Emergency Administration to Implement Satellite and Drone Technology for Distant Observation
Technological Enhancements Boost Emergency Response Capabilities During Flood and Fire Seasons
In preparation for the approaching flood and fire seasons, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (MCHS) has fortified its arsenal with state-of-the-art technologies, including mobile complexes from the State Corporation "Roscosmos" and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). These cutting-edge tools enable rapid data collection and timely response to environmental threats.
The mobile complex specifically designed for the MCHS facilitates data collection from Earth remote sensing satellites and ensures seamless information exchange through relay satellites. This infrastructure expedites data transmission to emergency management agencies, thereby enhancing the efficiency of response efforts.
Stanislav Alekseev, Deputy Chief of the MCHS in Yakutia, underscores the significance of these space images in identifying ice jams and predicting the expansion of wildfires. During periods of heightened risk, such as during floods and fires, there is an average of 100 requests for satellite imagery. The acquired data is relayed to emergency management agencies, enabling preventative measures and averting potential crises.
For aerial reconnaissance and monitoring of hazardous regions, a complex based on a high-mobility vehicle will be utilized, featuring two "Orlan-10" type unmanned aircraft. These drones possess the ability to capture aerial imagery, determine evacuation routes, and transmit data in near-real-time.
According to Nikolai Efimov, a specialist of the BAC of the MCHS in Yakutia, the complex is primarily used for reconnaissance of ice and flood situations, as well as for monitoring fire hotspots in prone areas. The complex boasts a range of up to 120 km for data transmission and up to 500 km in autonomous mode, a temperature range of -30 to +40°C, a flight duration of at least 10 hours, and a maximum flight altitude of up to 5 km. The crew consists of three individuals.
The utilization of mobile complexes and UAS offers several advantages, including rapid deployment, enhanced situational awareness, increased safety, and cost-effectiveness. These technologies are an integral part of modern emergency response strategies, offering substantial benefits in reducing response times, improving decision-making, and ensuring the safety of personnel in dangerous environments.
While specific details regarding their application in Yakutia might be scarce, these technological advancements are vital to modern disaster response strategies across Russia.
- The mobile complex, used for data collection from Earth remote sensing satellites by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, falls under the umbrella of environmental science as it aids in identifying environmental threats such as icejams and predicting wildfire expansion.
- In addition to mobile complexes, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations employs unmanned aerial systems (UAS) like the "Orlan-10" drones as part of modern technology innovations in disaster response, enabling aerial reconnaissance, determining evacuation routes, and near-real-time data transmission.
- The integration of data-and-cloud-computing infrastructure in emergency response strategies, such as the mobile complexes' data transmission to agencies and UAS's data transmission in near-real-time, enhances the efficiency of response efforts and improves decision-making during flood and fire seasons.
