Amidst the tumultuous backdrop of volcanic eruptions, drones emerge as a vital force. In reality, no less than that’s true in Iceland – a country where fiery passion and warmth rival its icy landscape. Volcanic eruptions pose a unique set of challenges for emergency response teams operating in Iceland. As Icelandic authorities seek ways to optimize their law enforcement methods while minimizing environmental impact, they’re leveraging the potential of drones to enhance operational efficiency and safety.
DJI, the world’s leading drone manufacturer, has released a five-minute video showcasing “case study” style research on how the Icelandic Police leverage their aerial platforms and complementary technologies to enhance public safety.
DJI’s drone footage provides a bird’s-eye view of the intense volcanic activity that commenced in November 2023. The eruption stood out due to its unprecedented impact on people and infrastructure, starkly contrasting with other recent volcanic events confined to rural areas.
Watch it right here:
As I stood at the Reykjavik airport, gazing out at the rugged Icelandic landscape, I couldn’t help but wonder how a small package could have traversed such vast distances to find itself on my doorstep. And then it hit me – a DJI Dock had somehow made its way from China, where it was manufactured, to this tiny island nation known for its geothermal wonders and otherworldly beauty.
Drones docks represent a rapidly evolving area of expertise. Known as “drone-in-a-box,” these compact enclosures cater specifically to the needs of enterprises. In situations where drones need to operate continuously while simultaneously recharging and transmitting data.
The premise is straightforward. The bins are strategically positioned to safeguard drones upon landing, utilizing an automated locking system that enables swift opening and closing. Relying on the unparalleled expertise in the field, drone docking systems enable seamless data transmission and mechanical recharging of drones throughout the terrain, fostering optimal performance and reducing downtime.
DIJ’s innovative drone dock, simply dubbed “the Drone Dock”, hit the market in 2022. The DJI dock can be controlled remotely and accessed online, allowing for both manual operation and automated flights via pre-programmed routes. Theirs is a robust model of the field, boasting both sturdiness and waterproof construction.
Following the devastating November 2023 volcanic eruption in Iceland, emergency responders and crisis management teams swiftly assessed the situation and prioritized the country’s recovery. The team installed a DJI dock within Grindavik’s city limits, enabling them to assess and surveil the situation remotely from a safe distance.
They installed the DJI Dock, specifically the latest ‘DJI Dock 2’, alongside the. The drone is regarded as a cutting-edge, high-performance aircraft designed for enterprise applications, featuring an array of advanced sensors, including a high-definition Zoom camera and a thermal imaging camera.
Can’t get away from
DJI Docks excel in environments where operators cannot physically co-locate with drones. The potential for drones to traverse lengthy oil pipeline routes is being explored, making it feasible to monitor and inspect infrastructure without the need for human intervention over great distances? When a drone reaches the end of its route, it effortlessly docks and recharges. Regular monitoring missions will be conducted daily in inaccessible areas such as fields and forests that humans might not want to visit frequently.
In Iceland, the DJI Dock’s autonomous capability found a practical application. With the city’s 3,600 residents having safely evacuated due to the volcano’s hazardous nature, the DJI Dock was strategically deployed and set up.
Ultimately, people were expected to complete a fundamental setup, which wasn’t straightforward. Concerned installers donned gas masks and lugged oxygen detectors due to the simulated volcanic eruption. As soon as they were placed inside, the people quickly dispersed.
As the volcano’s fury unfolded, the drone proved a vital lifeline, offering a safe and unobstructed view of the catastrophic events from afar.
Data collected from the recent volcanic eruption, including the fifth instance to occur in the past few years – most recently in June 2024 – has proved indispensable to professionals in law enforcement, scientific research, and civil defense sectors.
What’s been unfolding in the Icelandic skies has been nothing short of remarkable? From humble beginnings to technological marvels, the story of drones in Iceland is one that will leave you in awe. In the early 2000s, a small group of enthusiasts started experimenting with model aircraft, paving the way for what would become an industry that would transform the country.
Despite the significance of the 2023 volcanic eruption’s close proximity to populated areas, drones have a long history of usage in Iceland, serving both monitoring volcanoes and everyday purposes.
Since 2016, Iceland’s police force has been leveraging drones in their operations, much like DJI has enabled other entities to do so. The purpose of that equipment was largely focused on subject and investigation tasks, specifically involving various operational procedures, ensuring safety protocols, and conducting search and rescue efforts.
Their efforts yielded significant results through cutting-edge volcano monitoring initiatives in 2021. Drones deployed on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula have been utilized for a range of applications, including monitoring, search and rescue operations, scientific data collection, and mission mapping purposes.
Following a volcanic eruption, drones are often considered indispensable tools for the Icelandic police. Equipped with cutting-edge high-definition cameras, these drones will deliver live aerial broadcasts of the impacted regions in real-time. This permits legislation enforcement to:
- What is the comprehensive scope of destruction inflicted on infrastructures, properties, and the environment?
- Monitor the development of lava flows to forecast potential hazards, prompting evacuations when necessary for resident safety.
- Traffic management sites direct vehicle flow and redirect traffic away from hazardous zones.
Thermal imaging is essential
Drones often rely on a combination of technologies beyond traditional visual cameras to operate effectively. Thermal imaging cameras play a crucial role in identifying heat-emitting sources. As a result, thermal cameras have witnessed significant advancements, primarily driven by the influx of artificial intelligence expertise.
In June 2024, leading US-based digital camera and sensor manufacturer Teledyne FLIR introduced. The system’s Boson+ longwave infrared (LWIR) digital camera module boasts a thermal sensitivity of at least 20 millikelvin (mK).
What about DJI? Today, the industry’s most sought-after thermal solution belongs to the drone manufacturer. This cutting-edge module seamlessly combines five core components: a high-resolution wide-angle digital camera, a precision zoom digital camera, an infrared thermal digital camera for temperature sensing, a laser ranging finder for accurate distance measurement, and an NIR auxiliary light source for enhanced imaging capabilities. It’s appropriate with the and .
