unique in many ways. For one, there are not many rules on how this data can be used. Like a lot of big data, questions like who can see it and what it can be used for still remain. Also, mining and analyzing this data is no simple task. Drones capture a variety of data and analyzing each type requires its own unique set of programs, lexicon, and skills.

            One will now ask, do businesses need drones that bad that they will invest millions of dollars in technology that supports them? Well, theoretically, businesses do not need a lot of the technology they are investing in today. But, investing in new technology allows businesses to compete in a race to acquire as much data as possible. The more businesses can survey their customers, workspace, and all other factors that impact commerce, the more successful they will be.

A bigger issue not discussed as heavily in the article is how much of the data collected might not have much significance to the businesses using it. Big data presents that problem regardless. But, the cost of drones and the analysis of the additional types of data they provide businesses with creates a dilemma with whether the cost is worth the outcome. In my opinion, it depends on the business. An oil company using drones to analyze the geographical data of their pumping sites to run smoother projects might further secure their procedures. But, a company like Coca Cola or other food production companies may not. If companies are already using and have “mastered” marketing using big data find that adding drones to their IoT data collection technologies will revolutionize their business and push it ahead of competitors, then the extra expenses may be worth it.

Making good use of drones presents businesses with a unique set of issues. But, drones can revolutionize how many businesses function. This is why I believe a business that focuses solely on collecting and sorting drone data for businesses would make millions. The most difficult task for businesses wanting to use drones is how many additional requirements there are to using drones. It requires the IT department of a business to jump through a lot more hoops with minimal results. By doing the job for them, a company could make millions.

Snow, Colin. “Drones Pose A Unique Big Data Challenge For Business Users.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 6 Feb. 2019, www.forbes.com/sites/colinsnow/2019/02/06/what-every-cio-needs-to-know-about-commercial-drone-data/#5841ae6689ba.