Drones Are Becoming Mass Communication Devices

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Propmodo Technology

By Franco Faraudo · August 7, 2024

Greetings!

New York City is testing drones to improve emergency communication, offering a reliable way to deliver messages even in large or compromised areas. As drones become more common for tasks like property assessments, they could soon be essential tools for enhancing safety and communication in various settings. Plus, check out this week’s Propmodo Technology focus on Lending with the support of our friends at StackSource.

Drones Are Becoming Mass Communication Devices

Any time you have a large group of people, especially if they are spread out, it can be challenging to communicate with them. In an emergency, a lack of communication can lead to dangerous situations. Buildings typically have communication protocols for emergencies, often playing a recorded message over the audio system. However, this has its limitations; if the power is out or the speakers are damaged, these recordings may never be heard. Additionally, some places are too large to be effectively covered by speakers, such as large multifamily complexes or office campuses. New York City believes it has found an effective way to disseminate messages to the masses, regardless of conditions on the ground: drones.

New York City has been experimenting with a drone system that was recently used to warn residents about potential flooding from an impending storm. The drones were able to pinpoint areas at risk of flooding and deliver messages to residents in a way that is hard to ignore. The NYC drones only issued a warning that evacuation might be necessary, so we have yet to see exactly how effective they are, but officials seem to think highly of what they’ve observed so far (though there was some criticism regarding poor Spanish translations of the announcements).

If drones prove to be effective communication tools, we can expect to see more of them being purchased by property owners. Not only can they help surveil an area, but they can also actively assist in certain situations. As unsettling as it might be if a drone flies up to you and starts talking, most of us would appreciate it if they were delivering lifesaving information.

Over time, we might even become more accustomed to drones communicating with us. We could even see a sci-fi scenario where drones follow us around, answering questions and giving directions. Imagine how much a retailer might pay to offer certain shoppers personal drone assistants that enhance their shopping experience (and, of course, do some upselling).

Drones have become so commonplace that we often forget just how new the technology really is. While we might already be using drones for a variety of purposes, there are plenty of other uses yet to be discovered. Currently, most properties hire drones for tasks like photography or property assessments. Soon, it might be more common for every large property to have its own drone. This way, property managers could not only conduct their own research and imaging but they could also have a drone ready to assist occupants in an emergency.

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Propmodo Technology is edited by Franco Faraudo with contributions from readers like you and the Propmodo team.

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