# Vignette 25: Colombia's drones for empathy
When Hurricane Iota devastated the Colombian archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina in November 2020, UNDP Colombia's Accelerator Lab quickly repurposed one of their existing prototypes. "We were already exploring how technology could bridge mental gaps and create empathy," explains Juan David Martin, Head of Experimentation at UNDP Colombia. Months earlier, the team had experimented with augmented reality,[\[1\]](#endnote-1) virtual reality, and 360° cameras to help decision-makers empathize and connect with communities they seldom visited.
Faced with the catastrophic impact (98% destruction of homes and buildings on Providencia Island), the Lab quickly pivoted their technology experiments toward crisis response. Equipped with drones and 360° cameras, they conducted an augmented assessment[\[2\]](#endnote-2) that allowed experts in Bogotá and San Andrés to virtually experience the disaster zone without physical travel.
This approach revealed patterns that traditional damage assessments often missed. "With drones and photogrammetry, we identified that most damage was to roofs and only superficial structural damage to the foundations," Juan David explains. The team created detailed 3D models of the affected areas (Figure 40), enabling precise measurement of the destruction and more targeted allocation of resources.
A key aspect of the approach was the emotional connection the technology created. "When people in the country office saw the situation of the island through virtual reality, it created a strong emotional response," recalls Juan David. "When people see the situation of left-behind territories with their own eyes, not just through Excel sheets, they take decisions from another perspective." This emotional connection translated into action; the Colombian government committed $5 million to a recovery project based on the augmented damage assessment approach.
The communities themselves benefited from more than just faster aid. By training local residents to operate drones for ongoing monitoring, the initiative built new technical skills within affected areas. "Initially, we faced challenges with internet connectivity and hesitancy about technology," Juan David acknowledges. "But we found that giving people direct control of the tools created ownership and engagement." In forest fire-prone areas, community-led drone monitoring now serves as both a disaster prevention measure and a way for communities to document and communicate their needs to distant decision-makers.
The approach further scaled both internally and externally. The team established a "Drones for Development" program, training over 70 UNDP Colombia staff as certified drone pilots. The methodology expanded to neighboring countries, with the team supporting disaster response in Dominican Republic and Guatemala. Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management adopted the approach for forest fire brigades, training 82 community teams in drone monitoring and participatory mapping.[\[3\]](#endnote-3)
{% hint style="info" %}
#### **Key takeaways:**
* **Create experiences, not just tools:** Design for experiences using technology that build empathy and transform how people perceive situations
* **Work with what you have:** in crisis situations, identify and adapt existing tools rather than developing new solutions from scratch
* **Train to empower:** equip communities and colleagues with skills that enable them to use technology for their own priorities and adapt it for multiple purposes
* T**arget decision points:** identify where technology can provide real-time information or critical insights to inform decisions by connecting decision-makers with on-the-ground realities
* **Diffuse successful innovations:** make an effort to share effective technology solutions to serve similar crisis contexts while encouraging local adaptation.
{% endhint %}
***
## Notes
1. See PNUD Colombia (2020) [↑](#endnote-ref-1)
2. This assessment is based on the Household and Building Damage Assessment (HBDA). For more information, see UNDP Surge (2021). [↑](#endnote-ref-2)
3. See PNUD Colombia (2024) [↑](#endnote-ref-3)
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