Drone surveillance

By providing high-performance aerial vision, both day and night, thanks to the high-definition and infrared sensors generally on board, the drone makes it possible to film in real time what the human eye cannot easily perceive: detection of individuals or vehicles several kilometres away, optical zoom of at least X20 on suspicious activity, night-time detection using a thermal camera, or instantaneous and complete view of a site spread over several hectares.

The surveillance drone is thus an essential complement to any security plan, whether it is to protect sensitive sites, industrial infrastructures or even to guarantee the security of open-air events bringing together thousands of people.

What challenges does a surveillance drone meet?

Thanks to its versatility of use and its operational performance, the surveillance drone meets many security and safety challenges by allowing:

• Observation of large areas or isolated sites, including sometimes in poorly accessible or dangerous areas
• Control of defined perimeters (car parks, warehouses, protected areas, event venues) and inspection of the surroundings of the monitored site
• Detection on site of individuals or vehicles that may be detrimental to security
• Real-time transmission of key information to facilitate decision-making
• Protection of people or goods (high value-added or dangerous goods, raw materials, means of production, etc.).

Connected to the security centre or to the remote monitoring centre, the drone acts as a mobile surveillance camera and complements the security equipment. In practice, the supervision is carried out by a permanent return of stabilized, high quality and recorded video flow.

Using the latest technological advances, drone surveillance is now used in a variety of ways, with systems adapted to different operational needs:

• Programmed to carry out autonomous rounds and installed permanently on a site, an automatic drone will ensure general surveillance. Under the supervision of a security officer, the drone can also carry out on-demand risk assessment and allow for immediate reaction to detected incidents (intrusion, malicious act, theft, suspicious approaching vehicle, etc.) without exposing personnel.
• In a tethered version and supervised by a professional telepilot, the surveillance drone is easily and punctually deployed to secure an event or in support of crisis management for example.

Thus, in a few minutes, the surveillance drone makes it possible, from a distance of hundred metres or several kilometres, to accurately assess a situation, measure its seriousness, and ultimately adapt the response on the field.

The benefits of drone surveillance

While video surveillance is an essential component of any security system, the fixed positioning of sensors (optical and thermal cameras) at the periphery or at strategic locations often provides incomplete coverage, leaving gaps in the monitoring.

The use of a drone, such as a “flying camera”, makes it possible to overcome these difficulties. Whether automatic or tethered, the use of a surveillance drone is crucial to:

• Easily monitor all areas, even the most inaccessible.
• Deter malicious acts, spot suspicious movements
• Manage flows, control, or regulate access
• Anticipate incidents and carry out remote risk assessment
• View events remotely
• Intervene and ensure the protection of personnel mobilized in the field

As a fast and mobile system, by nature difficult to detect, the surveillance drone is also much more difficult to neutralise than a conventional video protection system. It is a real dissuasive asset for security.

What are the key features of surveillance drones that provide operational added value?

• The height of view: by flying up to 100 metres sometimes (height reached in a few seconds) the drone overcomes the obstacles and gives the security agents a global perspective of the site and an unequalled depth of view, allowing them to anticipate events.
• Deployment speed: travelling at a speed of between 20 and 40 km/h, the drone can cover 350 to 500 metres in one minute, making it faster than a human intervention, even if motorised.
• Remote video feeds that can be directed without limit from a joystick or radio control: drone monitoring thus offers multiple viewpoints and limits blind spots.
• The volume of information collected by on-board sensors: analysed remotely, from a security centre or a command post, the images transmitted in real time facilitate decision-making, even under time pressure or stressful situations.

By saving time in the implementation of the response to an incident as well as providing real agility for the operational teams on the ground, the surveillance drone is becoming an indispensable equipment.

What sectors of activity are concerned by drone surveillance?

The use of a surveillance drone is crucial in a wide range of circumstances, both for the benefit of private operators and public organisations.
The fields of application include, among others

• Assistance to civil security and crisis management (floods, motorway pileups, etc.) to help rescue people and promote good coordination of the means deployed on the ground
• Permanent monitoring of sensitive sites or strategic locations (nuclear power plants, energy infrastructures, port facilities, etc.) to prevent incidents and ensure continuity of service
• Border surveillance for population protection purposes
• And of course, all areas of private security: guarding of industrial sites or warehouses, event security management, building site surveillance, etc.

It should be noted that the use of drones by the security forces is governed in France by the Security Laws and requires prior authorisation from authorities.

Similarly, the use of a surveillance drone for private security purposes is subject to strict national and European regulations, which apply to operators and require various procedures for the operation of the systems (declaration and authorisation from the authorities).

What is the role of professional drone in the surveillance system?

A surveillance drone is generally integrated into a global security system, comprising different levels of security: perimeter fencing, video surveillance system coupled with an alarm system, on-site guarding or access control services by security officers, and sometimes remote video monitoring.

These are all points that a surveillance drone is specifically intended to reinforce and complement. By filming at a height of several metres, while maintaining a safe distance thanks to the performance of its sensors, the drone is indeed at the heart of the action.

Interfaced with the main existing VMS (Video Management System) softwares, the drone communicates the images directly to the place of decision: security centre or even tablet if the agent is in a vehicle, and these can be recorded within the system for later analysis.

By providing the security officer with enhanced observation capabilities, both day and night, the drone allows accurate assessment of threats or severity of an incident, without being exposed. It enables the agent to take appropriate action, such as sending a patrol to apprehend an intruder or to secure a designated area.

Which drone to choose for surveillance?

To meet your various security requirements, Delta Drone offers a complete range of drone surveillance solutions.

The ISS SPOTTER® solutions meet the ambitious objective of changing the world of surveillance by implementing new technologies for operational teams: the surveillance drone, available in automatic or tethered version, that allows security officers to be more effective in their mission.

Equipped with high-performance on-board sensors, that allows high-definition video feedback in real time to the command post during a public event or to the security headquarters for a sensitive site, ISS SPOTTER® drone surveillance systems provide real added value in decision making.

They are a useful extension of the usual security devices, offering a wide and precise aerial view, day and night. Easy to use, they can be operated by trained security officers, including remotely thanks to a very intuitive human machine interface (HMI).

In addition, ISS SPOTTER® solutions can be integrated into existing security systems and interfaced with the main video surveillance software on the market to ensure complementarity and efficiency.