Nalimela Vijay Teja Reddy is a Senior Drone Instructor and Technical Associate – Agri Tech at Kaveri University, with over six years of professional experience spanning drone technology, remote pilot training, aerial surveying and mapping, geospatial intelligence, remote sensing, precision agriculture, and UAV operations. His career encompasses startups, corporate consultancies, and government-linked survey projects, providing him with a multidisciplinary perspective on the practical and regulation-compliant application of emerging drone and geospatial technologies. He is a DGCA-Approved Drone Instructor for Rotorcraft (Medium & Small) and a DGCA-Certified Remote Pilot qualified across Rotorcraft (Medium, Small & Micro) and Hybrid (Small) categories. He holds a B.Tech in Civil Engineering and is additionally a Chartered Engineer, Chartered Surveyor, and Approved Valuer. His professional affiliations include the Institution of Engineers (India), Indian Institute of Valuers, Indian Society of Geomatics (ISG), and the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS).
At Kaveri University, Vijay is engaged in drone-based applied research, technical education, curriculum development, and industry-oriented skill development. His research and technical work includes agricultural and engineering applications of UAVs, including multispectral imaging, precision agriculture, and precision spraying efficacy assessment. He also contributes to the development of specialized curricula in drone mapping, geospatial technologies, and advanced UAV applications. As Senior Drone Instructor for the university’s DGCA-approved Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO), he trains aspiring remote pilots in accordance with applicable DGCA requirements and supports candidates through the Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) training pathway. He also contributes to the management and development of the university’s drone extension and applied technology initiatives, supporting the integration of UAV technology across academic, research, and field applications.
Earlier in his career, as a Drone Pilot & GIS Analyst, he led field survey operations for a resurvey project covering approximately 1,800 sq. km across 33 towns in Andhra Pradesh. He has also contributed to airworthiness and technical testing of survey-grade UAV systems involved in DGCA type-certification processes. His professional experience further includes operations and training leadership roles and consultancy assignments involving DGCA regulatory compliance, RPTO establishment, drone operations, and geospatial project implementation. His academic and professional development includes specialized certifications and training from NRSC ISRO, Survey of India (NIGST), and IIRS Dehradun. He is proficient in Agisoft Metashape Professional, Pix4D, WebODM, QGIS, and ArcGIS, with professional specialization in Drone Technology & Operations, Geospatial Intelligence, Remote Sensing, Survey & Mapping, and Precision Agriculture
