Coverage & Hex Values
FliteGrid uses a hexagonal grid system to map airspace coverage across the country. The value assigned to each hex determines how much a sensor operator earns for covering that area.
The H3 Grid System
FliteGrid divides the map into hexagonal cells using Uber's H3 geospatial indexing system. H3 is an open-source standard that's widely used in DePIN networks (Wingbits, Geodnet, and Hivemapper all use it) and across the geospatial industry.
Hexagons are used instead of squares because they tile more evenly across curved surfaces, have consistent distances between cell centers and edges, and reduce edge effects in spatial analysis. Each sensor falls within a specific hex, and that hex determines the base reward value for the sensor's contribution.
How Hex Values Work
Not all airspace is equally important. A hex covering a major international airport is far more valuable to FliteGrid's customers than a hex over a remote stretch of desert. Hex values reflect this reality by weighting rewards toward the areas where drone tracking data is most needed and most commercially valuable.
High-value hex categories include:
Airports — Unauthorized drone activity near airports poses direct safety risks to manned aviation. Airport operators and the FAA need persistent drone monitoring in these areas.
Critical infrastructure — Power plants, substations, transmission lines, water treatment facilities, data centers, and other infrastructure sites face growing drone-based surveillance and intrusion threats.
Correctional facilities — Prisons are experiencing a surge in drone-based contraband delivery. Facilities need continuous airspace monitoring to detect and document these operations.
Stadiums and event venues — Large public gatherings create high-risk environments where unauthorized drones can pose safety and security threats.
Military installations — Military bases require comprehensive airspace awareness as part of their security posture.
Border zones — Border security operations depend on detecting drone activity across wide, often remote areas.
Universities — Large campus environments with sporting events, research facilities, and dense populations benefit from drone monitoring.
Transportation infrastructure — Railyards, ports, shipyards, and major transportation corridors have both security and operational needs for airspace data.
Dynamic Hex Values
Hex values are not permanent. They'll adjust over time to reflect:
Customer demand. As SkySafe signs new customers in specific regions or sectors, the hexes relevant to those customers may increase in value.
Network coverage gaps. Hexes with no current coverage that are in strategically important areas may be weighted higher to incentivize deployment.
Regulatory changes. As the FAA expands its ADSP framework and new airspace management requirements emerge, hex values will evolve to match.
Seasonal or event-based needs. Major events (Super Bowl, political conventions, large-scale emergencies) may temporarily increase hex values in affected areas.
This dynamic adjustment system ensures the network's reward incentives stay aligned with where data is most valuable, continuously steering coverage toward the locations that matter most.
Sensors Per Hex
Each hex can support a limited number of sensors. Deploying into an unclaimed hex means you're providing unique coverage that the network didn't have before, which is the most valuable type of contribution. The coverage map on FliteGrid.io shows which hexes are claimed and which are still open.
Choosing Your Location
If you're deciding where to deploy your sensor, the key factors are:
Hex value — Higher-value hexes (near critical infrastructure, airports, etc.) earn more.
Coverage gaps — Unclaimed hexes provide the most value to the network.
Line of sight — Your sensor needs a clear, unobstructed view of the sky. Rooftops, balconies, and elevated outdoor spaces work best.
Connectivity — The sensor needs power and an internet connection (delivered over a single PoE cable).
For more on optimizing your deployment, see Maximize Your Rewards.
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