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During the eleventh edition of Dronitaly, which will be held from March 11 to 13, 2026 at the EX GAM Congress Center of BolognaFiere, the National Research Council (CNR) will organize the event, structured over three days, “Drones and Environment: Research, Applications, and Perspectives”.
The aim of the event is to bring together professionals from diverse fields — geology, agro-forestry, engineering, and digital research — and foster an open dialogue on the challenges and opportunities in the rapidly developing drone sector, which is transforming the way we collect, share, and interpret data on the territory. Various speakers will take turns to reconstruct the theme of drone use from multiple viewpoints, through stories and experiences, analyzing the advantages and the related critical issues. Three thematic sessions are planned: “Agro-Forestry”, “Geo-Environmental”, and “Networks, Security & Data Management”, each of which will be followed by a dedicated general discussion.
Full Program
March 11 – from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
“Solutions in the Agro-Forestry Sector”
Scientific Manager: Dr. Salvatore Filippo Di Gennaro (CNR Institute of Bioeconomics)
The day dedicated to the use of drones in the agro-forestry sector will offer an overview of the main operational applications supporting sustainable land management. The forestry session will present use cases related to plant characterization and identification, fire risk assessment, and cadastral mapping of areas. The agricultural session will address the development of prescription maps for fertilization, monitoring of water stress on olive trees, 3D modeling of crops, characterization of crop traits on arable land, and phytosanitary risk assessment in vineyards. The day will conclude with a round table on aerial treatments by drone and regulatory and application aspects.
March 12 – from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
“Solutions in the Geo-Environmental Sector”
Scientific Manager: Dr. Daniele Giordan (CNR Institute for Hydrogeological Protection Research)
Over the last decade, the use of drones in the geo-environmental field has experienced extraordinary growth. Thanks to the possibility of acquiring numerous environmental parameters using increasingly diversified sensors, these systems have established themselves as fundamental tools for the study and monitoring of many natural processes. The geo-environmental session will address topics related to the application of drones in the study of geological processes, with examples ranging from hydro-geological instability phenomena to fluvial dynamics, from volcanic monitoring to the analysis of the effects of earthquakes. Drones today represent an essential support both in research activities and in territorial analyses and emergency operations, allowing operation even in high-risk contexts. However, the complexity of the processes and morphologies investigated requires the adoption of specific operational techniques, which are essential for correctly conducting field activities and obtaining solid results, useful for subsequent analysis and interpretation phases.
March 13 – from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
“Drones and Data: Management, Security, and Future Networks”
Scientific Manager: Dr. Paolo Barsocchi (CNR Institute of Information Science and Technologies)
During the day, the main issues related to the management of data generated by drones will be addressed: from their storage and visualization, often complex due to the heterogeneity of the information collected, to the need to integrate different sources into increasingly advanced analytical processes. Alongside the technical aspects, crucial topics such as privacy and cybersecurity will be focused on, which are essential to ensure reliable and regulation-compliant operations. Particular attention will be dedicated to network infrastructures and innovative solutions that allow data to be transferred, processed, and used in real time, including the emerging role of the drone as an active network node. A prototype of geolocation on a mobile vector, which opens up new perspectives for territory monitoring and management, will also be presented. The session aims to be a moment of interdisciplinary discussion and a window into the future potential of data processing in the world of drones: an opportunity to explore new ideas, share experiences, and imagine the next trajectories of innovation together.
Participate in Dronitaly 2026
From March 11 to 13, 2026, at the EX GAM, congress center of BolognaFiere, the eleventh edition of Dronitaly will take place, the only international event in Italy for professional civil drones.
A true strategic platform that brings together Italian and foreign companies over three days dedicated to exhibition, conferences, technical tables, and networking, to present the most advanced technologies and foster B2B and B2G relationships aimed at developing new partnerships, projects, and market opportunities.
