As the gigantic wildfire in the Fort McMurray area burns, Canadian firefighters rely on drone technology to investigate the root cause of the massive inferno in Alberta.
Alberta’s government teamed up with Edmonton-based Elevated Robotic Services, which also provides its aerial technology to HUB insurance. Elevated uses drones made by DJI that are mounted with HD, infrared, and ultraviolet cameras to gather data that may help experts determine what sparked the fire. Hundreds of images will be stitched together as part of a “fire-mapping” process. Using drones is more accurate than using helicopters because it can move closer to the fire and estimate its origin to within nine meters. It’s also safer as a chopper’s blades can end up further fanning the flames.
This most recent use for drones highlights the increasing interest governments and businesses devote to the technology. Some forecasts show that with relaxation of regulations, the drone industry is set to boom. Bloomberg reports that the drone industry is expected to grow by 6,000% by the end of the decade. From around US$2bn, it’s expected to reach $127 billion by 2020.
However, not all drone use during wildfires is beneficial. Last year, during a blaze in San Bernardino, California, emergency workers were forced to suspend aerial operations as some hobby drones were spotted in the area. The drones’ owners were likely hoping to capture dramatic aerial footage of the fires. Hopefully, the emergency workers in Alberta won’t encounter the same interference from unauthorized drone pilots.
