National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security Offers UAS-Related Resources

• NCJ Number: 252488
• Author(s): Becky Lewis
• Date Published: November 2018
• Length: 2 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Award: A proposal to operate the National Criminal Justice Technology Resource Center.

Annotation

This article describes the rationale for and the content of a 2-day event sponsored by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) of the University of Southern Mississippi, during which participants received information on the technology, innovation potential, and regulations regarding unmanned aircraft systems/unmanned aerial vehicles (UAS/UAV), more commonly known as drones.

Abstract

The article notes that drones can be purchased for relatively little money and launched into the sky by owners with no training in the technology, potential uses, and restrictions on how and where drones can be used. The 2-day UAV Innovation and Technology Forum held by the NCS4 on May 15-16, 2018, sought to address these issues. In addition to providing information on the operational parameters for drone users, the Forum provided information on how law enforcement agencies, schools, and venue managers might use drones to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of some of their operations. Resource persons at the Forum included representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, sports and entertainment venues, colleges and high schools, and law enforcement and other public-safety agencies. Forum participants spent a portion of both days discussing key issues and concerns, receiving information on relevant federal initiatives, and envisioning the future for drones. A summary report from the Forum and a website of related resources were produced.