Police drone data will help C4i suggest innovative ways to improve use

By Samantha Johnson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on October 11, 2023.

reporter@medicinehatnews.com

The Centre for Innovation (C4i), Medicine Hat College and the Medicine Hat Police Service are currently collaborating in an effort to analyze and improve the use of drones.

A team within C4i will be receiving drone data from MHPS throughout the fall and into winter and plan to publish their findings in early 2024. The team is currently working with the research ethics board to get approval for the qualitative study.

Loreto Mattiomi, a research co-ordinator at C4i, explained, “The primary objective of the project is to explore innovative ways in which the police service can enhance its response to emergency situations using drones.”

MHPS now has a dedicated police vehicle for housing and deploying the two drones they use, whereas until recently, deployment came from the station where charging equipment was housed. Data collected from vehicle deployment will be shared with the team at C4i and compared to data from when the drones were stored at the station.

“We are also keen on the perception of police officers on the usage of drones in their operations,” added Mattiomi.

The team will analyze differences in response times, police officer’s workload and resources. They will also examine the benefits of drone use for MHPS.

“We want to see the difference between using this deployment system and the data without the deployment vehicle and traditional methods of policing. We want to have the findings by the start of the next year, so we can publish them,” stated Mattiomi.

C4i wants to support the police in enhancing their capability to respond to emergency situations and Mattiomi says the study will be valuable toward increasing public safety and security. Once the project is complete, C4i plans to speak with officers to help determine future training needs.

s the applied research project unfolds, more information will become available at mhc.ab.ca.

MHC is holding a Tech Night on Nov. 23 at 5 p.m., and the drone project will be featured during the evening. The event will be co-hosted by C4i, APEX Southeast Alberta and the Medicine Hat chapter of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta. Register to attend at eventbrite.ca.

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