These sessions and panels will cover topics from setting up a public safety program to utilizing drones for search and rescue, risk assessment, accident mapping and surveillance. You will hear real-world experiences from police, firemen and first responders while learning best practices for safely and efficiently executing public safety operations.
Wednesday, September 4
Clinical Research Methods for to Save Lives for Drone Applications: Its not about Usability its About Efficacy
Class
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Track: Public Safety | Law Enforcement |Fire | Emergency and SAR
Speaker: Joe Eyerman
RTI conducted an optimization study in 2018 to identify the best combination of aircraft and sensors to support low-light collision scene reconstruction (LLCSR) by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. This study is part of a series of projects by RTI to use state-of-the-science research methods to facilitate the integration of drones into the public safety and first responder mission. This presentation will demonstrate methods for testing the value of different drone applications using the results of the LLCSR optimization study and describe RTI methods for testing the feasibility, calibration, and efficacy of drones for public safety applications. Other case studies will include search-and-rescue, public health surveillance, and structure fire monitoring. The presentation will also discuss a new project launched by the US Department of Homeland Security to assist first responder organizations with addressing public perceptions and other barriers to their drone programs.
Drones, Thermal Imaging and Emergency Response
Class
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Track: Public Safety | Fire | Emergency and SAR
Speakers: Patrick Sherman, Brian Zvaigzne
The Roswell Flight Test Crew draws on its extensive experience using small, low-cost Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) equipped with thermal imaging cameras to assist firefighters and other first responders in a range of scenarios that include structural and wildland firefighting, search and rescue, as well as hazardous material spills. This session will cover the capabilities and limitations of thermal imaging technology, as well as its specific application in emergency response situations.
Drones, Data, and Civil Liberties: Protecting Lives and Privacy
Class
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Track: Public Safety | Law Enforcement
Speaker: Ryan Bracken
Drones are an increasingly effective tool for law enforcement operations but present extraordinary privacy concerns for many communities. This presentation will articulate best practices for using drones to build trust with community members while helping to address challenging law enforcement scenarios such as large gatherings, natural disasters, and mass casualty events.
Participants will be able to identify and institute key technical, legal, and operational practices that address the privacy needs of their community and maximize the effectiveness of their drone programs.
This presentation will consist of lecture, slides, videos, and other multimedia resources such as images and charts. The author has assembled data and policy information from DHS, The White House and other federal sources, observations from interacting with dozens of law enforcement UAS operators across the nation, and from his own experiences as a former Special Agent in the FBI.
Lessons from the Field: Learn What Has Worked Well and Not So Well with UAS on the Fire Ground
Class
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
Track: Public Safety | Fire
Speaker: Keenan Newton
Your agency has just formed a UAS program, purchased a new drone and sent you to a drone school. Are you ready for your first incident? A lot of talk and discussion in the industry revolves around logistics and strategy but on the scene tactics are just as important to. This session will review proven practices and example use cases that have been used on incidents involving drones by the Lynwood Fire Department as well as other fire agencies. You will learn what went well and what didn’t go so well during various public safety incidents such as structure fires, wildland fires, water rescue and hazardous materials incidents. Key takeaways will include: Support equipment utilized, keeping your equipment in a response ready state, providing UAS awareness to incident commanders and dispatch, and tactics and strategies on the scene.
Managing Drone Data: Choosing the Right Data Service Provider
Class
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
Track: All
Speaker: Colin Snow
Choosing a drone data service means choosing a trusted business partner. With so many choices, it can be hard to know which one you should use. What advantage does one have over another? Unfortunately, the answers are not simple. A lot depends on things like your business model, your target market, what functions you need, and quite frankly how much you are willing to spend. The good news is the current wave of development and innovation in online drone data services is focused on mapping and analytic solutions that drone business service providers and enterprises can use to help solve real world problems – problems like infrastructure decay, crop yields, stockpile inaccuracies, improper construction sequencing, mining site logistics, etc. With that in mind, in this session I’ll outline the important criteria to help you evaluate the various web-based mapping and imaging services for drones.
In this session, you’ll learn:
• Who are the major providers and what’s their focus?
• How to determine the value of the services they provide?
• What questions should you be asking when comparing offerings?
• What’s the best way to integrating a service into your existing workflow so that it simplifies your operations and save costs?
Starting Your Public Safety UAV Program; focus on Law Enforcement (Two Parts)
Class
2:15 PM – 4:30 AM
Track: Public Safety | Law Enforcement
Speakers: Romeo Durscher, Officer Matthew Slawlson
The number of public safety departments having implemented an UAV program has doubled annually since 2015. That very first step to get started, is not only the biggest to take, but also the one that has the most impact. This session will guide you through the process of getting your own command structure on board, preparing your departments UAV policy, SOP and training documentation, it will give pointers and back-up documentation for your presentation to your City/County Council for review and approval, getting your needed paperwork and FAA authorization together, and then will dive into how to best train and utilize the technology. This session is meant to provide valuable tips, information and guidance so that your process runs smoother, more effective and to potentially eliminate some of the common mistakes along the way.
The Utilization of sUAS in Coastal Water Rescues
Class
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Track: Public Safety | Emergency and SAR
Speaker: Sam Profitt
Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, accounting for over 360,000 deaths annually . In the United States, nearly 58 million people visit the beaches each year and approximately 80,000 are rescued .
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS), commonly referred to as drones, are increasingly being used to support the first responder mission. As public safety agencies progress forward to implement sUAS programs, coastal water rescue applications should be considered. In 2018, the Wrightsville Beach Fire Department developed and tested a drone-enabled rescue application for struggling swimmers near the ocean shore. The intent was to test rescue equipment and create a standardize technique to perform drone assisted water rescues with UAVs.
Since the first test in early 2018, the Wrightsville Beach Fire Department has been leading the integration of the public and private sectors for research and development in water rescues. The focus of this presentation will be to review available equipment (including thermal imaging), software, and best practices when considering the utilization of drones for coastal water rescue. In addition, current and future research will be discussed to help attendees understand areas that have been proven to provide benefit in coastal water rescues.
Thursday, September 5
Keeping Your Public Safety UAS Program Alive
Class
8:45 AM – 9:45 AM
Track: Public Safety | Fire
Speaker: Keenan Newton
A lot of fire agencies have great intentions when developing UAS Programs and look for outside help in getting them started. However, keeping the program going can be challenging as well. When developing a UAS program you have to think about the long haul. This session looks into how an agency can develop and maintain a UAS program that has longevity. You will learn about budgeting, maintenance and in-fire house training proven practices as well as how to properly set UAS response expectations not only within your agency but how to communicate that to other agencies that you provide mutual aid assistance to.
Wildfire UAV Deployments: What we did and learned at the Tubbs Fire, Carr Fire & Camp Fire
Class
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Track: Public Safety |Fire
Speaker: Romeo Durscher
What hopefully is not becoming the new norm, several large scale wild fires have caused tremendous devastation to California. This sessions presents the lessons learned from a Public Safety UAV Consortium deployment to 3 large scale events; Santa Rosa (October 2017), Redding (August 2018) and Paradise (November 2019). How over 1,000 UAV flights were coordinated, well over 100,000 images, panoramas, and videos were handled, how impactful various hardware and software technologies were and how important partnerships, standardization, and training really is.
Drones in the Tactical Environment
Class
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Track: Public Safety | Law Enforcement
Speaker: Anthony DeMolina
Tactical sUAS operations offer challenges to the public safety community. These operations are dynamic and volatile. Operators must carefully consider the tactics, techniques, and procedures to successfully accomplish this mission. We will discuss the aircraft requirements, piloting skills, and policy considerations necessary when operating in this environment. This session will focus on: Pre-scripted Mission Sets for Tactical sUAS, Special Equipment and/or Modification Considerations, Training for the Tactical Environment, and Policy considerations for tactical sUAS. Students will be able to differentiate between using sUAS in an overwatch role and using this tool on point.
Friday, September 6
Balancing Commerce and Public Safety, The Counter-Drone Conundrum
Class
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Track: Public Safety | Law Enforcement
Speaker: Anthony DeMolina
Unmanned aircraft systems are emerging as a valuable tool for public safety personnel but can also present a threats to the community. To manage the risk of rogue drones, law enforcement personnel must know the different requirements between commercial and recreational operations to navigate investigations. Federal Aviation Administration guidance on Unmanned Aircraft encounters skirts the edge of constitutional policing. Adding to the danger posed by careless or reckless operation of a small unmanned aircraft (sUAS) to the National Airspace and the non-participating public, criminal factions (including terrorists) are developing methods to exploit drone use for nefarious purposes. This session will address new technology to counter it, regulatory limitations to its use, and how the new FAA Reauthorization Act impacts commercial and recreational operators.
Technical and Operational Considerations for Large Scale Special Event Coverage using sUAS
Class
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Track: Business | Public Safety
Speaker: Ryan Bracken
Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) offer unique capabilities for government and security operators covering special events and large gatherings. Effectively employed, these aircraft can complement ground and manned aviation assets but deployments are often met with extraordinary challenges. Common obstacles include large areas of interest, conflict with low-flying manned aircraft, congested radio-frequency networks, darkness, and unpredictable weather conditions.
This presentation will leverage lessons learned from supporting large scale events, including the 2019 NFL Championship Game (aka “Super Bowl”), to help attendees define realistic operational requirements, anticipate technical and operational challenges, and plan for success in an uncertain atmosphere.
This presentation will consist of lecture, slides, videos, and other multimedia resources such as images and charts. The author has assembled data and policy information from DHS, The White House and other federal sources, observations from interacting with dozens of law enforcement UAS operators across the nation, and from his own experiences as a former Special Agent in the FBI.
Traffic Accident Reconstruction in 2D and 3D: Using Terrestrial and Drone Imagery, Calibrated with Precise Laser Measurements!
Class
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Track: Public Safety | Law Enforcement | Business
Speaker: Reza Karamooz
In this session we will review the latest techniques, workflows, and best practices, in capturing drone and ground imagery, and precise laser measurements to create 2D and 3D models of accident scenes. We will also show how these 2D and 3D models can be used to conduct accurate measurements. We will share case studies to demonstrate the required steps.
Prerequisite Skills or Knowledge:
This session is best suited for the law enforcement community, insurance industry representatives, and Part 107 drone operators interested in learning how to conduct highly accurate 2D and 3D models of traffic accident scenes using ground and aerial imagery, coupled with accurate laser measurements.
Public Actively Tethered UAS – A New Open-Access Tool for First Responders
Class
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Track: Public Safety | Fire | Emergency and SAR
Speaker: Chris McCall
In 2018, the FAA’s 5-year re-authorization bill defined a new class of UAS, the “Public Actively Tethered Unmanned Aircraft System”. This is a new and accessible tool to Public Safety Organizations and this talk will outline the definition, differentiation both technologically and legally from traditional drones, and case study review of real-world use of this new class of UAS over the past 12 months.
HR 302 defines this new class of UAS within the following framework:
– 4.4 lbs. total take-off weight maximum
– Physical attachment to a ground station with a persistently taut, load-rated tether providing continuous power
– Control and retrieval of the UAS is through physical manipulation of the tether
The differences between Public Actively Tethered UAS (PATUAS), free-flying drones, and even traditional tethered UAS is important to understand for any Public Safety organizations looking to use this new available tool in first response applications and this session will outline these differences clearly.
Legally, PATUAS are permitted by the FAA to be used by any Public Safety team member without a pilot license, without a COA, and without airworthiness certifications. This relieves Public Safety organizations from the need to have trained pilots on the scene to gain aerial situational awareness, creating a new open-access class of UAS available to these teams. This session will describe the additional legal parameters around the use of PATUAS in Public operations.
Finally, in-depth case studies on how PATUAS have been deployed across the US in the last 12 months will be presented with a focus on fire and rescue applications, followed by 10 minutes of open Q&A.