In recent months, we have seen many natural disasters and emergencies like the devastating fire at Paris’ historic Notre-Dame cathedral. In these moments, we are relieved to see drone technology applied for operations and rebuilding the community and infrastructure safely and efficiently.
On June 17, 2019, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck China’s Sichuan Province, leaving 125+ people injured and 12 dead. Roads and houses were damaged, and telecommunication networks were down.
After receiving the news, DJI quickly sent its domestic emergency response team to assist the local authorities, using drone technology for post-disaster damage mapping, seismic research and rescue efforts.
Drones are increasingly essential tools for public safety, helping save time, cost, and risks in critical operations. For Sichuan, DJI helped authorities with the Phantom RTK, Mavic 2 Enterprise, and Terra, which were ideal tools for surveying and providing 3D models to map, plan, and rebuild the community.
For the past few years, public safety organizations around the world have been adopting drone technology in many critical operations, including the Prefecture de Police de Paris drone team, which assessed the partial destruction of the Notre Dame.
In the U.S., the Los Angeles Fire Department has been testing and deploying DJI drone technology as an emergency response and preparedness tool. Similarly, the European Emergency Number Association is conducting thorough research in integrating drones into rescue operations.
Aerial platforms have proven a life-saving resource in a multitude of locations around the world. In Iceland, a drone helped save a pair of hikers stranded on the side of a mountain. This technology is also regularly deployed for firefighting, as well as search and rescue.