Finalist 2020: Globhe
Globhe brings together 3600 drone pilots in 48 countries in a crowddroning platform that helps customers like the United Nations make the world a better place. The image data makes it possible to predict both natural disasters and disease outbreaks.
Almost four years ago, Helena Samsioe had the idea to collect and coordinate the world’s drones to use their images as environmental health data. Globhe has been described as “an Uber for drones” with a platform that provides access to 3600 drone pilots in 48 countries.
– Our global platform is unique and makes it possible for drone photos to be used as data that provides that insights that can help create a better world, says Helena Samsioe.
The largest customer is the United Nations, which, for example, uses the data to work more efficiently during floods, predict droughts and avoid fires, or detect pollution in water areas.
“Our global platform is unique and enables drone photos to be used as data that provides insights that can help create a better world”
Helena Samsioe, CEO and founder Globhe
User-friendly and scalable
The crowddroning platform, which Globhe developed together with Above, was launched in early 2020. What was previously a manually managed multi-step process – find a pilot, negotiate a contract, inform about the mission, find out about local regulations and get the data back in the right format – has become as easy as ordering an Uber. With the help of design and technology, Globhe’s service has become both user-friendly and scalable.
– The collaboration with Globhe shows how successful the marriage between technology and design is. The project includes everything from the gig economy for the world’s drone pilots, sustainable solutions, doing good for the world and commercial success. It is rare that one and the same customer covers so many areas, says Kristoffer Eriksson, Software and Electronics Manager at Above.
“The collaboration with Globhe shows how successful the marriage between technology and design is.”
Kristoffer Eriksson, Software and Electronics Manager at Above
A market with growing pains
Drones provide an image quality that is superior to satellite image data, a real-time that even Google Earth cannot offer, and is both more environmentally friendly and cheaper than airplanes and helicopters. But still, drone services have primarily existed in the film, media and real estate industries in the past. Globhe therefore fills a hole in the market – both through its focus on environmental health but also through its enormous geographical reach.
The demand for Globhe’s user-friendly and global offer is great. For example, insurance companies, as well as agricultural companies, would greatly benefit from the data that the United Nations uses in connection with natural disasters. But Globhe does not cater to just any customer.
– Our goal now is to broaden our customer portfolio. But social impact will remain at the core of what we do. We want to create value for our customers and help them make their work more efficient, but it must also create value for people and the planet. All these three components must be checked off in one way or another, says Helena Samsioe.
Finalist Global Award of Design 2020: Globhe
Producing company: Globhe.
Design: Above.
Motivation: With qualitative, global and cost-effective image data, Globhe is a tool for predicting and combating natural disasters and disease outbreaks. The platform, which brings together 3600 drone pilots in 48 countries, helps users such as the United Nations. A business model designed with a holistic, humanistic and commercial foundation.
