Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (dlrcoco) recently organised an informative drone workshop for staff members from various departments and skillsets, including Active Travel, Digital Strategy, Smart Dún Laoghaire, Science, Climate and Engineering. The workshop aimed to introduce participants to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) regulations in Ireland to promote safer drone operations within the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area.
Drones for Local Authorities
The event highlighted the growing importance of drone technology in improving public services. Participants learned about the current regulatory framework governing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in Ireland.
Key aspects of the workshop included:
- Regulatory overview: Participants received information about the Irish Aviation Authority’s (IAA) role in drone regulation enforcement and the importance of adhering to the IAA-designated geographic zones.
- Safety and risk management: Using methodologies such as the Specific Operational Risk Assessment (SORA) framework as a model, the workshop focused on the importance of safe drone operations.
- Practical applications: Participants investigated how drones might improve the services provided by their departments, including emergency response, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure inspections.
- Hands-on experience: To ensure that participants had first-hand familiarity with the technology, the course included an active component where they learnt the fundamentals of flying UAVs.
- Future perspectives: Potential developments in urban air mobility and monitoring were discussed.
By organising this workshop, dlr has taken a proactive step towards integrating drone technology into its public services. This project is in line with a growing trend of local governments investigating innovative methods of employing drones for improved efficiency as well as service delivery.
As drone technology continues to evolve, workshops like these play a crucial role in preparing public sector employees for the future of urban air mobility and ensuring that drone operations within the dlr area are conducted safely and in compliance with current regulations.
Visit Smart Dún Laoghaire – Smart Dublin to learn more or email boris@smartdunlaoghaire.ie