This paper presents the possibilities and benefits of using drones in mining operations. In the first part of the paper, aspects regarding the concept, the constructive elements of autonomous aerial vehicles, legislative provisions for the use of drones, elements of flight safety and the security of people are clarified. In the second part of the paper, the possibilities of practical use of drones in mining operations, the benefits and the types of expected results are presented.

The use of scanning technologies and digital photogrammetry with the help of drones in the field of agritourism activities in Romania is a topic of novelty, because all the data necessary for the implementation or development of such research can be collected very quickly and with maximum efficiency. The classic methods are cumbersome and with a high consumption of inputs, and human and financial resources. The case study presents a practical method of applying this technology in the case of the agritourist farm REMMAR, from Vâlcea county, Romania, which wants to expand its agricultural production capacity with ecological products. Graphic support was obtained by scanning or digitizing existing maps in the physical/printed format and by acquiring data of interest in the digital format by photogrammetric methods and aerial field scanning of the studied area. The original elements of the topic are: how to obtain images by using photogrammetric methods; developing the methodology of the research and the actual development, from setting the basic objectives to obtaining and presenting the final results; elaboration of the methodology of the needs analysis and designing the specific data model; designing and the practical implementation of the geographic information system in terms of structure, methods, and means of software implementation. The successful implementation of the system was achieved only under the conditions of the existence of a data model specific to the field of action, and first realizing the conceptual foundation of the applicable data model, which would allow the registration, storage, extraction, processing, and effective analysis of the data of interest. From a theoretical and practical point of view, the research has a unique character in Romania, because it presents for the first time the development of a standard methodology for the design, expansion, and promotion of agritourism farms. The built geographic information system (GIS) is an effective tool for the management and control of the quality and efficiency of works specific to sustainable agricultural production.

Urban planning is a dynamic and complex field aimed at the organized and sustainable development of cities and urban areas. This involves the efficient management of natural, economic, and social resources while ensuring a controlled and harmonious growth of infrastructure. The recent development of advanced technologies has had a significant impact on the way cities are planned, systematized, and developed. Among the most promising technologies that have revolutionized urban planning are UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), photogrammetric processing techniques, 3D scanning and modeling methods, and GIS systems (geographic information systems). UAVs, due to their ability to collect accurate data from height, have become an essential tool for obtaining images and information for urban analysis. After photogrammetric processing or 3D modeling and integration of digital results into GIS systems, simulations and analyses can be performed to support decision-making in urban development. This article aims to explore in detail the possibilities of using UAVs, photogrammetric and 3D modeling methods, and GIS systems in urban planning, highlighting their advantages, applications, and challenges.

The mining industry is the branch that provides necessary mineral raw materials for a whole series of economic activities, with the main beneficiaries being the energy industry (through coal consumers), companies specialized in the processing of uranium concentrates, chemical industry, food industry, construction materials industry, non-ferrous metallurgical industry, etc. Thus, in accordance with the Romanian mining industry strategy 2017-2035, one of the objectives of the industrial policy in the mining field in Romania is the development and implementation of a database system for the mining sector. Specifically, the goal consists in a development of a tool for tracking and implementing the Mining Law, which allows the collection, storage, administration, modification and analysis of data regarding licenses and permits. At the same time, the development of a visualization and geographic information system (GIS) of mining exploration and exploitation perimeters, as support for the promotion of concessions for mineral resources, is being pursued. In this way, there is a tendency towards the automated and computerized management of the production processes. The development of such systems with practical applicability requires the design, development, and implementation of specific models and databases. The structure and quality of the designed data models directly influence the exploitability and analytical capability of the systems. This paper analyzes the possibilities of designing and implementing a database for the management of the surface mining activities. In the first part of the paper, the basic principles regarding the design and population of databases are presented, as well as their correlation with user requirements and exploitation needs. In the second part, a data model was proposed for the management of mining activities, in accordance with the main stages in the life cycle of a mining operation. In the end, several scenarios for the exploitation of GIS databases were presented, as well as their interconnection with data sources external to the system.

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