3. Discussion on public safety and order in North-East Hesse at the Hessian State Fire Service College

How can drone technologies help to strengthen civil protection and public safety? These and other questions were the focus of the 3rd Forum on Public Safety and Order in North-East Hesse, held at the Hessian State Fire Service Academy in Kassel on 20 August. Michèle Knodt, Director of the Hessian Drone Competence Centre (HDCC) and Professor of Political Science at Technical University of Darmstadt, presented the HDCC and the opportunities offered by its location at Kassel Airport.

For the third time, the event brought together key stakeholders from the police, the fire service, the Federal Police, the German Armed Forces, and state and regional administrations in North and East Hesse at the invitation of the Kassel Regional Council. Among other things, discussions centred on the current state of civil defence in the administrative district and what precautions can be taken in the event of potential disasters. In addition, the representatives presented their current priorities and exchanged views on how their respective departments operate and respond in the event of a crisis.

During the joint discussions, it also became clear what potential drone technologies offer for a variety of operational scenarios, and how important practical testing, qualification and cross-organisational collaboration are in this regard.