Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is actively considering the implementation of drone technology to enhance firefighting efforts in high-rise buildings within Islamabad, according to news sources on July 21.
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The use of drone technology is being considered due to its potential to provide real-time situational awareness, map fire perimeters, and identify hotspots, particularly in tall structures.
The decision to explore this option comes after the Ministry of Science and Technology issued firefighting regulations last year, urging federal and provincial governments, along with public and private organizations and authorities, to adopt the Fire Safety Provisions of 2016. Presently, the civic agency possesses 25 fire tenders and four snorkels; however, the snorkels are limited in their ability to reach high-rise buildings during emergencies.
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Drone technology has already been successfully employed in Islamabad for various operations, such as surveillance in hiking trails and other sensitive areas. These specialized drones are equipped with high-definition cameras capable of thermal imaging, allowing them to detect heat sources, even at night or through smoke. In other developed countries, firefighting drones are equipped with multiple sensors that aid in mapping fires and updating fire landscapes.