University of Regina to Host National Public Safety and Emergency Management Unmanned Air Systems Workshop

News Release Release Date: March 23, 2015 2:15 p.m.

The University of Regina will host Canada’s first National Public Safety and Emergency Management Operational Unmanned Air Systems Workshop on June 10^th and 11^th, 2015.

The use of unmanned air systems (UAS) by public safety and emergency management organizations in Canada is increasing and this workshop will bring together representatives from industry, government, academia and public safety organizations to examine the use and capabilities of UAS in public safety and emergency management in Canada.

“This workshop on UAS is very timely as this relatively new and growing technology is being adopted as another tool for the first responder and public safety community in Canada,” says Steve Palmer, Executive Director of the Collaborative Centre for Justice and Safety (CCJS) at the University of Regina. CCJS provides leading-edge research and technology advancement opportunities, as well as specialized education in the fields of justice, safety and first response.

The Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (CITIG), a not‐for‐profit organization operated by the Canadian Associations of Chiefs of Police, Fire and Paramedics, has supported efforts to increase awareness and use of this important new capability. At CITIG’s Eighth National Workshop in Ottawa in December 2014, UAS experts identified the need for this workshop, which is designed to identify gaps in policy, training and operations and develop action plans to address those gaps.

“The multidisciplinary approach that the CCJS brings to public safety is well suited to the challenges to be addressed in the Canadian Public Safety & Emergency Management UAS Strategy that will be developed during the workshop,” says Dr. David Malloy, Vice-President Research, University of Regina.

The workshop is being organized by CCJS, CITIG, Unmanned Systems Canada (a not-for-profit association representing the unmanned vehicle systems community in Canada) and the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (the largest high-tech association in Canada).

For more information visit: www.unmannedsystems.ca/content.php?doc=261