There is no doubt that the use of Drones, also known as Quadcopters, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) or RPV (remotely piloted vehicles), is becoming increasingly widespread, both recreationally and commercially. They are currently being deployed across a wide range of industries.
You cannot watch a sporting event these days without Drone footage of the stadium or arena being used extensively. Aside from journalism, however, Business Insider reports that Drones are also being used in search and rescue, storm tracking, crop monitoring and building safety inspections to name a few.
Negative Press
Yet despite the numerous and useful applications of Drone technology, the word ‘Drone’ is still generally associated with negative press. In 2017, the Guardian newspaper reported a sharp increase in complaints to the police about what it calls ‘burglary scoping’, as well as smuggling illicit goods in and out of prison and near-misses in mid-air with aircraft. Famously in 2015, reports went viral of a near miss at New York’s JFK airport. So are they a nuisance, or can they be useful?
Limitations in the Security Field
Industrial Operations such a Construction Sites face constant safety and security threats which require real-time response solutions that provide rapid, precise and reliable situational awareness. Traditional observational surveillance methods are typically limited to the stationary nature of cameras. Drones could provide the ideal solutions to these problems and limitations faced by more traditional surveillance methods and could play a huge role in the future of the Security Industry.
Advantages and Applications of Drones for Security
Even with technology as good as Code 3 Security‘s selection of security solutions, we are always looking around the corner in the Security Sector and try to keep our ears to the ground to see about future advancements. We are looking at Drone technology and looking into the viability and sustainability of using Drones in the Security Sector. Here are our thoughts:
Flexibility – Using a Drone for Security can allow you to cover a large area easily and the High Definition cameras allow you to make sense of what it sees. However, you can also fly a Drone through difficult to navigate and narrow areas that might be inaccessible to patrols on foot. Drones are additionally flexible because they can be pre-programmed to take a certain path which reduces the possibility of inconsistent piloting.
Response Time – a top of the range Drone can accelerate from 0 to 50mph in a little over 4 seconds, allowing you to make contact with a suspect or respond to an incident in no time at all. Rapid access to real-time insights in this manner provide accurate situational awareness which is the main challenge in any physical security situation.
Reduced Risk – Drones provide real-time aerial video and HD photography, which can be delivered directly to the personnel on the ground. This affords security staff the chance to make more informed decisions, both in times of emergency and during routine patrols. Using a Drone for Security would allow an investigation without compromising the safety of the crew.
Return on Investment – Drones are relatively cheap to acquire. DJI is generally considered to be the market leaders in personal and commercial UAVs and have Drones ranging from £400 to £2,000. There is an additional cost of acquiring a licence (see below). With all of this being said, within a month of this outlay, a perimeter patrol staff would have earned a similar amount and so the Drone would have paid for itself. If used effectively, a Drone in the Security Sector could be a wise investment.
Drone Licensing
The UK Civil Aviation Authority manages the safe use, permissions and exemptions that are in place when using a Drone. Owners of drones weighing 250 grams and over have to register details of their drones to improve accountability and encourage owners to act responsibly. The regulations are contained within the Air Navigation Order 2016 (ANO 2016) and there are some specific additional steps that must be taken if a drone is being flown for commercial operations. These rules need to be adhered to and a licence obtained. A licence generally takes the form of a 3-4 day course and costs in the region of £1,000.
So, is it worth it?
One repeating pattern we see when discussing the possibility of using Drones in the Security Sector is that they are extremely flexible and will almost certainly reduce costs to the security firm and, ultimately, to the client.
With all things considered, the general answer to the question of is it worth investing a Drone if you work in the Security Sector seems to be a big yes.
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