Guest post from Jared Oren, Test and Evaluation Division Director at the Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL).

Over the past several years, NUSTL has received more inquiries about drones than almost any other technology in our laboratory’s history. We’re seeing more and more cases of public safety agencies using small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) in their daily operations, from providing aerial situational awareness and enhancing physical protection to supporting search and rescue efforts. The practical use cases for this technology are growing, and America’s first responders are looking for insight into how this technology can improve their safety and effectiveness.

At NUSTL, we work closely with the public safety community to understand and address their most pressing issues. We host a range of working groups, such as the Big City Fire Working Group, that focus on emerging threats and opportunities impacting first responders across the nation. Given the increased interest in sUAS we’ve seen in recent years, the lab has prioritized research and operational assessments that provide first responders with information they need to determine which solutions best fit their mission needs.

One of the latest resources available is NUSTL’s Small Unmanned Aircraft System Program Documentation for Public Safety: Recommendations and Templates. This planning tool gives responders a comprehensive methodology to safely and effectively set up their own program: administrative, operational, qualifications and training, safety, and maintenance.

We created it with collaborative inputs from urban and rural first responders across the country who have experienced the challenges firsthand of how to quickly and effectively initiate or expand a drone program. We understand responders typically don’t come from an aviation background, and we wanted to provide them with a resource that helped fill that gap. The result is a streamlined, easy-to-use template that makes it simpler than ever for responder agencies to implement policies and procedures quickly and get to the real mission at hand – saving lives.

Several factors are driving the increased adoption of sUAS for public safety agencies. Like other technologies, UAS incorporate much of the same components as other popular electronics. Batteries, cameras, and radios are all present in laptops and phones, thus the cost of manufacturing has decreased over time, making them a more affordable option than in prior years. Changes to Federal Aviation Administration regulations have also simplified the process for Drone as First Responder operations, clearing the way for more agencies to incorporate sUAS capabilities into their duties. There is also a national emphasis on expanding America’s sUAS industry, which will ensure the solutions safeguarding our skies are developed by trusted manufacturers.

It comes down to this: UAS are going to play a bigger role in first responder operations moving forward, and agencies need a trusted expert to help them find the right solutions for their unique needs. S&T and NUSTL provide that expertise, giving responders actionable insight and resources that ensure they spend less time worrying about tech specs and more time focused on the mission. I encourage you to review the sUAS Recommendations and Templates to see how your program can benefit.

For more information about the impact of NUSTL’s collaboration with first responders, listen to S&T’s Technologically Speaking podcast episode, “We Take the Load Off of Them.”