The United Nations’ Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 outlines three strategic dimensions:

• Preventing the creation of new risk
  

• Reducing existing risk
  

• Increasing resilience
  

Adopting emerging technologies—especially drones—is crucial in all three areas. Their ability to enhance situational awareness, improve coordination, and accelerate response makes them a key asset in disaster risk management (DRM).

Why drones matter in emergency situations

Drones provide significant advantages in disaster response:

• Rapid reach: They can access remote or hazardous zones where human responders may struggle to reach safely.
  
• Search and rescue: Equipped with infrared cameras, drones can detect survivors in dark, smoke-filled, or obstructed environments.
  
• Real-time situational awareness: Aerial views enable fast damage assessment and better decision-making during emergencies.
  
• Communication support: Drones can act as mobile, fast-deployable communications relays in areas with damaged infrastructure.
  
• Logistics: They can quickly deliver essential supplies such as medicine, food, or water to victims.
  

PANTHEON’s drone strategy: From planning to pilot testing

Within the PANTHEON project, UPC, ENAC, and THL are collaboratively developing strategies for integrating drone fleets into the DRM tool.

Designing an effective drone deployment strategy is complex. In PANTHEON, drone integration will be tested in three out of four pilot exercises across different scenarios. These tests will explore alternative deployment schemas, which will then be evaluated by first responders.

From testing to implementation: Building a blueprint for the future

The insights gathered from pilot testing will feed into a final assessment, which will identify the most effective drone deployment strategies. This will contribute to:

• Faster and better-informed decisions in emergencies
  
• Improved coordination among responders
  
• Increased impact of technological tools on resilience building
  

By putting technology like drones at the forefront of disaster response, PANTHEON supports a smarter, faster, and safer approach to managing emergencies.