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Drones As Part of an Effective Crisis Response

It seems that we won’t be using drones just for photography and video-making. I’ve recently found that there was an extensive study conducted by UPS concerning drone use for delivery in disaster relief operations. It sounds great, so I’d like to tell you something about the organization that started it and the results of the research.

UPS Foundation

The UPS Foundation works not only with manufacturers, but with government agencies and non-profit organizations as well, in testing new technologies and fuels. One of its aims is finding ways to use advanced technologies in improving transportation on a global level.

Not so long ago, the UPS Foundation launched the UPS Relief Link, which is a program through which they try to improve the lives of refugees from all over the world. They do it by optimizing both distribution and tracking of supplies that need to be delivered to areas affected by some kind of a crisis.

And now they’re trying to incorporate drones into their plans.

Studies conducted on drones

Research on UAV use began in 2014 and its main goal was to determine whether they could be used in disaster relief operations. They needed to see if drones were the best choice for delivering supplies to locations that are difficult to reach, but they also needed to consider safety protocols and regulatory implications.

The study was divided into two parts. The first was interviewing officials with experience in relief operations, including those who participated in those that happened during Hurricane Sandy. The second part of the study involved gathering and examining data from different test scenarios that were completed by drones.

The results of this study show us how drone technology can be used to help people recover from many different disaster scenarios. In the UPS Foundation, they believe that they’re a part of the solution and that they can help us improve the way we respond to any crisis that might affect us. And what do you think about all this?