Dedrone & Verizon: Insights on Drone Airspace Security during Catastrophes

Reliable connectivity is essential for communications between disaster responders to understand airspace activity. Dedrone’s latest white paper, co-authored by Verizon, outlines how to provide security information solutions for emergency response teams and protect critical infrastructure airspace during natural or manmade disasters.

Disasters create a multitude of problems for first responders. In addition to attracting rogue drones, disasters hit communications networks, making counter-drone measures difficult to implement. As the whitepaper explains:

• Significant resources are invested to protect communications infrastructure, but have limitations against powerful physical stress.
• Drones are being used for disaster response in unprecedented numbers.
• Hobby drone pilots are ignoring the calls from federal regulators to stay out of restricted airspace, causing delays in recovery efforts.
• Rogue drones are adding pressure to enterprises and organizations for protection of their physical and cyber infrastructure against drone threats while exposed to extreme security vulnerabilities.

Researchers suggest the need for implementing proactive drone detection as part of an emergency response team. Software solutions must partner with reliable connectivity providers in these critical situations.

“The rise of commercial and hobby drones in U.S. airspace poses new questions and concerns with how emergency managers maintain safe skies for first responders. Reliable connectivity is essential for communications between disaster responders to understand airspace activity, as well as to individuals and enterprises who are maintaining the security of high risk and high value infrastructure against drone threats,” says the authors. “Hobby pilots may not understand the risks they pose when they fly in dangerous conditions and may be flying without FAA authorization, prompting law enforcement and federal agencies to rely on proactive drone detection during disasters.”

“Air traffic and connectivity systems for small drones at low altitudes is necessary for keeping skies clear for disaster recovery efforts, to identify rogue or nuisance pilots, and to continue to protect sensitive infrastructure from airspace threats. Verizon and Dedrone provide solutions for these issues and together, can help protect airspace from drone threats during a community’s most dangerous experiences.”

“Disaster responders must incorporate a cloud-based drone detection and airspace security system that can be monitored remotely, to ensure clear skies and smooth airspace operations. In addition to responders, enterprises who are protecting high-risk sites, and actively monitoring drone threats, must also rely on highly reliable connectivity during disasters to protect vulnerable infrastructure and people.”

Dedrone and Verizon whitepaper: Disaster Response and Drone Airspace Security