Send in the drones: how to transform Australia’s fight against bushfires and floods
by Peter Hannam from on (#65RN8)
The cutting-edge technology is a faster, cheaper and more accurate way to raise the alarm on lightning strikes or flash floods, experts say
In the wake of storms of the near future, swarms of drones could replace helicopters and planes, providing emergency crews with more rapid and accurate data on the coming threats of lightning-sparked bushfires or flash floods heading for homes.
Authorities now rely on satellites, which require clear weather during daytime and may only provide resolution down to 10 metres. Alternatively, pilots of aircraft may burn as much as $3,400 worth of fuel an hour and often can't fly for safety reasons.
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