Jun 9 2017
InterDev, an Atlanta-area provider of information technology (IT), security and geographic information services (GIS), recently donated a DJI Phantom 3 Professional unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the police department of the City of Dunwoody, Georgia.
The donation is part of InterDev's ongoing program to thank its municipal clients for engaging InterDev to provide IT and/or GIS services. The UAV will be used for situational awareness, hostage situations, missing persons search and more.
"The Dunwoody Police Department's unmanned aerial vehicle program will be enhanced by the generous donation from InterDev of this important technology. It will help our department to continue meeting the service needs of the citizens of Dunwoody," said Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan.
Using UAV technology, police and emergency workers can literally "fly a camera" into any scene to assess situations and locate both endangered citizens and dangerous individuals before risking the safety of first responders. Police departments are also using UAV to cut by up to half the time involved in processing and mapping outdoor crime scenes and accident investigation sites. UAV's gained national attention when they were used effectively in the aftermath of the 2015 Texas Memorial Day floods.
The Phantom 3 Professional comes equipped with an onboard camera and can fly for up to 23 minutes. It hovers precisely, moves very accurately, and locks quickly onto satellite connections. It processes information from its sensors and completes complex calculations in real time. In addition, it automatically logs and remembers the details of every flight—route, time, distance and location, and caches for future reference all photos and videos taken during the flight.
"UAVs are quickly proving their value for emergency response and tactical police work, from ensuring officers can enter an area safely to locating stranded or missing individuals quickly," said InterDev CEO Gary Nichols. "We deeply appreciate the trust our municipal clients have placed with us, and we want to reward them for that faith with something that helps them serve citizenry more effectively."