Coding for drone-based monitoring in steel production

COGNIMAN partners tested and evaluated drone technology as a part of the use case aimed at improving logistics, safety and traceability in the outdoor warehouse of ABS’s steel production plant. This meeting brought together partners from NORCE, Montimage and IBM at the ABS facility.

Using drones for safer and smarter steel logistics

As part of the use case, drones were flown at different parts of the day over a designated area of the ABS site to collect videos and images of steel batches stored in different bays. Each flight followed a set plan, based on the type of drone, image quality and flying distance.

The footage collected served two main purposes:

• Side-view videos were used to detect the position of each batch and read QR codes containing details like heat number, width and other identifiers
• Top-view images helped assess safety within the storage area by identifying possible risks for workers or vehicles

Turning drone data into useful insights

After collecting the data, the team carried out a first round of analysis. The results were shared with ABS and showed that drone images could support both batch tracking and safety checks. The findings were promising and point to the value of continuing development in this area.

Demonstrating a new logistics dashboard

The team also presented a prototype logistics dashboard to ABS. This tool displays real-time information about batch locations, product details and safety compliance. Feedback from ABS was positive, especially on the dashboard’s potential to support daily operations. The team will use this input to improve the dashboard further.

Checking the human side of technology

At the end of the session, participants completed a short questionnaire covering ethical and social aspects of the use case. This included questions about privacy, safety and how drone-based monitoring would change the routine of the operators.

What’s next?

The drone flights and early analysis show potential for improving both safety and efficiency. The next steps will focus on refining the tools and continuing to respond to user feedback to ensure they meet real-world needs.