Drone swarm flight planning, an emerging profession that was officially recognized by Chinese authorities this year, is playing an increasingly important role in smart urban operation scenarios.
In July this year, drone swarm flight planning was officially recognized as a new national profession by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.
Currently, drones in China are no longer just used for performances, but also have become versatile tools in various scenarios such as traffic control, accident investigation, and low-altitude delivery.
At a command and dispatch center in Nanjing, the capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, drone swarm flight planners input parameters on the screen, and with a click of the mouse, multiple drones will take off simultaneously from an automated outdoor hangar and fly to their respective operational locations.
"The main purpose is to use drones to identify slope depressions along expressways. We will conduct 3D spatial data collection along the route and design flight routes in advance," said Tian Peng, a drone swarm flight planner at the Jiangsu Aviation Enterprises Group.
According to leading official with the group, the application of drones has gradually shifted from the traditional single-drone operation mode to refined, professional and large-scale operations, spurring the demand for job specialization, and the skill structure of the original practitioners is no longer sufficient to meet the requirements of these multi-professional and interdisciplinary composite positions.
"We need specialized talent. They need to understand flight, meteorology, simulation, and the entire control and digitalization process. Therefore, we are currently assembling our team by continuously drawing talent from different industries, including electronics and communications, design, and materials," said Xu Zhaohai, technical director at the Jiangsu Aviation Enterprises Group.
The new job requires multi-skilled human resources such as technically proficient, planning-savvy and collaborative staff members, according to industry insiders.
At the Jiangsu Provincial Low-Altitude Flight Service Center, officials said drone operators are showcasing their talent in sectors including power transmission, inspections and transportation.
"According to our data, drones are already widely used in power line inspections and agriculture across the province, and their application in the transportation sector has also played a significant role. Currently, we provide various consulting and operational management services to over 70,000 drone flight users and more than 400 enterprises within the province," said Yang Haitong, the service center's director.
As application scenarios continue to expand, more and more young people are being attracted to this blue ocean of the low-altitude economy.
"Being able to apply drone technology to different scenarios and industries makes me feel excited about this emerging industry," said Ban Xiayin, a drone swarm flight planner.
China's drone swarm flight planning plays increasingly important role in urban scenarios
European countries and international organizations have widely condemned Israeli air strikes on Lebanon which have resulted in more than 1,000 civilian casualties, including children, and have caused damage to civilian infrastructure.
Israel launched large-scale air raids across Lebanon on Wednesday, saying it had carried out 100 strikes within a matter of minutes on positions they claimed belonged to the Hezbollah group.
Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health reported more than 300 had been killed in the attacks, with roughly 1,150 wounded.
The attacks came after a two-week ceasefire agreement was reached by the United States and Iran. However, both Israel and the United States have maintained Lebanon is not included in the truce.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Thursday accused Israel of violating international law to carry out the air strikes on Lebanon, calling the attacks "a shame on the conscience of all humanity".
Earlier on Thursday, Albares announced that Spain would reopen its embassy in Tehran in the hope of achieving peace in the region.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that Israel had "disrespected" the two-week ceasefire with Iran by carrying out the strikes.
Meloni also warned of further economic turmoil if U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran flare up again, and said the European Union should consider a temporary suspension of the Stability and Growth Pact, an agreement which ensures economic stability within the European Union, in order to handle the potential monetary consequences.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday warned that Israel's military operations in Lebanon could cause the entire peace process as a whole to fail, telling a press conference in Berlin "that must not happen."
Merz announced that the German government will resume direct talks with Iran in order to support the newly agreed two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
He also stated that a window of opportunity for a negotiated solution has opened for the first time since the outbreak of the conflict, though he cautioned that the situation in the Middle East remains "fragile."
The UK's Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Thursday that she is "deeply troubled" by Israel's escalating attacks on Lebanon, expressing hope that Lebanon will be included in the current ceasefire arrangement.
Cooper also reiterated the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, saying that the effective closure of the vital shipping chokepoint had been "deeply damaging for the world", while stressing how crucial the passageway is to the entire global economy.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described the Israeli strikes on Lebanon as "intolerable."
In a radio interview, Barrot said France strongly condemns "the massive strikes" which seriously undermine the temporary ceasefire reached earlier between the United States and Iran. The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday that Israel's latest strikes on Lebanon, which killed hundreds overnight, could not be considered as an act of self-defense.
"Israel's right to defend itself does not justify inflicting such massive destruction," Kallas said in a post on the social media platform X. She warned that the strikes risk further destabilizing the region and added that Israel's actions were putting the U.S.-Iran ceasefire under severe strain.
Despite this widespread criticism, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted on Thursday there would be no ceasefire in Lebanon, signaling that Israel will continue its military operations while pursuing planned negotiations with Beirut.
"There is no ceasefire in Lebanon," Netanyahu said in a video address to residents of northern Israel, adding: "We continue to strike Hezbollah with force and we will not stop until we restore your security."
Netanyahu said he had instructed his cabinet to open direct talks with Lebanon following what he described as repeated requests from the Lebanese government.
The negotiations, which are expected to begin next week in Washington, aim to disarm Hezbollah and reach a "historic and lasting" peace agreement, Netanyahu added. Delegations will be led by the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the United States.
Israel and Lebanon have no formal diplomatic relations and technically remain in a state of war.
European Leaders widely condemn Israeli attacks on Lebanon
