Questions to Ask Before Implementing a DFR Program in your Organization

Drone as First Responder (DFR) technology is transforming how Public Safety agencies respond to emergencies. By deploying an autonomous drone that arrives at a scene in 90 seconds or less, First Responders can gain critical situational awareness and aerial intel before ground units arrive. With proven technology, a clear positive impact, and widespread adoption across the country in recent years, it is becoming clear that drones in First Response are here to stay. However, like any successful new program, preparation is necessary to avoid unnecessary risks.

Agencies rushing into DFR implementation may find themselves at best lacking a clear operational strategy and at worst housing expensive equipment that isn’t allowed to leave the ground in the first place. The good news is that these pitfalls are avoidable if you ask the right questions before signing with a DFR contractor. In this article, we lay out the key questions every organization should ask before launching a DFR program.

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What problem(s) can DFR solve for our agency?

DFR is incredibly versatile. It is being utilized by Police, Fire, EMS, and even some universities and prisons for a variety of purposes. To find the right configuration of hardware and supporting software for your organization, it is important to figure out what your main priorities are before choosing a provider.

To determine the main goal of a DFR program within your agency, ask the following:

• What incidents are we typically responding to?
• Where do we need the most coverage and when?
• Are there any underserved areas of our community, and why?
• What is our average response time and what metrics do we need to see to justify this investment?

The goal of these questions is to outline what success looks like for your agency when launching a DFR program. Taking this step beforehand ensures that your organization will have predetermined metrics by which to measure the efficacy of drone usage, which will assist in procuring consistent funding and building community trust.

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Are we prepared to obtain regulatory approval?

Compliance with the FAA is the foundation for a successful DFR program. BVLOS waivers, while more accessible than ever, still require meaningful time and effort to obtain. For more information on BVLOS specifically, view our previous blog post, How BVLOS Authorization Makes Drone as First Responder Possible. Be prepared to ask the following questions to the applicable parties:

• Do we understand BVLOS authorization and why it is essential to a DFR program?
• Do our planned operators have Part 107 certifications, or do we need to hire and train additional staff?
• Does our jurisdiction require approval from the city council for the use of DFR?

Running into compliance issues can not only derail a DFR program, but ground it entirely. Getting ahead of compliance is much easier and cost-effective than paying the price for a drone program that did not acquire the correct regulatory approvals in the first place.

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Do we have the right infrastructure?

A DFR program is only as reliable as the infrastructure supporting it. Before committing to a provider, it is important to assess the environment that your drones will be operating in using the following questions:

• Do we have suitable locations for docking stations that allow us to fully cover our service area?
• Is there reliable 5G/LTE connectivity at these sites?
• Does the DFR system integrate with our specific dispatch system?
• How is maintenance handled if something goes wrong?

Integration into your agency’s preexisting tech ecosystem is just as vital to a DFR program as the drones themselves. Without proper communication between all aspects of the system, friction and lowered rates of success are inevitable.

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Do we have the right people?

Even highly automated DFR programs require trained operators and someone to be accountable for the program day-to-day. Before launch, make sure your agency has answered the following:

• Who will serve as the primary operator and manager of the DFR system?
• What does training look like and how often does it need to occur?
• Who authorizes a launch, and how quickly?
• Who has access to drone footage, and what approvals are required for sharing?

By clarifying these operational duties, you can eliminate confusion before it becomes an issue.

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How will we handle data and community trust?

DFR programs collect a variety of data, including video footage, flight logs, and GPS records. It is critical that your agency not only determines a policy on how this data will be handled internally, but is transparent with the community about these policies. Consider the following:

• How long will we retain drone footage?
• How will we respond to FOIA requests, legal requests, and other public record inquiries?
• How can we build trust with our community that we will use this data responsibly?
• Are there any community oversight mechanisms that we can partner with?
• How do state or local privacy laws dictate what we can do with drone footage?

Agencies that engage with the community early typically fare better with maintaining sustained support for a DFR program that allows the program to truly flourish and have a meaningful impact.

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Does the budget reflect total cost of ownership?

While drones are the star of the show when it comes to a DFR program, they cannot do their job without the entire DFR system. A realistic budget will account for not only the drone itself, but also:

• Hardware
• Software
• Maintenance
• Training and staffing
• Site preparation for dock installation
• Potential grant funding

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Is our vendor the right long-term partner?

The role of a DFR provider is not to just provide equipment, but to commit to your agency as a long-term operational partner. To make sure that your vendor is the right fit for you, make sure to ask:

• Do they have agencies with programs similar to yours in size and mission?
• What does the implementation and onboarding process look like?
• Does the system receive regular updates?
• Who is the point of contact for communicating needs?
• What is the response time if something breaks or malfunctions?

A trustworthy vendor will be able to answer these questions confidently and with full transparency. In addition to these questions, it is important to have a discussion with potential vendors about their entire process and your agency’s expectations to ensure everyone is on the same page.

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Ready to take the next step?

To conclude, a well thought out DFR program can drastically change how your agency responds to emergency calls, but planning is integral to implementing a system that serves you and your community. Paladin is here to help find the right solution for your organization. Please book a demo with us for more information about how our program works, how we tailor it to your needs, and how we can help you along every step of the way.