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Emergency? Disaster? Send In The Drones!

A drone hovers over a lake with a forest in the background.
Aaron Burden
/
Unsplash
Drones are already in Vermont's skies, taking photos and helping with data collection and other research. Now UVM's Spatial Analysis Lab is helping federal aviation regulators build guidelines for using drones during emergencies and other disasters.

Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, are already in Vermont's skies. They collect data, snap photos and can provide helpful views of buildings and other structures. They're also increasingly being used to respond to disasters and other emergencies. We're talking about drones with the director of UVM's Spatial Analysis Lab, and how the lab is helping federal aviation officials craft rules for using drones during emergencies.

Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne is the director of UVM's Spatial Analysis Laboratory and works with the UVM Unmanned Aircraft Systems team. He'll discuss how drones are being used in Vermont today, and how drones are currently (and could potentially) be used to respond to emergencies and other disasters.

We'll also hear from Steve Mermelstein, founder and director of photography at Vermont Drone, about how his business uses drones, new applications for drones they're watching develop in other countries and the growing sport of competitive drone racing.

Broadcast live on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
Matt Smith worked for Vermont Public from 2017 to 2023 as managing editor and senior producer of Vermont Edition.
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