Verizon Frontline and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have joined forces in a groundbreaking partnership to enhance disaster response research. The collaboration aims to revolutionize the way uncrewed aircraft systems are deployed to assess severe storm damage swiftly and effectively.
Recently, Verizon Frontline and NOAA signed a three-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to explore innovative strategies in deploying uncrewed aircraft systems for collecting and distributing imagery of damage caused by severe storms like tornadoes and hurricanes. This initiative is set to leverage Verizon Frontline’s Crisis Response Team, equipped with cutting-edge UAS assets and Verizon’s robust network infrastructure.
The primary focus of this partnership is to empower NOAA’s National Weather Service with rapid imagery of storm damage, enabling quick post-storm damage assessments. Additionally, the collected data will support research conducted by NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory, with the ultimate goal of enhancing severe weather warnings and improving understanding of tornado behavior and impacts.
Tim Oram, the NWS Southern Region Headquarters Meteorological Services Branch Chief, highlighted the potential of this collaboration to enhance services provided by the NWS during disasters. The partnership between Verizon and NOAA is expected to pioneer new strategies for gathering and disseminating crucial imagery, ultimately improving response efforts to severe storms and minimizing their impact on communities nationwide.
Uncrewed aircraft systems play a vital role in this research collaboration as they offer a significant advantage in efficiently collecting critical information in remote and hard-to-reach areas, where human access is challenging. By utilizing UAS technology, NOAA and Verizon are poised to revolutionize the way storm damage assessments are conducted, enhancing the accuracy of tornado forecasts and storm impact assessments.
Michael Adams, associate vice president for federal civilian services at Verizon, expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential to drive innovation in disaster response efforts. By combining their expertise, Verizon and NOAA aim to transform response strategies, ensuring a more effective and proactive approach to mitigating the impact of severe storms on communities across the United States.
