GASTONIA – Law enforcement, fire
fighters and EMS across North Carolina have already started using drones to save
lives. The N.C. Department of Transportation wants to bring various agencies
together to share how this emerging technology can be included in their
operations.
A capacity crowd of more than 150 police officers, firefighters and
other emergency responders was on hand Wednesday as NCDOT’s Division of Aviation
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS, or drones) Program Office hosted a free workshop
for public safety agencies that have already, or would like to soon, incorporate
drones into their operations. It was held at the Gaston County Citizens
Resource Center in Dallas.
The program included scenario-based live flight demonstrations,
such as a hostage situation and missing person, as well as a panel discussion of
current regulations and presentations from agencies that have already been using
drones.
“Drones are another tool that public safety agencies can have in
their tool belt to help make their operations safer and more efficient,” said
Basil Yap, UAS Program Manager for NCDOT. “Attendees of our workshop should now
have a better understanding of the possible applications for drone technology,
and what it takes to effectively implement drones into their operations.”
NCDOT uses these free workshops to show how safe this emerging
technology can be, and to encourage businesses and government entities to
explore how drones can be beneficial to their activities.
This was the fifth drone workshop NCDOT has hosted across the state
since 2017, and the first of the new year. The next one will take place over
two days in Nags Head in April.
Contact: James Pearce
jpearce2@ncdot.gov
(919) 812-1685