Drone Natitingou · Bénin
Drone Natitingou — Atacora heritage, forestry and ecotourism
OHM WORKS operates in Natitingou, gateway to the Pendjari Park and Atacora capital, for 3D modelling of Tata Somba (vernacular earthen heritage), forest LiDAR mapping and monitoring of the park's buffer zone. Mobilisation from Cotonou with local base camp.
- Coverage
- 150 km
- Quote turnaround
- 48 h
- XY accuracy
- < 3 cm
- Case studies
- New
Why local
Benin's rooftop needs an aerial read.
ANAC + park authorities
Atacora hosts the Pendjari complex (W-Arly-Pendjari), shared with Burkina and Niger. Any mission near the park requires coordination with the Protected Area Directorate (African Parks). We handle the full ANAC + PAD circuit.
Mobilisation from Cotonou
Natitingou is 650 km from Cotonou (10 h by road). For multi-day missions, we systematically set up a local base camp with equipment carried in a secured vehicle.
Quote within 48 h, mobilisation 7-10 days
Quote priced within 48 h. Effective mobilisation between 7 and 10 days for a 3- to 5-day mission on site — time needed for transport logistics and Atacora administrative authorisations.
Reading the vernacular landscape
Tata Somba are multi-storey earthen village fortresses, candidates for UNESCO listing. Their geometry is complex and fragile. Our method produces the centimetre photogrammetry needed for conservation, without direct contact.
Available services
Our drone missions in Natitingou
In Natitingou, demand covers vernacular heritage documentation, forest mapping (Pendjari buffer zones), urban planning of the capital and inspection of Atacora mining sites. Our four most-mobilised crafts:
Forest Management
Aerial stand inventory, biomass, under-canopy mapping and carbon monitoring.
DiscoverHeritage Conservation
3D modeling, LiDAR surveys, digital twins of listed sites.
DiscoverUrban Planning & Construction
Topographic surveys, site monitoring, volumetrics and BIM.
DiscoverMining & Quarries
±1% volumetrics, magnetometric exploration, autonomous surveillance, HSE compliance.
Discover
On the ground
First mission in Natitingou?
Natitingou is a major development target for OHM WORKS — UNESCO-candidate heritage, growing forestry, artisanal mines to structure. Be our first public reference in Atacora.
Coverage in Natitingou and Atacora
Mobilisation from Cotonou with base camp in Natitingou. Our radius covers all of Atacora (Toucountouna, Boukoumbé, Tanguiéta, Cobly, Matéri, Kérou) and southern Donga. For the Pendjari complex, dedicated mission with acclimatisation and park logistics.
- Service radius
- 150 km
- On-site mobilisation
- ≤ 72 h
Drone regulation in Natitingou
Atacora combines several frames: transboundary protected area (Pendjari), heritage under listing (Tata Somba), wide rural zones. Every mission is preceded by a full ANAC declaration and, for the park, an African Parks agreement.
- ANAC Benin — Prior declaration, specific authorisations for flights near the park and community sites.
- Park zone — Reinforced SORA for flights near Pendjari — wildlife, rangers, transboundary.
- Forest BVLOS — Systematic NOTAM for BVLOS LiDAR missions on classified forest zones.
Frequently asked questions — local
Drone in Natitingou — your questions
Can a Tata Somba village be mapped without direct contact?
Yes, it's even the recommended method. Aerial photogrammetry delivers a centimetre-grade meshed 3D model of the Tata without touching the structure. This avoids any risk on the earthen walls and enables preventive conservation.
What accuracy is achievable on forest LiDAR in Atacora?
Multi-echo airborne LiDAR: 200 to 800 points/m² depending on need. Measures canopy height, plantation density, above-ground biomass and sub-canopy ground (ground visualisation). Data compliant with carbon MRV standards.
What lead time from Cotonou?
Effective mobilisation between 7 and 10 days. 10 hours by road for equipment and team transport, plus administrative authorisation logistics. We systematically set up a local base camp for missions longer than 3 days.
Do you work with African Parks for the Pendjari complex?
Any mission near the park requires their agreement. Upstream we submit a technical brief (flight profile, sensor, time window, data outputs) which they approve. The framework is now well-documented.
Typical deliverables for a Tata Somba conservation programme?
Centimetre-grade village orthophoto, meshed 3D model of each Tata, cut plans (facades, elevations, roofs), pathology report on high-resolution photos, georeferenced database for multi-year degradation tracking.
A project in Natitingou?
Firm quote within 48 h, team based in Cotonou.
Photogrammetry, LiDAR, thermography, 3D modelling — XY accuracy < 3 cm on every deliverable.