SPH Engineering, a developer of drone-based solutions for surveying, inspection and mapping, has opened applications for the Global Drone Operations Awards 2026. The international program recognizes drone operations that address complex field challenges in industrial, scientific, and engineering settings.

The launch reflects a shift in the drone industry toward operational maturity. Across mineral exploration, methane inspection, construction monitoring, subsurface investigation, and academic research, drones are increasingly relied on for data that supports field decisions, not just imagery. SPH Engineering says many of the strongest examples of that work stay confined to individual project teams, client reports, or research documents, and the Awards program is meant to surface them for the broader industry.

"Drones are no longer just cameras in the sky," said Alexey Dobrovolskiy, CEO of SPH Engineering. "In demanding industrial environments, they are becoming professional tools for collecting data that directly support business and operational decisions. With these Awards, we want to recognize the teams proving what advanced drone workflows can achieve, and help more industries understand the value of these methods."

The 2026 program covers four categories: Mining & Exploration, Oil & Gas, Construction & Engineering, and Academia & Research. SPH Engineering selected these sectors because field teams there are frequently tasked with collecting high-confidence data in remote, hazardous, or expensive-to-access environments, where improved workflows can lower risk and speed up the path from fieldwork to decision-making.

Judging criteria include technical complexity, data quality, innovation, operational execution, business outcomes, and measurable impact. Commercial UAV News content manager Matt Collins will serve on the jury along with Cian B. Dawson of FastTIMES/EEGS, Jan Francke of Geolitix, and one additional juror to be announced at a later date.

Finalists and winners will gain visibility among drone, geospatial, and industrial technology audiences. Winners will also be invited to a celebration event in Budapest, Hungary, in October 2026, where participants will compare field-proven workflows and discuss what it takes to move advanced drone methods from isolated projects to standard practice.

Applications for the 2026 Global Drone Operations Awards are open now. Category details, eligibility requirements, submission guidelines, and evaluation criteria are available here.