When an avalanche strikes in the French Alps every second between the initial alert and the rescue determines the outcome. The following video is a case study follows Val Thorens ski patrol teams and their use of the DJI Dock 3 and Matrice 4TD in avalanche response emergencies. Val Thorens is one of the world’s most demanding mountain environments and these rapid response aerial tools are becoming integral to the way the ski patrol operates.
“The dock today is a real revolution. We save time, it’s plug-and-play. We no longer have to go on-site—with one click from the office, we can launch a flight mission that previously required sending an operator to a site that is vast and large, with weather conditions that aren’t always easy. And takeoff takes place within 10 seconds between the click and the moment the drone is in the air.” -Nicolas Hérbert
The system allows patrollers real-time images of the rescue scene and allows them make informed timely decisions that they would otherwise have to guess at. Equipped with up to 112 zoom and an integrated thermal camera, the DJI Matrice 4TD can detect and locate missing or stranded individuals in both clear and low visibility conditions. The drone pinpoints GPS coordinates and then ground teams can deploy to the location.
System Advantages:
-System launches within 10 seconds of an alert, day or night
-Thermal imaging detects survivors buried beneath the snow
-Real-time aerial intelligence across dangerous alpine terrain
-Operates through extreme weather conditions where ground teams cannot
-Dock as First Responder, redefining what mountain rescue looks like
While highly trained professional humans are the lynchpin in avalanche safety at ski resort around the world, more and more drone technology is being adopted by crews as a highly effective tool for monitoring and rapid response. How do you feel about enterprise level drones buzzing around your local ski resort, yay or nay?
