SLSNSW currently provides the largest coastal UAV surveillance program in the southern hemisphere. SLSNSW CEO Steven Pearce (image above) said lifesavers used drone capability extensively during last year’s floods, helping to give the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) a more complete picture of the disaster unfolding across the state and where support to communities could be best directed.
“Surf Lifesaving has really developed the capability, and we provide services on behalf of a lot of other agencies. Government has already invested money into building this capability, why not save duplication?
“We already provide services for SES and RFS [NSW Rural Fire Service]. And it’s just a natural response. We use them for so many search and rescue operations.
“This new Long-Range UAV project technology is amazing, we are hoping it will lead to the incorporation of artificial intelligence as well to assist with search and rescue. We are really excited to see what comes out of the trial,” said Mr Pearce.
The SLSNSW Long-Range UAV trial will operate next month at Evans Head, south of Ballina, from the aerodrome. A number of UAV vendors will be demonstrating capability against a set of tasks that demonstrate typical emergency services scenarios.
Images: Northern Beaches Advocate