Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or “drones”) and Body Worn Video (BWV) will be among talking points at this year’s free-to-attend Emergency Services Show, at the NEC in Birmingham on September 23 and 24, the show organisers say.
As the show organisers say, UAVs can offer benefits to the response, rescue and resilience sector. This emerging technology will be discussed in free-to-attend seminars. In the Innovation Theatre on September 23, delegates can hear from West Midlands Fire Service, which has over 10 years’ experience of using UAVs in partnership with other category one services. On September 24, Justin Pringle, a drone developer with Drone Ops will give an overview of the benefits UAVs can offer the emergency services, particularly in managing ground crew risk.
Meanwhile in the exhibition (also free) visitors can find out about the UAV training courses offered by Sky-Futures who can train remote pilots to fly safely and procedurally using best practice from manned aviation and its 8500 hours of operational drone flying experience. With the Fire Service College it has produced structured, CAA approved courses for the police, fire and rescue service, ambulance service, USAR and other emergency organisations. On the Excelerate stand visitors can learn more about UAVs for achieving 360-degree aerial views at incidents and video streaming to required locations. They can also see demonstrations of Excelerate’s automatic pole-climbing camera and communications system providing a CCTV surveillance and data relay system. Primetech will launch new MultiNet Comms portable, battery-powered communications system, which incorporates UAVs for live-streamed aerial imagery gathering.
Visitors with an interest in air surveillance can visit the UK Civil Air Patrol stand in the Emergency Response Zone to find out how this voluntary organisation can support the blue light emergency services and local government civil contingencies with affordable air observation and air to ground photography. Visitors can find out about the latest developments in surveillance and recording technology. Edesix, Excelerate Technology, Handheld UK, Niton 999 Group, Pinnacle Response, Reveal and WCCTV are among the leading names who have all booked stands.
The benefits of Body Worn Video (BWV) will feature on exhibition stands and in the Innovation Seminar Theatre. Reveal body cameras for example are already being used by 30 of the 42 police forces. They record audio and video which gives officers a record of anything they are dealing with. Features such as the front-facing screen display footage in real time can have positive effects on the behaviour and conduct of subjects when they are being recorded, the makers add. Speakers on the topic include Inspector Ben Clark, of the Metropolitan Police (Met) who will present on both days, giving an overview of the Met’s BWV Project. On day one West Midlands Fire & Rescue Service will also share their experience of BWV. It’s tested a range of BWV products and assessed its potential for improving operational planning, response, debrief, and training for interoperability and cross service data sharing.
The NEC is linked to Birmingham International Station and Birmingham Airport and is accessible from UK motorways. Parking for visitors and exhibitors is free.
To register for free entry visit www.emergencyuk.com.
