“Why should I use a drone for Disaster Response?”
Assess damages
Geo-Locate survivors
Plan response activities
What can drone imagery do for disaster response?
Still Image Survey
A drone survey for disaster response refers to the use of a drone to capture aerial data with downward-facing sensors, such as RGB or thermal payloads. During a drone survey with an RGB camera, the ground is photographed multiple times and each image is tagged with coordinates.
After flight, these photos are processed in photogrammetry software such as PIX4D or Agisoft Metashape. The photogrammetry software can then recreate geo-referenced 3D maps, contour lines, digital terrain models, or digital surface models to be reviewed in geospatial software such as ArcGIS or QGIS.
Live Video
When environmental disasters strike, the first 72 hours are critical. The more information responders know about the changing environment the better. Live aerial view from gimbaled EO/IR (visible and thermal video) cameras can reveal current conditions on the ground, giving responders the information they need to respond.
What makes a drone the best option for disaster response?
A drone can safely fly at very low altitudes and in dangerous areas providing the aerial perspective first responders need without risking manned aircraft or taking them from other duties only they can perform. A drone is an affordable solution to provide to smaller units and doesn’t require extensive upkeep or ongoing training like other forms of aviation.
Injured hiker being placed on a gurney.
Search and Rescue (SAR)
How can a drone help my SAR mission?
In the world of search and rescue, time is your most valuable resource. In most SAR missions, the missing person is trapped in a life-threatening situation. Sometimes for several hours before a rescue team is able to arrive at the scene. A drone can cover a large area much faster than a person on the ground, including remote areas that are difficult to reach on foot. By narrowing down the search area, the chances of rescuing the missing person are increased exponentially.
How can a drone adapt to harsh SAR environmental conditions?
It’s common for SAR missions to take place during times of natural disaster. During these times, weather conditions can make it unsafe for manned aircraft to fly. While multirotor drones also struggle in poor weather conditions; fixed-wing drones are more stable while also removing manned pilots from danger.
The needs of a given search and rescue operation can change dramatically depending on a variety of factors. In cooler weather, thermal imaging is ideal for quickly locating the body heat of a person, but if temperatures soar, high-resolution photography might be a better option. Search and rescue teams need to be able to adapt at a moment’s notice if circumstances change. It’s crucial for SAR drones to have the ability to carry multiple different types of payloads and have the ability to perform day and night operations.
Wildfire Fighting
How can a drone help put out wild fires?
With the ever increasing damage from wildfires, the U.S. Department of the Interior and other agencies have turned to drones to help extinguish wildfires, quantify the damage, and plan for rehabilitation.
Live Video
A drone equipped with an EO/IR (Electro-Optical/Infra-Red) camera has the ability to send live thermal data along with coordinates to the main command station for the fire chief to assess. By monitoring the edge of the fire as well as the hot spots inside the fire, a fire chief has the ability to better direct ground crew as well as air attack units attempting to halt the spread of the fire.
Still Imagery
The vast damage that a wildfire creates is extremly hard to quantify with anything except aerial imagery. Smoke can sometimes linger for up to two to three weeks making photography from manned aircraft unviable. Drones have the ability to fly at lower altitudes, avoiding much of the smoke, allowing expedited creation of maps in order to plan a recovery roadmap or perform root cause analysis.
Suggested Drone – E400 ISR
When you invest in a drone, you’re investing in a long-term monitoring tool.
Adaptable for any situation.
- Vertical takeoff and landing.
- Cover large areas fast.
- Day and night operations.
- Swap between live EO/IR video and still image payloads in seconds.
Make the investment today.
When you invest in a drone, you’re investing in your future. Fly on demand to gain the invaluable intel you need.
News
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