Page 18 - Security Today, January/February 2020

Security at 20,000 Feet
For the sake of argument, let’s say you have a massive facil- ity in a remote location that needs security. This kind of scenario is a very real pos- sibility. As an owner/operator you would be looking for the best security available, including a layered perimeter solution.
You find an integrator who begins with the best products available, each able to communicate in an open platform. You are now secure.
Wait, Not So Fast
You might have overlooked that area di- rectly overhead, the area that leads directly
to your facility. It is more vulnerable than you might think. It is time to take a hard look at the drone security vertical to pro- tect and safeguard your “friendly” skies.
“In the United States, drones have re- ally taken off–from the enthusiasts who use them recreationally, to businesses that want to deploy them for package deliv- ery,” said Dave Preece, chief data officer and vice president of marketing at Fortem Technologies. “In situations where medical and emergency services get bottlenecked on congested roads or when there are no roads, drones are the perfect solution.”
However, rules and regulations on these unmanned aerial vehicles and sky-
way highways are vague, and the number of aircrafts in the air make airspace ex- tremely congested. Worldwide, there are more than 44,000 airplanes flying every day. Adding millions of drones to that number and you begin to understand the definition of overcrowded.
Drones are a bit unnerving by look and sound. Yes, they are as noisy as an airport. At a recent urban air mobility and airspace security session by the Utah Department of Transportation, Preece said the conversation grew intense as they discussed who exactly owned the airspace where drones might fly.
The fight for authority over this space
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