The use of drones has expanded the possibilities for monitoring works and inspecting port facilities. With high-resolution aerial images and digital modeling resources, the National Waterway Transportation Agency (Antaq) can record different stages of undertakings, compare the physical evolution of works with approved projects, and gather evidence to support inspection.
This initiative aligns with the innovation agenda of the Ministry of Ports and Airports. Established in September 2026, the National Policy for Port Research, Development, and Innovation (PD&I-Portos) sets guidelines for incorporating modernization into sector planning, stimulating the development of technological solutions for the challenges of port activity.
In Porto Velho (RO), the technology was applied both in monitoring the construction of a new private grain handling terminal and in verifying improvements made at the public port. The cases show how aerial records can help document the execution of investments and compliance with obligations assumed by operators.
In the construction of Cargill's private use terminal (TUP) in Porto Velho, drones were used from the initial stages of the undertaking. Images recorded at different times were organized into georeferenced mosaics, called orthomosaics, which allow visualizing and comparing the work area over time.
This monitoring made it possible to evaluate the evolution of the undertaking in relation to the schedule and the approved project. The records were produced until the completion of construction in June 2026, forming a visual history of the different phases of implementation.
Comparing images from different periods helps document the physical progress of the work and provides subsidies for analyzing compliance with the established planning. With resources such as three-dimensional models and digital elevation models, it is also possible to represent terrain characteristics and structures, according to the needs of each inspection.
At the Public Port of Porto Velho, drones were used to monitor modernization commitments linked to the extension of the lease agreement. The inspection used aerial images to verify the replacement of conveyor belts, cargo elevators, and particle collectors.
Remote recording allowed observing these structures without requiring inspectors to work at height. Furthermore, the images offered a complementary source of verification to the information presented by the company responsible for the facilities.
The material produced can also support inspection reports and administrative processes, contributing to documenting the conditions found and verifying compliance with contractual obligations.
Aerial images also help to identify possible environmental irregularities in port facilities, such as cargo leaks, spills of inputs into the water, and irregular occupations or interventions. The identification of these occurrences allows directing inspection to situations that require verification and action.
The use of unmanned aircraft – the denomination adopted in Brazilian legislation for drones – began to be tested in Porto Velho in 2016, by regulation specialist Wescley Ferreira de Sousa, head of Antaq's Regional Unit in the municipality.
According to him, the technology expands inspection possibilities and offers new resources to verify the conditions of port facilities. "With aerial images, we can observe structures from different angles and record details that help to better understand the conditions of the facilities. This provides more elements for inspectors' analysis and for documenting inspections," he explains.
The technology is also used by other regional units of the Agency, such as those in Curitiba (PR), Salvador (BA), and Vitória (ES). Applications include recording facilities, monitoring interventions, and producing images that assist the work of inspectors.
By allowing observation of structures and comparison of records made at different times, drones expand the resources available for monitoring port works and investments. The images do not replace the technical analysis of inspectors but offer additional documentation to verify the execution of projects and assumed obligations.
