Ministry of Interior drones upgraded to high-definition technology

The full HD airplanes can take photos of locations that cannot be easily accessed by photographers, such as scenes of road accidents, fires and huge events. Courtesy Security Media

ABU DHABI // Seven remote-controlled Ministry of Interior drones have been upgraded so that they can take high-definition footage and pictures.

The aeroplanes, which belong to the Media Security Department, first came into operation in 2010.

The new technology means the quality of photographs has improved, while they can be used in both day and night-time, said Captain Jamal Al Hosani, chief of the Technical Affairs Section.

The upgrade has improved the cameras’ long-range zooming, which means they can be used to take photos of locations that are not easily accessible to photographers, such as road accidents, fires and crowded events.

The drones will also support police patrols to cover incidents taking place on the streets of Abu Dhabi, with the aircraft and ground patrols being present at the same time to provide the required coverage.

They will be controlled by an Emirati operator.

“Upon receiving notification from the Central Operations Room, the operator dispatches the drone towards the incident site. Prior to that, the controller contacts the competent authorities to obtain necessary approvals to fly the drone and cover events on the ground or in high areas as they unfold,” said Mr Al Hosani.

He said he hoped the footage from the drones would show the Ministry of Interior’s commitment “to promote the standards of openness and transparency of the media message.

“It also embodies the ministry’s firm belief in the right of media outlets and the public to be informed to ensure everyone’s safety,”