Airspace Link in Detroit Partnering to Advance Drone Imagery in Urban Planning

Airspace Link, a Detroit-based provider of digital infrastructure supporting the drone industry, and Spexi, a Canadian company that delivers high-resolution earth imagery, are partnering to enhance urban planning, resource management, and decision-making.
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Airspace Link and Spexi are partnering to enhance urban planning, resource management, and decision-making through images captured by drones. // Image courtesy of Spexi

Airspace Link, a Detroit-based provider of digital infrastructure supporting the drone industry, and Spexi, a Canadian company that delivers high-resolution earth imagery, are partnering to enhance urban planning, resource management, and decision-making.

By combining Airspace Link’s AirHub Portal with Spexi’s high-res imagery, the companies seek to develop what they call “highways of the future” by integrating drone technology into existing transportation networks, starting with Detroit’s Advanced Aerial Innovation Region.

The Advanced Aerial Innovation Region was developed to accelerate commercial drone development and position Detroit and the state of Michigan as a leader in next-generation aerial mobility, attracting startups, catalyzing new jobs, and driving the adoption of drones in commercial applications.

Through the collaboration, Spexi’s high-res aerial drone imagery will be “seamlessly” integrated with Airspace Link’s AirHub Portal, helping first responders access emergencies with greater accuracy and deploy resources more effectively.

City planners can use detailed aerial data to optimize infrastructure projects, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. Additionally, the partnership paves the way for “innovative” transportation planning by integrating drone technology into everyday urban infrastructure.

“From the Motor City to the epicenter of drone innovation, Detroit has long been a symbol of progress and ingenuity in transportation,” says Bill Lakeland, CEO of Spexi. “By leveraging Airspace Link’s intuitive data hub, we can more widely deliver Spexi Networks’ ultra-high-resolution imagery to stakeholders across the Detroit area, enabling safer, more efficient transportation technology through the use of drones.

Spexi says its use of blockchain technology adds a layer of security and transparency to collected aerial images. By creating unchangeable records of aerial imagery, Spexi says it ensures data integrity while preventing unauthorized alterations. In turn, secure transactions between stakeholders provide a complete audit trail of data collection, processing, and usage.

The initiative also creates new economic opportunities for local drone pilots, solidifying Detroit’s position as a leader in the drone industry, according to Airspace Link and Spexi.

“By combining Spexi’s ultra-high-resolution imagery with Airspace Link’s AirHub Portal integrated drone operations management system, the collaboration aims to improve urban planning, resource management, and lay the groundwork for the future of transportation,” says Michael Healander, co-founder and CEO of Airspace Link.

Spexi and Airspace Link say they are laying the groundwork for safely incorporating drones into everyday infrastructure, enabling communities to benefit from innovation without compromising their privacy or security.

“It’s a big step forward for both of our companies,” says Alec Wilson, COO of Spexi. “Working together allows us to bring more innovative solutions to our customers, and even more opportunities for drone pilots across the United States.”