Australian firefighters to get a drone-eye view during emergencies
Insurers are using drones to assess the damage caused by bushfires, so it seems only fair firefighters should get a couple of their own devices.
On Monday, the New South Wales (NSW) government rolled out a technology package worth more than A$4 million (US$2.96 million), aimed at ensuring firefighters have access to real-time information when responding to emergencies.
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The package includes two drones, two mobile command centres and more than 180 mobile data terminals to be installed in fire trucks across NSW, the state government said in an emailed statement.
The two mobile command centres feature radio and video feeds, as well as communication services such as high-speed satellite and 4G. The mobile data terminals will give firefighters access to weather data and local hydrant, gas and electricity maps as they head to incidents.
The drones, paired with six trained firefighters to operate them, will give response crews a view of the emergency site from above, whether during a fire, flood or chemical spill.
"Each vehicle has high speed internet and a 100-metre Wi-Fi bubble which could be invaluable to communities cut off from technology following a catastrophic fire or storm event," Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Greg Mullins said in the statement.
"This new technology improves the information available for first responders and will ensure that we remain a world class fire, rescue and hazmat service."
This is not the first high-tech equipment NSW firefighters have obtained in recent months. In December, a turbine-aided firefighting robot that can shoot water up to 90 metres (295 feet) was added to their arsenal.
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Ariel Bogle was an associate editor with Mashable in Australia covering technology. Previously, Ariel was associate editor at Future Tense in Washington DC, an editorial initiative between Slate and New America.
