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Drones: The Future of Disaster Relief?

droneBy Amanda Vicinanzo
Homeland Security Today

Drone technology may be the future of disaster response and recovery, according to a new study commissioned by the American Red Cross.

Measure, a 32 Advisors Company, and the American Red Cross, recently released a 52-page report based on extensive research and industry collaboration examining the humanitarian, safety and economic benefits of using drones to aid disaster relief efforts.

Sponsors of the report include Boeing Co, Lockheed Martin Corp, United Parcel Service Inc., International Business Machines Corp, Willis Group Holdings Ltd, Guy Carpenter and Company, United Services Automobile Association, and Zurich North America.

“Drones provide significant benefits to first responders, enabling them to expedite disaster relief efforts,” said Justin P. Oberman, president of Measure. “We have a unique opportunity for companies and governments to save lives and rebuild communities by using drone technology. Drones can be effective and efficient tools for humanitarian purposes; we need the right blueprint in place to help realize the potential of drones as a tool for good.”

The report outlined a number of applications for drone use in disaster relief efforts including for reconnaissance and mapping, structural assessment, temporary infrastructure/supply delivery, detection and extinguishing of wildfires, high-rise building fire response, assisting in a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive (CBRNE) event, search and rescue operations, insurance claims response and risk assessment, and logistics support.

In addition to being cost effective and easy to depoy, drone technology can reduce the exposure of first responders to unnecessary danger and provide unique viewing angles not possible from manned aircraft.

Test flights were conducted in support of this project through partnership with Dr. Robin Murphy at the Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue (CRASAR). In March 2015, Measure, Murphy’s team and the sponsors of the report successfully tested and demonstrated the capabilities of drones in a chaotic post-disaster simulation.

“The use of this game-changing disaster response technology provides benefits in the real time management and assessment of catastrophes,” said John Trace, Guy Carpenter executive vice president. “Aerial drone technology offers enormous potential in pre-disaster planning and for assessing damage after a catastrophe. By sharing that information collected by drones with the public, government and relief organizations, we can greatly improve response time, save lives and mitigate damage in response to disasters.”

Read the full article at HSToday.

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