I would like to crowd-source the opinions from this forum on drone surveillance. A few weeks ago one of our neighbors posted a GoFundMe.com request asking for funding to acquire a drone equipped with an infrared camera. This would be used to scan for illegal homeless campfires in the surrounding areas, private and public, that could (and has) led to wildfires (this is in northern CA). Since then, the email list server has had the full spectrum of opinions, most of them emotional rather than rational.
However, we're in uncharted territory here, legally and otherwise. My main question would be why is this responsibility relegated to a private individual, and not a tool owned and operated by the Fire Department?
Nonetheless, if any of you have any knowledge on this issue, I would appreciate your thoughts. I am specifically looking for cases where private and/or public use of drones for surveillance is used, and even more specifically for illegal encampments and pro-active fire control.
FYI, this is PART of the message the neighbor sent:
...with drones, we can monitor the dense area around our neighborhood and report the GPS coordinates and pictures for the authorities to take action. With the dry environment caused by the drought the risk of fire is at the highest levels given that campfires are prevalent. The time to act is now.
However, the drones needed to accomplish the right level of resolution and GPS, cost approximately $4,000. I am asking for help to fund this activity to create a robotic neighborhood watch.
As a member of the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), I am already concerned with our safety in case of a natural or man-made disaster. Now we need to be pro-active to keep our community safe.
thanks in advance
However, we're in uncharted territory here, legally and otherwise. My main question would be why is this responsibility relegated to a private individual, and not a tool owned and operated by the Fire Department?
Nonetheless, if any of you have any knowledge on this issue, I would appreciate your thoughts. I am specifically looking for cases where private and/or public use of drones for surveillance is used, and even more specifically for illegal encampments and pro-active fire control.
FYI, this is PART of the message the neighbor sent:
...with drones, we can monitor the dense area around our neighborhood and report the GPS coordinates and pictures for the authorities to take action. With the dry environment caused by the drought the risk of fire is at the highest levels given that campfires are prevalent. The time to act is now.
However, the drones needed to accomplish the right level of resolution and GPS, cost approximately $4,000. I am asking for help to fund this activity to create a robotic neighborhood watch.
As a member of the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), I am already concerned with our safety in case of a natural or man-made disaster. Now we need to be pro-active to keep our community safe.
thanks in advance