The Ministry of Housing, Land, and Urban Development has commenced a drone mapping initiative in Malé to recover vital urban imagery lost in the devastating fire of December 12, 2024.
The Geomatics Department is leveraging drone technology to rebuild the city’s urban mapping database. This effort aims not only to restore the lost data but also to enhance it with more detailed and advanced imagery, creating a robust resource for future urban planning.
The fire, which also engulfed the Green Building, caused irreparable damage to the Ministry’s servers, erasing years of critical urban planning data. With most records stored digitally, the fire wiped out both essential information and the hard work invested in compiling it. Only a limited number of physical documents were salvaged, and efforts are underway to assess the recoverability of damaged hard drives.
The loss goes beyond mere data—it represents years of meticulous planning and the vision for Malé’s growth. This tragedy has also underscored the vulnerabilities in the Ministry’s data management systems, prompting urgent discussions on the need for stronger safeguards, including secure backups and diversified storage solutions.
Despite the challenges, the Ministry’s proactive response through drone mapping has sparked hope, demonstrating resilience and commitment to the city’s future.
