According to organizers, the training aimed to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and transparency in boundary governance, core elements for safeguarding national security, fostering regional stability, and protecting sovereign interests.
The program blended classroom sessions with hands-on field exercises, giving participants practical exposure to state-of-the-art tools used internationally in boundary management. A key component of the training was the deployment of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, which are rapidly becoming indispensable in modern land surveying.
Experts underscored that drones are transforming boundary mapping by capturing high-resolution imagery and detailed topographic data across vast or difficult terrain. These capabilities significantly reduce the time and cost of traditional ground surveys while minimizing risks for survey teams working in remote or challenging environments.
“Drones allow survey teams to work faster and safer, producing data of a quality that was simply not possible with conventional methods,” trainers noted. A major focus of the workshop was the integration of drones with Survey-Grade Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) equipment, a combination that provides centimeter-level accuracy essential for legal boundary delimitation and demarcation between neighboring states. Such precision, trainers emphasized, strengthens the defensibility of boundary decisions and helps reduce disputes over land or maritime claims.
Participants also received instruction on satellite signal augmentation techniques, especially Precise Point Positioning (PPP), which corrects satellite signal errors to generate highly reliable positional data. PPP is particularly beneficial for countries like Liberia that lack extensive geodetic infrastructure, offering a cost-effective solution that reduces dependence on numerous ground control points.
The workshop further highlighted the importance of high-performance computing systems capable of processing the large datasets produced by drone operations. Transforming raw drone data into usable outputs, such as orthomosaic maps, digital elevation models (DEMs), and 3D point clouds—requires workstations equipped with powerful GPUs and substantial memory. Without such systems, trainers cautioned, data processing could take days or even weeks, potentially delaying urgent national decisions related to boundary management.
Dr. Solomon’s participation is expected to strengthen Liberia’s ongoing efforts to enhance its technical readiness for land and maritime boundary reaffirmation, as well as support the establishment of a dedicated national commission for boundary management, an initiative critical to Liberia’s national security.
The knowledge gained from the drone-based data collection to advanced data processing, will directly support the work of Liberia’s interagency boundary technical team.
Regional authorities described the workshop as an important step toward harmonizing West Africa’s approach to boundary governance and promoting peaceful, cooperative development among neighboring states.
As boundary management becomes increasingly technology-driven, countries across the region are expected to continue investing in the expertise and tools needed to meet modern demands and prevent future disputes
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Published by: Kweshie Tetteh
