1) The document discusses aeroSee, a research project that explores using drones and crowd-sourced image analysis to help with search and rescue efforts. 2) A trial was conducted where over 1,000 "search agents" analyzed drone images of a mock search, tagging a missing person within 69 seconds. 3) The research aims to identify other public safety uses for drones and crowdsourcing, understand regulatory issues, and engage news organizations and the public on innovative uses of drone technology.

1. aeroSee and drone journalism
John Mills
Researcher
@_johnmills

2. MEDIA INNOVATION STUDIO
• We are an international research centre based in the School of Journalism and Media at the
University of Central Lancashire
• Our focus is on exploring new technologies and their relationship with individuals and communities
• We research, teach and support commercial activities and engage in a range of knowledge transfer
activities.

4. aeroSee
• Seeks to innovate both engineered
drones, control software and
explore a range of UAV uses
• Unites Media Innovation Studio
with School of
Computing, Engineering and
Physical Sciences and e-Migs: a
private sector drone manufacturer
• Explore policy issues and
international exploitation of drone
technology

5. Background: Drones and Journalism
• Potential technological “tipping” point
– UAVs are increasingly affordable and offer cost
savings over traditional aerial capture methods
– Technology is also focussing around UX and
mass market penetration
– Vibrant maker community exploring UAV
opportunities
– Lower costs create potential to be used by a
large range of publishers and journalistic
organisations
– Provide high definition cameras mounted
directly onto drones
– Smaller size provides increased opportunity to
access a range of locations both before they
become airborne and afterwards
– Digital connectivity providing the potential for
direct streaming to news industry

6. Industry beginning to recognise
the potential…

7. UAVs: a growing ‘citizen community’

8. Regulation and ethics
• Civil aviation authority regulates of UAVs:
• Operator must retain a direct line of
sight to drone
• Must not fly over or within 30 meters of
an individual
• Must not fly over or within 150 meters
of a congested area
• Must not fly over or within 150 meters
of a congregation of a 1000 people or
more
• Must not fly higher than 400 feet
• Ethical considerations also important: How do
members of the public feel about airborne
surveillance and the associated risks with
overflying of unmanned vehicles?

9. aeroSee: the concept
• Key question: Can search and
rescue services benefit from
crowd-sourced image analysis?
• Promote drones for civic and civil
uses
• Prompt debate around these uses,
and influence policy
• Promote interdisciplinary digital
development and working within
an academic institution

10. Digital potential: the power of the crowd

11. Creation of search agents
• Can the crowd and interested parties to and tag
missing individuals
• Would the search and rescue voluntary community
and UAV community combine as part of a single
project?
• Could basic analysis of tags assist in locating a
missing walker?
• Could our „search agents‟ be more effective than a
single search and rescue team?

12. The first trial
Image data UAV
Internet
UCLAN
Servers
Crowd sourced
Imagery analysis
Crowd sourced
imagery analysis
by ‘Search Agents’
Data Processing
Search Locations
Rescue Team
Dispatched directly
to sightings
INNOVATIVE THINKING
FOR THE REAL WORLD
Mountain Rescue
Control Centre
UAV Ground Station

13. Search Agents
• Access UAV and journalism community
• Co-creation of out
• Market
• Crowdfunding

14. Key findings
• 1000 „search agents‟ registered
• 4765 tags placed on images
• Image set searched 166 times
• 105 on the missing person image
• Missing person found within 69 seconds

15. Potential and next stages
• To explore other search and rescue opportunities in the UK
• To explore other „public good‟ applications and conduct further case studies
• To continue to examine how to embed digital drones into news organisations
• To analyse and influence policy and regulation
• To continue to build our crowd of users and engaged „search agents‟

16. Thank you
www.aerosee.org