Belmont, California is set to launch a new drone program, equipping its Police department, First Responders, and public works officials with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for the first time. This move, reported by The Daily Journal, puts the Peninsula city in line with a growing national trend of adopting Drone Technology for municipal operations.
Enhancing Search and Rescue Capabilities
Police Capt. Andrew Armando highlighted the potential impact of drones on Search and Rescue operations.
He cited a past missing person case involving Paul Farmer, stating, “A drone, during the day and especially at night, would have been able to continue that search in larger areas, and we could’ve potentially had a different and better outcome.”
Efficient City Management
The drone program isn’t limited to law enforcement. Public Works employees plan to use drones to “expedite infrastructure inspections, monitor construction projects, and assess damage after natural disasters,” according to a staff report. The technology will also be employed to monitor Wildlife and vegetation in city parks.
Privacy Concerns and Safeguards
As with any surveillance technology, the drone program has raised privacy concerns.
Vice Mayor Gina Latimerlo emphasized the importance of strong privacy protections, saying, “It’s really important to me to make sure that the policy we have has a strong consideration of protecting people’s privacy.”
Council Support and Cost
Despite potential concerns, all councilmembers supported the program.
Councilmember Tom McCune noted, “Any technology invented by the human mind can be abused by somebody, somewhere, sometime for some improper purpose, but that’s not a reason to never adopt new technology.”
The city estimates the startup cost for the drone program at about $15,000, with individual drones projected to cost between $1,000 and $3,000 each.
DroneXL’s Take
The adoption of drone technology by smaller cities like Belmont represents a significant trend in municipal operations. As we’ve seen in recent first responder drone use cases, these tools can be invaluable in emergency situations.
However, it’s crucial that cities implementing drone programs also develop robust policies to protect citizen privacy and prevent misuse. As drone technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more municipalities leveraging these tools to enhance public safety and streamline city operations.
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