A Texas border city has deployed the first citywide drone network in the United States, seeking to expand and improve emergency services and response times.
El Paso has expanded its emergency response system by installing 22 DJI drone docks and establishing a FlightHub 2 On-Prem system. The program began six years ago with a small drone initiative but has since grown to serve the police department, the fire department and the airport. The docks are spread across nearly 40 miles, enabling faster deployment of drones for monitoring and aerial support ahead of ground response teams. City officials say that all three entities share access to the dock network.
Equipped with thermal imaging and three-dimensional modeling, the drones act as airborne first responders, providing real-time situational awareness to clarify threats and inform the response of law enforcement and fire personnel.
Police officials report that the drones have already assisted in locating missing persons and documenting crash scenes. Having aerial coverage at an accident site allows authorities to capture details more quickly and reduces the need for prolonged road closures. Drones also enhance manpower during large events such as concerts and parades.
Several other cities have adopted similar drone response models. In Texas, Edinburg and Prosper have used comparable systems for recovering stolen vehicles, supporting fire response with thermal imaging and streaming video to dispatchers and field units. Elsewhere, cities are expanding drone use. Chula Vista, California, Oswego, New York and Asheville, North Carolina, are examples of municipalities deploying similar technology. Asheville deployed 13 drone dock units during Hurricane Helene to aid with damage assessment, search and rescue operations and infrastructure mapping.
Federal law prohibits the use of DJI drones by federal agencies over concerns about potential access to sensitive data. Local officials in El Paso maintain that their system is secure, operating on a closed AWS GovCloud network. DJI holds over 70% of the commercial drone market in the United States.
Photo by Suliman Sallehi from Pexels
