Drones 2026: Mapping the Knowledge
Drones 2026: Mapping the Knowledge
14 July 2026
11 August 2026
2 October 2026
31 October 2026
13 October 2026
30 October 2026
Networks, Guidance Navigation & Control, Artificial Intelligence, Agriculture, Forestry, Security, Geospatial Industry, Communications, Emerging Applications
Welcome from the Chairs
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to welcome you to Drones 2026: Mapping the Knowledge, which will take place in Barcelona, Spain, from 11 to 13 November 2026. This conference aims to bring together researchers, industry professionals, and experts from around the world to share the latest advancements, exchange ideas, and foster collaborations in the field of the design, development, and application of drone technologies.
Over the course of three days, we will explore a wide range of novel and attractive topics distributed through different thematic sessions, including keynote lectures, oral presentations, and poster sessions. Our program is designed to provide engaging networking for discussing cutting-edge research, emerging challenges, and future directions in the field.
We encourage you to actively participate by presenting your work, engaging in discussions, and networking with fellow attendees. Beyond the scientific sessions, Barcelona offers a vibrant setting to connect with colleagues while enjoying its rich culture, history, and cuisine.
We look forward to an inspiring and productive conference and to welcoming you to Drones 2026: Mapping the Knowledge.
Sincerely,
Prof. Dr. Diego González-Aguilera
Prof. Dr. Pablo Rodríguez-Gonzálvez
Drones 2026 Chairs
Conference Secretariat
Ms. Raquel Sellés
Ms. Shae Turner
Dr. Ana Sanchís
Conference Email: drones2026@mdpi.com
Event Chairs
Diego González-Aguilera is a Professor at the University of Salamanca in the area of engineering, Director of the Department of Cartographic and Terrain Engineering, Director of the TIDOP Research Group with more than 80 researchers, Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Drones, and Principal Investigator in more than 30 projects and contracts with entities and companies. In addition to his research activity, he regularly works as an evaluator member of the European Commission and national agencies. In 2015, the contribution of his work to the progress of knowledge was recognized by the Royal Academy of Engineering with the ‘Juan López de Peñalver’ award.
Prof. González-Aguilera began his research career as a visiting professor at the Institute of Computer Vision and Robotics (INRIA) in Grenoble, France, where he completed his PhD thesis, titled “3D reconstruction from a single view”. To acknowledge the research results his PhD thesis produced, he received six international awards from the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS/ASPRS). He is also a co-author of more than 400 articles presented in scientific journals and at conferences, a co-inventor of 12 patents and 32 intellectual properties, and Founder and CTO of the spin-off ITOS3D Engineering.
Among Prof. González-Aguilera’s research interests are close-range photogrammetry, computer vision, and laser scanning applied to engineering and architecture.
Pablo Rodríguez-Gonzálvez has experience as a surveyor, geodesist, and cartographer. He worked at the University of Salamanca for 8 years, and joined the University of León in 2017, where he continues to be an Associate Professor in the Geomatics field. His research career is supported not only by the publication of articles in scientific journals, communications at international conferences, book chapters, and editions of books, but also by university‒business knowledge transfer, in the form of projects, patents, and software development related to the application of Geomatics in different disciplines. Furthermore, his participation in multiple R&D projects at international levels, all of them related to Geomatics, is a notable part of his career.
Prof. Rodríguez-Gonzálvez’s research has been awarded at the national level by different institutions. His primary research field is the application of Geomatics techniques, mainly photogrammetry and laser scanners, 3D modeling, and radiometric analyses. These lines of research have led him to collaborate in multiple fields, including industrial engineering, cultural heritage, and forest management. He was a member of the National Management Committee of COST Action CA16219 (“Harmonization of UAS techniques for agricultural and natural ecosystems monitoring”), from 2017 to 2022, and has been an Editorial Board Member of Drones since 2017.
Registration
The conference will be held fully in person; it is not possible to participate online. The registration fee includes attendance at all conference sessions, morning/afternoon coffee breaks, lunches, a conference bag, and a program book. One single registration covers up to one oral and one poster submission. Participation in the conference is considered final only once the registration fees have been paid. The number of participants is limited: once the number of paid registrations reaches the maximum number of participants, unpaid registrations will be canceled.
When registering, please provide us with your institutional email address. This will accelerate the registration process.
Important Information
Please note that abstract submission and conference registration are two separate processes. During registration, please provide us with the same email address you used to submit your abstract(s). Otherwise, leave us a comment in the registration form, providing the email address used during the submission process. In addition, please use your institutional email address for both processes. If you are registering several people under the same registration order, please do not use the same email address for each person but their individual institutional email addresses. Thank you for your understanding.
In order to finalize the scientific program in due time, at least one registration by any of the authors, denoted as the Covering Author, is required to cover the presentation and publication of any accepted abstract. The Covering Author registration deadline is 13 October 2026. Your abstract will be withdrawn if your registration is not complete by this date.
Participants of the event will be able to download an electronic Certificate of Attendance by accessing their dashboards on Sciforum.net once the event is concluded. The certificates will be found under the "My Certificates" category.
Partnering Societies
Members from partnering societies are granted a 20% discount on all registration fees. Please ask the society representative for a discount code to activate your registration discount, or ensure that you provide us with proof of your membership in one of our partnering societies. Are you part of a society that isn't partnering with the conference? Contact us to discuss a possible partnership!
Group Registration
Groups of five or more attendees are offered a 10% discount on the registration fees. To enjoy this discount, you need to complete one multiple registration by selecting the number of people attending in each category (type of registration) during the first step of the registration process. Please note that no other discounts will be applicable.
Reduced fees
If you are affiliated with a university in a low- or middle-income country, you are automatically eligible for a price reduction. However, please note that the reduced price will only be added to your registration when it is processed. This means that you do not have to pay the stated price immediately upon registration, and you will receive an invoice with the price adjustment after you have registered. You can find the list of low- and middle-income countries by clicking the button below.
Registration Fees
|
Early Bird Until 2 October 2026 |
Regular Until 30 October 2026 |
Late From 31 October 2026 |
Supported documents | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic – Research Institutions | 590.00 EUR | 690.00 EUR | 790.00 EUR | |
| Student | 290.00 EUR | 290.00 EUR | 390.00 EUR |
Scanned copy or photograph of your current student ID is required. |
| Early Career Researcher | 450.00 EUR | 450.00 EUR | 550.00 EUR |
Proof of graduation date (scanned copy of diploma, university profile page screenshot, etc.) is required. |
| Editorial Board Member/Guest Editor of Drones | 490.00 EUR | 590.00 EUR | 690.00 EUR | |
| Author/Reviewer of Drones | 550.00 EUR | 650.00 EUR | 750.00 EUR | |
| Non-Academic | 790.00 EUR | 890.00 EUR | 990.00 EUR |
| Start date - End date | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Conference Dinner | 1 November 2025-30 October 2026 | 60.00 EUR |
Free Registration Options
| Chair, Invited Speaker, MDPI Guest |
Active discounts
Group of 5: 10% discount
Society Discount: 20% discount
Note: Group size refers to the number of registered attendees in the same registration order.
Cancellation policy
| Cancellation of paid registration is possible under the terms listed below: | |
| > 2 months before the conference | Full refund but 100 EUR is retained for administration |
| > 1 month before the conference | Refund 50% of the applying fees |
| > 2 weeks before the conference | Refund 25% of the applying fees |
| < 2 weeks before the conference | No refund |
Disclaimer
In the unlikely event that MDPI deems it necessary to cancel the conference, all pre-paid registration fees will be reimbursed. MDPI shall not be liable for reimbursing the cost of travel or accommodation arrangements made by individual delegates.
Insurance
The organizers do not accept liability for personal accident, loss, or damage to private property incurred as a result of participation in Drones 2026. Delegates are advised to arrange appropriate insurance to cover travel, cancellation, or medical costs, and theft or damage of belongings.
MDPI Conference Admissions Policy
- All registered conference delegates are asked to always wear their badges throughout the conference.
- Conference sessions, the catering area, and the poster area are solely restricted to badge holders. Any person attending these areas without a badge will be asked to leave the premises.
- Badge holders must not allow their badges to be worn by anyone else. Any failure to do so is likely to lead to the badge holder and the person wearing the badge being removed from the premises.
- Press badges are restricted to publishers, editors, journalists, broadcasters, and web bloggers associated with the conference subject area. Members of the press may be asked to produce accreditation in the form of a photocopy of a recognized press or media card, a business card, a letter from the editor, or an official web address linking to a press release in order to verify their position.
- Photographs and videos may be taken during the conference. Anyone attending the conference consents to such photography and filming without compensation and confirms that the Organizers shall be entitled to use such photographs and videos, which may include photographs and videos of visitors, for the purpose of marketing the conference in the future and for exploitation in any and all media, without liability.
Payment methods
Wire transfer, Credit card
Currencies accepted by this event
Swiss francs (CHF) , Euros (EUR) , US dollars (USD) , Pounds sterling (GBP) , Japanese yen (JPY) , Canadian dollars (CAD) and Singapore dollars (SGD)
Instructions for Authors
Drones 2026 will accept abstracts only. The accepted abstracts will be available online on Sciforum.net during and after the conference. Moreover, participants will have the opportunity to contribute with a full manuscript to a Special Issue related to the conference in the open-access journal Drones.
The conference will be held fully in person; it is not possible to participate online.
Please note that abstract submission and conference registration are two separate processes. Please use your institutional email address for both processes.
To present your research at the event
- Create an account on Sciforum if you do not have one, then click on ‘New Submission’ in the upper-right corner of the window; or, click on ‘Submit Abstract’ at the top of this webpage.
- Choose a session that is best suited for your research.
- Submit an abstract in English—the word limits are a minimum of 150 words and a maximum of 300 words.
- The deadline to submit your abstract is 14 July 2026. You will be notified about its acceptance by 11 August 2026.
- Upon submission, you can select if you wish to be considered for oral or poster presentation (or both). Following assessment by the Chairs and Scientific Committee, you will be notified by 11 August 2026 whether your contribution has been accepted for oral or poster presentation.
- Please note that, in order to finalize the scientific program in due time, at least one registration by any of the authors, denoted as the Covering Author, is required to cover the presentation and publication of any accepted abstract. The Covering Author registration deadline is 27 September 2026. Your abstract will be withdrawn if your registration is not complete by this date.
Oral presentations
Invited talks will be 30 minutes long, including questions (25-minute oral presentation + 5-minute Q&A). Short talks will be 15 minutes long, including questions (10-minute oral presentation + 5-minute Q&A). Please ensure that your slides are formatted in a widescreen (16:9) aspect ratio.
Poster presentations
Each presenter will be provided with a vertical poster board. Maximum poster size is limited to A0: 84 x 120 cm / 33 x 47 in (width x height) in the vertical orientation (portrait). Please print your poster prior to the conference. A plan for the poster session will be circulated later. For suggestions on poster design, click the button below.
Location and Venue
Barcelona
Barcelona is the capital and largest city of Catalonia and is Spain's second-largest city, with a population of over one and a half million people.
Located on the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Spain, this city has a rich and diverse history, with its roots dating back to Roman times. The fruitful medieval period established Barcelona's position as the economic and political center of the Western Mediterranean. The city's Gothic Quarter bears witness to the splendor enjoyed by the city from the 13th to the 15th centuries.
The 20th century ushered in widespread urban renewal throughout Barcelona, culminating in its landmark Eixample district, which showcases some of Barcelona's most distinctive Catalan art-nouveau, or modernista, buildings. The Catalan Antoni Gaudí, one of the most eminent architects, designed buildings such as La Pedrera, the Casa Batlló, and the Sagrada Família church, which have become world-famous landmarks.
In 1992, Barcelona gained international recognition by hosting the Olympic games, which brought about a massive upturn in its tourism industry. For visitors, this has translated into the very modern yet incredibly old city you see now in the 21st century, where new elements work to both preserve and celebrate the city’s heritage and origins.
Barcelona has plenty of outdoor markets, restaurants, shops, museums, and churches. The city is also very walkable, with an extensive and reliable Metro system for more far-flung destinations.
For a complete overview, see wikitravel.org or visit barcelonaturisme.com.
Casa Convalescència
Casa Convalescència is located in a vibrant zone of the city, near the Sagrada Família, with easy access to urban and suburban areas of the city. It is part of the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site. Designed by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, it was built between 1905 and 1930. After housing the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (one of Europe's oldest healthcare centers) for more than eight decades, a restoration project commenced on the old pavilions in 2009. This process has restored the beauty of one of the iconic works of Catalonia's home-grown art nouveau, modernism.
Address: C/ de St. Antoni Maria Claret, 171, Barcelona
Hotels and Planning your Trip
Partnered Accommodations
We want your stay in Barcelona during the conference to be as comfortable as possible. With that in mind, we have collaborated with a number of hotels to provide you with a discount on accommodations in the heart of Barcelona. Please book your accommodation online and contact the hotels directly with any issues or requests related to your booking.
We are delighted to announce that the following hotels will offer a discounted rate for all Drones 2026 attendees:
Hotel |
Description |
How to book |
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Catalonia establishments stand out for their excellent value for money, strategic locations, innovative gastronomic offerings, and close, personal, and customer-focused service. The chain distinguishes itself by offering superior experiences to its customers. It also maintains its commitment to responsible tourism, minimizing environmental impact and promoting ethical and transparent practices in all its operations. Their closest branch is a few streets away from the Sagrada Família, in a central neighborhood just 15 minutes on foot from the conference venue. |
Use 'CATALONIABCN' or click the button below to make a reservation with a 10% discount at any of the Barcelona hotel branches:  |
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Discover the fascinating Barcelona, where the modern blends with the historical, and choose the 1881 Barcelona Gran Rosellón Hotel. It is just a 15-minute drive from the conference venue. |
Click below and use the promo code 'MDPI2026' to receive a 10% discount on room rates:
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These accommodations have been carefully chosen to provide comfort and convenience for our guests while ensuring affordability through negotiated rates. Make the most of your conference experience with our exclusive lodging options designed to enhance your stay.
Beware of Unauthorized Registration and Hotel Solicitations!
Note that Sciforum is the only official registration platform to register for Drones 2026, and that we are not associated with any hotel agency (other than those listed above). While other hotel resellers and travel agencies may contact you with offers for your trip, they are not endorsed by or affiliated with Drones 2026 or Sciforum. Beware that entering into financial agreements with non-endorsed companies can have costly consequences.
Travel
By plane:
The international airport of Barcelona is called Barcelona-El Prat (BCN) and is located 10 km from the city center. The airport is well connected to airport hubs in Europe and several locations around the world. For more information about the airport and flights, please visit the official website at https://www.aena.es. Once you arrive at the airport, you have several options to reach the city center or venue.
To the city center:
- By shuttle bus: AEROBUS (https://aerobusbarcelona.es). This bus connects Barcelona Airport (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2) with the city center (Pl. Espanya / Pl. Catalunya) in 35 minutes. It runs every day of the year with departures every 5 minutes and costs EUR 7.45.
- By train: TRAIN R2 NORD (https://rodalies.gencat.cat). This train connects Terminal 2 of the airport with the city center (Barcelona–Passeig de Gràcia). It runs every day of the year with departures every 30 minutes and costs EUR 5.05.
- By taxi: Taxis are just outside the arrival area. The taxi from the airport to the city center (Plaza Catalunya) costs approximately EUR 30–35. Public taxis in Barcelona can charge four types of fares. These fares must be visible inside the taxi and are usually printed on a sticker over the window. Finally, the amount payable must be indicated on the taximeter. VTC apps that work in Barcelona are Bolt and Cabify, and might offer cheaper rates.
To the conference venue:
- By train: TRAIN R2 NORD (https://rodalies.gencat.cat). You should get off at “Barcelona Sants” station. From there, you can take METRO L5 (get off at Sant Pau | Dos de Maig). Alternatively, you may take a taxi just outside the station. The train from the airport costs EUR 5.05, and the metro costs EUR 2.65. You can buy tickets at the train station and metro stops. The taxi from the train station to the conference venue costs about EUR 10.
- By metro: LINE L9 (https://www.tmb.cat). This metro line connects Barcelona Airport (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2) with the city (get off at Collblanc). From here, you can take METRO L5 (get off at Sant Pau | Dos de Maig). The metro from the airport costs EUR 5.70, and the city metro costs EUR 2.65.
- By taxi: Taxis are just outside the arrival area. The taxi from the airport to the conference venue costs approximately EUR 30–35. VTC apps that work in Barcelona are Bolt and Cabify, and might offer cheaper rates.
By train:
The Barcelona Sants station is Barcelona's largest train station and provides rail services both in and around Barcelona and for the whole of Spain and beyond. For more information about the station and train service, please visit the official website at https://www.renfe.com.
Once you get to the station, you have the following options to reach the conference venue:
- By metro: LINE L5 (https://www.tmb.cat).
- By taxi: Taxis are just outside the station. The taxi from the station to the conference venue costs about EUR 10.
Visa Information
Please note that you must apply for your own visa. MDPI is not responsible for any part of the visa application process of attendees. However, MDPI can provide a Visa Support Letter. To be eligible for such a document, the criteria below must be fulfilled.
Visa Support Letter
- Applicant must have paid for registration and submitted an abstract in order to receive a letter of support.
- Applicant must provide us with a scan of their valid, in-date passport that contains a photo of them.
- Applicant must provide us with a letter of support from their institution to confirm that it supports the delegate attending the meeting.
- This must be carried out in good time before the meeting; "last minute" requests will not be processed.
More useful information on visa application
Partnership Opportunities
Sponsoring
We invite you and your company to showcase your brand to a diverse audience of professionals and become a vital part of Drones 2026. Explore our sponsorship opportunities and join us in shaping the future of drone-related research and innovation.
From branding in highly visible conference materials and events to an exclusive presentation opportunity, find the perfect sponsorship package tailored to your needs in our sponsorship brochure by clicking the button below.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss any further options, please do not hesitate to contact the Conference Secretariat. Connect with us today to secure your spot and maximize your impact.
Society Collaboration
Are you part of a society and interested in Drones 2026? Contact us at drones2026@mdpi.com to discuss a media partnership where your society members can access a 20% discount on all registration fees!
Sponsors and Partners
Organizers
Media Partners
