UAVs for security protection & surveillance

Technology plays a crucial role in ensuring public safety. One of the most promising areas in this field is the use of drones or UAVs for security and surveillance. They significantly enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, emergency response services, and private security companies.

In this article, you'll learn how security drones are revolutionizing crime prevention, urban security, and emergency response. We will also look at the advantages, applications, and recommendations for implementing drones for security purposes.

Drones for security are specialized unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with high-resolution cameras, thermal imagers, and other sensors to perform security and surveillance tasks. These devices can be autonomous or operator-controlled and are capable of performing a wide range of tasks, from patrolling territories to locating suspects.

We will examine more use cases later in this article; you can skip directly to them →

The use of drones in the security sector began in the early 2010s when UAV technology became sufficiently accessible and reliable. Additionally, during this period, there arose a need for a more efficient and cost-effective method of monitoring large areas. Today, this is possible due to artificial intelligence and computer vision, which allow for the automation of surveillance and data analysis processes.

Experts predict that by 2028, the global market for public safety drones will nearly double, with the industry volume reaching $2 billion.

The use of UAVs in the security sector offers several significant advantages that contribute to improving the efficiency of law enforcement and emergency response services. Let's consider the main ones:

Faster incident response

Drones significantly reduce response times to emergency situations. This is achieved through:

• Rapid deployment. UAVs can be launched within minutes of receiving an incident signal.
• Overcoming obstacles. Drones are not dependent on road traffic and can easily overcome natural barriers.
• Quick situation assessment. High-resolution cameras allow for rapid evaluation of the incident's scale and facilitate correct decision-making.

For instance, in a city with a population of about 300,000, if a multi-vehicle traffic accident occurs, a police drone launched immediately after receiving the accident report could arrive at the scene within 2 minutes. In contrast, a patrol car would take an average of at least 10 minutes. Thanks to the promptly obtained drone data, the dispatcher can accurately assess the situation and dispatch the necessary number of traffic police units, ambulances, and fire trucks.

Enhancing the efficiency of security services

Drones significantly expand the capabilities of security services due to:

• Enhanced surveillance capabilities. Drones for security provide unparalleled aerial views, significantly improving overall surveillance effectiveness. This is an improved overview, inaccessible to ground patrols.
• Use of special sensors: thermal imagers and night vision devices allow for effective operation at any time of day and in any weather conditions.
• Process automation: AI-powered security drones can independently detect suspicious activity and alert operators.

For example, you're tasked with guarding a large museum complex. Monitoring multiple cameras and patrolling the territory wouldn't ensure complete order throughout the museum complex, especially at night. Drones would conduct regular patrols of the area, automatically detecting perimeter breaches and suspicious visitor behavior. Without physical patrols, you could increase the coverage area.

Enhancing security personnel safety

Experts report that in the United States, over a thousand police officers die in the line of duty, in India – 1,731, and in Brazil – 5,804. Using drones helps reduce risks for your personnel. UAVs can conduct reconnaissance in dangerous areas without risking staff lives and provide additional support when apprehending criminals.

Moreover, the presence of a drone with video surveillance can deter aggressive behavior of offenders. This is proven by a five-year study conducted in Detroit. In areas with visible cameras, the number of car thefts decreased by 57%, shootings by 27%, robberies by 17%, and burglaries by 49%.

Economic efficiency

Integrating drones into security systems is economically beneficial. Compared to helicopters, the cost of operating a drone is 10-20 times lower, and one operator can control multiple drones, or UAVs can be autonomous. In the long term, using drones leads to significant budget savings.

Drones also reduce the need for workforce in regular patrolling. Process automation allows for staff optimization and reallocation of human resources to more important tasks.

Extended coverage of large or remote areas

Drones are particularly effective when working in large territories:

• Monitoring hard-to-reach places. UAVs can easily survey mountainous areas, forests, and water bodies.
• Rapid deployment. Drones can be quickly delivered to remote areas for situation assessment.
• Creating a surveillance network. Multiple drones can work together, providing full coverage of a large area.

For example, to effectively monitor a national park area of 220 km², two drone points from Microavia are sufficient. This allows for continuous flights 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Let us examine the primary domains of drone utilization for surveillance and security assurance.

Crime prevention and detection using drones

Surveillance of high-crime areas. Drones enable continuous monitoring of problematic districts without necessitating the presence of police patrols. This not only conserves resources but also mitigates risks for law enforcement personnel.

Real-time monitoring of suspicious activities. Equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging systems, drones are capable of detecting suspicious activity even in conditions of poor visibility or during nighttime operations.

Rapid response to ongoing incidents. Upon receiving a distress signal or incident report, a drone can be immediately dispatched to the scene, providing real-time intelligence prior to the arrival of ground units.
Such technological implementation will directly contribute to the reduction of street crime rates and enhance crime clearance rates.

The safest cities according to the Crime Index 2025:

Smart City: maintaining urban order through drone technology

8 years ago, the CSA and Securing Smart Cities published a report on the development of a secure municipal unmanned aerial vehicle program for the use of drones in urban areas. The authors of the report stressed that the potential of UAVs is growing and they will play an important role in smart cities.

This prediction has indeed been realized: today, cities worldwide – from China to New Zealand – are implementing unmanned aerial systems that assist in data collection, which forms the foundation for actualizing the smart city concept. The analysis of this data aids in ensuring security and efficient management of urban infrastructure.

Let us examine specific use cases for drone application in this context:

Security provision for mass events. UAVs enable effective crowd surveillance during urban events or festivities, identifying potentially hazardous situations in their early stages. For instance, utilizing crowd behavior analysis systems, drones can detect excessive concentrations of people at a metro entrance or event ingress point, transmit an alert, and prevent a potential crowd crush scenario.

Traffic monitoring and accident response. Drones are employed for the prompt detection of congestion, accidents, and other road-related issues, facilitating faster incident response and optimization of traffic flows.

Support for urban search and rescue operations. In cases of missing persons within urban environments, drones can swiftly survey large areas, utilizing thermal imaging cameras for detection purposes.
Construction site surveillance. UAVs are utilized to monitor safety conditions at construction sites, ensure compliance with regulations and standards, and identify potential hazards.

Surveillance of landfills, methane emissions, and fire outbreaks

Methane emission from the decomposition of organic waste plays a crucial role in landfill ignitions. At certain concentrations, methane can ignite in the presence of an ignition source. Additionally, chemical reactions within the landfill can elevate temperatures to the auto-ignition point of some materials. However, human factors, including both careless fire handling and deliberate arson, cannot be excluded.

Landfill fires represent a serious issue affecting residents worldwide. Observations have recorded approximately 8,300 annual landfill fires in the United States and about 300 in the United Kingdom. In India, a major fire at the Deonar landfill in Mumbai, which erupted in January 2016, was even detected by NASA satellites.

Emergency management using UAVs

In emergency situations, drones become an indispensable tool for assessing the situation and coordinating rescue operations. We have covered this topic in detail in a separate article →

Rapid assessment of disaster areas. During natural disasters, UAVs can help address a key challenge faced by emergency response services — providing a comprehensive picture of the emergency situation. This is crucial for planning rescue operations, on which people's lives depend.

Coordination of emergency response teams. Drones facilitate communication and coordination between various rescue groups, especially in conditions where conventional communication means may be unavailable.

Search and rescue operations. The use of drones significantly enhances the efficiency of locating victims, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. For example, following a severe earthquake, drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras can help detect survivors trapped under debris more quickly.

Border patrol and critical infrastructure perimeter security

Drones are effectively utilized for border protection and safeguarding vital infrastructure facilities:

Border surveillance. Protecting national borders is a paramount task for any country. However, traditional patrolling and monitoring methods are no longer sufficient to ensure the required level of security. For instance, in the United States, over $18 billion has been allocated for border security. A significant portion of this budget is designated for drone deployment, surveillance equipment procurement, and personnel training.

UAVs enable the monitoring of extensive border sections, detecting attempts at illegal crossings, unauthorized migration, smuggling activities, as well as inspecting the condition of border infrastructure. We have written in more detail about the advantages of border drones here →

Railway and station surveillance. Regular aerial inspections of railway infrastructure help identify track damage or overgrowth, suspicious objects, rail corrosion, and other security threats.

Moreover, drone surveys prove more efficient than standard personnel-based inspections. Typically, a ground inspection of 5 km of railway track takes about one and a half hours and requires at least two workers. Drones can autonomously accomplish the same task in 40 minutes without human intervention. More information about railway drones can be found in this article →

Let's examine the technical capabilities of UAVs for security purposes using the Microavia drone as an example:

Autonomous system

The Microavia drone is an autonomous robotic system. It doesn't require an operator for functioning. Battery replacement is performed automatically, allowing the drone to operate 24/7, though manual control is also possible. The UAV can be rapidly deployed, which is crucial in emergency situations where every minute counts.

Operation in any conditions

It's essential to select equipment suitable for specific climates and terrains. Microavia drones have been tested in real-world conditions at temperatures ranging from -25°C to +60°C.

Extended range and prolonged flight time

The Microavia drone is always ready for a 45-minute continuous flight. Automatic battery replacement takes only 2 min, enabling extended flights even during large-scale security operations.

Infrared and thermal sensors

Drones equipped with infrared and thermal sensors enhance detection accuracy in various environmental conditions. Upon request, drones can be fitted with specialized sensors, such as those for hazardous substance detection.

Powerful long-range detection

30x optical zoom camera: Provides long-range object detection and high-resolution visual confirmation.

Thermal camera with telephoto lens: Monitor thermal signatures and identify potential threats or equipment malfunctions even in poor visibility conditions.

Infrared cameras capture thermal signatures, enabling the detection of concealed objects and individuals, and aiding in situation assessment and security operation planning.

Learn more about the Drone-in-a-Box system with automatic battery replacement →

Real-time data transmission and analytics

The ability to transmit and analyze data in real-time allows for instant identification of critical situations and rapid response to changing circumstances. Data can be automatically relayed to security management systems, ensuring up-to-date incident information and optimizing the response process.

The combination of these technologies with traditional surveillance methods provides a comprehensive situational overview and reduces risks for rescue personnel.

The key task for specialists in this area is to ensure the integration of drones into the established work scenarios of rescue workers, police, or security services. This means that it is necessary not only to synchronize technological systems but also to conduct personnel training. Here are the recommendations provided by Microavia expert Artem Isaev:

Data Integration. Ensure seamless incorporation of drone data into existing security management systems and GIS.

Workflow Integration. Include drone usage in standard procedures for monitoring and responding to security incidents.

Reporting Systems. Develop standardized reports that combine drone data with other incident information and response measures.

Inter-agency Collaboration. Foster cooperation between drone-operating teams, security services, and law enforcement agencies for effective utilization of acquired data.

Proper integration maximizes efficiency by enhancing current security processes without creating parallel systems.

1. UAVs significantly reduce incident response times, enabling rapid deployment and situation assessment, which is critical for effective emergency management.

2. The utilization of drones enhances the safety of security personnel by mitigating risks associated with hazardous tasks and providing additional support during suspect apprehension.

3. Drone implementation is cost-effective: operational expenses are substantially lower than those of helicopters, while UAVs can operate autonomously.

4. Drones are particularly effective for monitoring large areas and hard-to-reach locations, enabling the creation of comprehensive surveillance systems with full coverage of extensive zones.

5. In the context of smart cities, drones play a crucial role in ensuring public safety, managing traffic flow, and supporting search and rescue operations.

6. Technical specifications of modern security drones include autonomous operation, all-weather capability, extended flight time, infrared and thermal imaging sensors, as well as real-time data transmission capabilities.

7. Successful drone integration requires synchronization with existing security systems, including technology alignment, personnel training, and the development of standardized procedures for incorporating drones into routine operations.