Mar 28 2013
Although the use of drones is a much-debated topic across the nation, Texas State officials should continue using these devices for research and consider implementing more to monitor crime and high-traffic areas.
According to a July 11, 2012 University Star article, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department awarded the River Systems Institute at Texas State a $260,000 two-year grant to conduct drone-based research. In the same article, Thom Hardy, research professor at the River Systems Institute, said the university seeks to determine whether drones could save money and provide more safety than manned flight operations.
Hardy and other staff at the River Systems Institute have already used a battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicle to conduct environmental research. The lightweight vehicle could sometimes encounter problems with strong winds and other environmental factors, but the drone has nevertheless proved to be a valuable asset.
In addition to Texas State, numerous other institutions, including Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the A&M Texas Engineering Experiment Station in College Station, are reaping the benefits of implementing drones on their campuses. Along with wildlife research, drones have the potential to be very effective in other areas of the university.
Drones would be particularly useful in monitoring and potentially reducing crime instances at Texas State. Some people fear using drones to monitor crime could potentially invade residents’ privacy, but law-abiding citizens should not worry. The drones could be programmed to only specifically monitor and track crime instances in certain areas and not be used for any seemingly secretive purposes. Furthermore, drones have the potential to be more effective than traditional methods for keeping the community safe.
The drone used at the university is equipped with GPS and digital cameras and can fly as fast as 60 miles per hour, according to the same University Star article. With these valuable capabilities, drones could potentially record someone committing a crime and allow the University Police Department to quickly identify the suspect. The drones could follow a suspect on the move and give police officers a better chance to make an arrest. Drones could prove to be beneficial in cutting down crime in the San Marcos area as a whole.
Drones could be effective in monitoring sporting events, which can generate a lot of traffic and congestion around campus. University officials would have the opportunity to statistically measure the most congested areas during games by using video surveillance supplied by drones. The information gathered could be used to determine which parking lots need to be expanded or built to accommodate game traffic or the regular flow of students throughout campus. Police officers and medical personnel could have the ability to assess damage before arriving at the scene of an incident in a high-traffic area, which may increase aid and preparation.
It would be a smart investment for the university to acquire additional drones, although they may be costly. According to the same University Star article, the drones used by Texas State are constructed and designed with “off-the-shelf technology.” These drones could potentially be assembled with parts purchased at an electronics or hobby store, at costs ranging anywhere between $30,000 and $50,000.
The costs of the devices may seem too steep for some, but there are ways the university can help lower the drone expenses. The River Systems Institute and the University Police Department could qualify for additional grants to help purchase drones. Furthermore, university officials could funnel fees from other areas including sporting events to help support the drones that may monitor the corresponding areas.
Despite any debate on the security of these devices, many universities are using them for important purposes, and Texas State would benefit greatly from utilizing more drones around San Marcos.