Drone Conference
6–7 November
Oulu, Finland ❘ Hotel Lasaretti
FinDrones 2024 – Drones in Logistics, Safety, Agriculture and Forestry
FinDrones 2024 is an international conference scheduled for November 6-7, 2024, in Oulu, Finland. This event gathers drone experts from around the world to explore the potential of drones in various fields and address scientific and technical challenges related to their use. The conference will feature keynote speeches from top industry experts, presentations of new products and services from companies, and opportunities for networking and collaboration among attendees from research organizations, companies, and end-users of drone technology.
FinDrones 2024 will continue the tradition of previous conferences, such as FinDrones 2023, which focused on the application of drones in bioeconomy and rural logistics. These events are known for their comprehensive programs that include expert talks, matchmaking sessions, and exhibitions of cutting-edge drone technologies and applications.
SCHEDULE
Day 1 | 11:00-17:45
(10:00 Exhibitor & Speakers Registration- for presentors only!)
11:00 Lunch at Lasaretti restaurant & Participant Registration
12:30 Opening | Jussi Leponiemi – BusinessOulu
12:45 Keynote Logistics | Stephen Sutton CEO and co-owner Fly-by Guys Oy
13:15 Sponsor Speech
– Rodolfo Pedraza, Solita
13:30 Keynote Security and Defense | Emil Kastehelmi – Black Bird Group
14:00 Coffee, Exhibition & Posters
15:30 Session 1 | Logistics
– Timo Lind, VTT
– Arttu Viholainen, Osuuskauppa Arina
– Leena Vuotovesi, Oulun Liikekeskus
16:30 Break
16:45 Keynote | Dr. Holger Friehmelt – FH Joanneum “Flying in Mountains, Snow, and Ice in Austria and How Lessons Learned May Be Transferred to Scandinavia and Vice Versa”
17:15 Kimmo Paajanen, SAAC – Sustainable & Advanced Aviation Consortium
17:45 Wrap-Up | Niina Heikkinen – BusinessOulu
Day 2 | 8:15-17:00
08:15 Registration
08:30 Coffee, Exhibition & Posters
09:00 Session 2 | Security & Defense
– Prof. Martti Lehto, JYU
– Jesse Tolvanen, LUT University
– Pietari Sorri, Nordic Drones
09:45 Coffee break
10:00 Keynote | Hannu Haapala – Jamk University of Applied Sciences
10:30 Sponsor Speeches
– Nina Heiska, Nordic Geo Centre: Geodeettiset UAV-laserskannerit
– Rizwan Asif, Huld: From satellite image processing to artificial intelligence -based machine vision
– Pirita Ihamäki, Robocoast EDIH
11.15 Session 3 | Drones in Agriculture & Forestry
– Mikko Kauppinen, Stora Enso
– Roope Näsi Maanmittauslaiton, Drone-based multi-annual methods for bark beetle induced forest disturbance monitoring
– Evgeny Lopatin, Luonnonvarakeskus
12:15 Lunch, Exhibition & Posters
13:15 Session 4 | Academic
- – Markku Nuolimäki OAMK, Enhancing Drone Operations Through Accurate, Localised Weather Data: Challenges, Technology, and Methodology
- – Sandaruwan Jayaweera Oulu University, BLE for the Cooperative Awareness of Miniature UAVs: An Experimental Analysis of the Different Advertising Modes
- – Hannu Karvonen VTT, Limited Connectivity in UAS Operations: Theory-Based Human Factors Research Challenges
- – Jussi Aaltonen Tampere University, Conceptual Development of an Autonomous All-Electric Wing-in-Ground Effect Cargo Craft
- – Timo Kasurinen XAMK, An optimized drone for troubleshooting and maintenance of electricity distribution networks
- – Fabrice Saffre VTT, Self-organising drone swarms for detection and monitoring of wildfires
14:45 Coffee, Exhibition & Posters
15:15 Closing remarks of themes & Open mic for 15 mins| Logistics, Security & Defense, Agriculture & Forestry
15:45 Wrap-up of the event Thank you and conclusion
The organizer reserves the right to make schedule changes.
Secure your ticket before they sell out!
2 day ticket includes the access to the event, coffee & lunch for both days.
190€ (including VAT)
If you are interested in a stand/demo place, please let us know niina.m.heikkinen@businessoulu.com. Sponsors automatically have a stand.
Secure also your accommodation!
Participants book their rooms directly from the hotel lasaretti@lasaretti.com or phone 020 7574700. Everyone also pays for their room directly to the hotel, unless otherwise agreed.
SPEAKERS
Dr.-Ing. Holger Friehmelt (FH JOANNEUM)
Dr. Holger Friehmelt is director of the aviation institute at FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences in Graz, Austria. He is also founding father of AIRlabs, an innovation laboratory providing segregated airspaces for UAS testing in Austria.
His first professional exposure to drones was in a military program between the U.S. and Germany in 1998. Holger Friehmelt holds a master in engineering and finished his doctorate at DLR in Braunschweig in 1999.
Hannu Haapala (JAMK)
Hannu Haapala is Doctor of Science in Agrotechnology. His expertise lies in Smart Agriculture and related innovations. Throughout his career, he has held notable positions, including Professorships of Agricultural Engineering at Helsinki University and at MTT Agrifood Research Finland (now Natural Resources Institute).
Currently, he leads Smart Bioeconomy research at the JAMK Institute of Bioeconomy. His primary project, Finnish Future Farm, aims to establish a research and innovation hub for agricultural technologies, encompassing education, R&D, and business creation. A core feature of this hub is the Smart Bioeconomy Testbed, which includes a physical farm and its virtual Digital Twin.
Emil Kastehelmi (Black Bird Group)
Emil Kastehelmi is one of the founders of the Black Bird Group intelligence group and a prominent war commentator both at home and abroad. Along with OSINT and GEOINT activities, Kastehelmi actively monitors drone warfare and its development.
Jesse Tolvanen (LUT)
Jesse Tolvanen is a Junior Researcher at Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT). His PhD research activities include UAV swarming, autonomous systems, communication systems, and standardization. He is an active member of ISO/TC 20/SC 16 “Unmanned Aircraft Systems” and CEN/TC 471/WG1 “Unmanned Aircraft Systems.” Jesse has over 10 years of experience operating and developing drones in and outside of work. He is an active UAV pilot and volunteers at Suomen Lentopelastusseura (The Finnish Air Rescue Association) in the readiness group UAS 403 Mikkeli.
Arttu Viholainen (Osuuskauppa Arina)
Arttu Viholainen is an eCommerce Development manager in Osuuskauppa Arina. He responsible of developing the eCommerce business and services in Arina region – including Finland’s well-known S-Kaupat food delivery robots.
Prof. Martti Lehto (University of Jyväskylä)
Dr. Martti Lehto, PhD in Military Sciences, COL G.S. (ret.) works as Research director in the Faculty of Information Technology at University of Jyväskylä. Before academic career he has over 30 years of experience as developer and leader of C4ISR Systems in Finnish Air Force. He is also Director in the Finnish Center of Expertise for Cybersecurity in Jyväskylä and Adjunct professor in National Defence University in Air and Cyber Warfare. He has over 200 publications and research reports on areas of cyber warfare, critical infrastructure protection, air power, C5ISR systems, cyber security education, information warfare, security and defence policy, leadership, and management. Since 2001 he has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Military Magazine.
Dr. Pirita Ihamäki (Robocoast EDIH)
Pirita Ihamäki, PhD, M.Sc., is an accomplished business developer with 15 years of experience in digital business ecosystems. As head of the Gamecoast network, she oversees Robocoast’s international partnerships with ECCP, EDIH, and DIH centers, focusing on strengthening Europe’s innovation capacity, competitiveness, and green growth.
Dr. Ihamäki is committed to enhancing small and medium-sized enterprises’ innovation potential through ecosystem and networking services across Europe. She blends strategic and operational expertise to create effective international business and open innovation models, specializing in service design and digital innovation ecosystems.
Her research explores value creation within digital ecosystems, furthering the EDIH ecosystem’s development. Dr. Ihamäki’s work drives innovation and growth in Europe’s digital landscape.
Leena Vuotovesi (Oulun Liikekeskus)
Leena Vuotovesi is the director of Oulun Liikekeskus, standing for the private business life in the urban city center of Oulu. Previously, Leena worked as the CEO of Micropolis Ltd leading innovative green politics that aimed at creating jobs and investments with the climate-friendly solutions. She has been awarded the European Innovation in Politics Award 2019. Leena hols MA from the Oulu University, and has also studied in the University of Namibia and the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, lately in the Cambridge University’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership, too. She sits on the boards of Oulu Business School and the national Finnish Cultural Foundation supporting arts and sciences in Finland.
Sponsorships
Bronze Sponsorship
500€
VAT 0%
- Sponsor quick pitch 5 min
- Logo visibility at the event and marketing
- Place at the exhibition/demo area
- 1 complimentary ticket
Silver Sponsorship
1 500€
VAT 0%
- Sponsor Keynote (1 timeslot)
- Partner visibility at the event (acknowledge from stage) and marketing
- Place at the exhibition/demo area
- 2 complimentary tickets
Gold Sponsorship
3 000€
VAT 0%
- Sponsor Keynote (2 timeslots)
- Own company table reserved for the networking dinner at Pehkolanlampi VIP event
- Possibility to see the participant list beforehand and invite 5 participants to your company table for dinner
- Partner visibility at the event (acknowledge from stage) and marketing
- Place at the exhibition/demo area
- Possibility to influence the nameplates
- 3 complimentary tickets
CALL FOR PAPERS:
The FinDrones 2024 conference invites researchers and practitioners to submit abstracts for presentations. Selected presentations will be considered for publication in a book titled Drones for Resilient Nature – Proceedings of FinDrones 2024, published by Springer in the Springer Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry book series.
Topics:
- Applications of drones in agriculture, forestry, safety/security, and logistics
- Theoretical, methodological, and practical contributions related to drone use
Call for Papers Timetable:
- Submission Deadline: 30th September 2024 – All papers should be sent to mika-petri.laakkonen@oamk.fi with the title “Findrones2024, abstract” using the provided template below labelled “Abstract-template_en (English)”.
- 15th October 2024 – Authors of selected abstracts will be invited to submit a full paper review (more than 12 pages) for peer review and publication to the Springer, Nature journal.
- 15th January 2025 – Authors return manuscript to editor. Final touches. Editor to compile the book ready for submission.
- 28th February 2025 – Editor sends final version of volume to Springer, Nature.
Selection Criteria:
Abstracts will be selected based on their relevance to the conference theme, originality, and potential contribution to the book.
Publication Opportunity:
Authors of selected presentations will be invited to submit a full paper (>12 pages) for peer review and possible publication in the Springer book.
Previous publication: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-44607-8
We look forward to receiving your abstracts!
Posters:
All participants are invited to submit a poster. All submissions will be considered. Please bring a printed copy of your poster to the event. A0 is the recommended size.
Questions about tickets or visibility packages? Contact niina.m.heikkinen@businessoulu.com
Partners
