Survey: 45% of Public Safety Professionals Plan Drone Investments

Nearly half of public safety professionals surveyed by Haivision—45%—said they plan to invest in drone programs for initial emergency response within the next 12 months. The finding places drone programs ahead of other technology investment priorities identified in the company’s Public Safety Technology Report. The survey drew responses from more than 100 professionals across policing, firefighting, emergency management, emergency communications, and related fields, offering a cross-functional view of technology needs for mission-critical operations. It is an industry survey, not an announced government solicitation or award, but the investment plans may help vendors and integrators anticipate areas of interest among public safety organizations over the coming year.

The report also shows that drones are entering an operational environment where other camera systems are already widely used. Fixed surveillance cameras were reported by 77% of respondents, drones by 57%, and cameras worn by personnel by 54%. In addition, 69% said their organizations operate an operations or command center supporting functions such as emergency coordination and crowd management. These figures suggest that prospective drone procurement may need to address more than aircraft acquisition: agencies may also consider how aerial video feeds connect to command centers, existing surveillance infrastructure, communications networks, and incident-management workflows.

Artificial intelligence video analytics emerged as another significant planning area. While only 34% of respondents said they currently use at least one AI video analytics tool, 76% expected the technology to have the greatest influence on public safety over the next five years. This gap between anticipated influence and current deployment indicates possible future demand for analytics software, video management capabilities, and integration services. For contractors, the report is a directional signal rather than a forecast of funded requirements; individual agency budgets, procurement schedules, operational needs, and applicable policies will determine whether interest becomes a formal acquisition.

Respondents identified limited budgets, system compatibility, dependable network connections, and information sharing between agencies as obstacles. Those constraints are directly relevant to capture and solution planning. Providers may need to show how proposed drone and analytics capabilities work with existing systems, function under field communications conditions, and support appropriate information exchange across organizational boundaries. The survey does not identify specific agencies, contract values, or planned solicitations, so businesses should treat the results as market context and validate opportunities through agency budgets, procurement notices, and local engagement.

• 45% of surveyed public safety professionals plan to invest in drone programs for initial emergency response within 12 months.
• The Haivision Public Safety Technology Report is based on responses from more than 100 professionals across policing, firefighting, emergency management, emergency communications, and related fields.
• Reported camera use: 77% use fixed surveillance cameras, 57% use drones, and 54% use cameras worn by personnel.
• 69% of respondents said their organization runs an operations or command center for activities including emergency coordination and crowd management.
• 76% expect AI-powered video analytics to have the greatest influence on public safety over five years, while 34% currently use at least one such tool.
• Reported procurement and deployment barriers include limited budgets, system compatibility, reliable network connections, and interagency information sharing.
• For vendors, emphasize integration with existing camera and command-center environments, communications resilience, and practical approaches to interagency data sharing.
• The survey signals prospective market interest, not a specific funded requirement; monitor agency-level budgets and solicitations to identify actionable opportunities.