Drone Technology in Disaster Recovery (I-DRP)

Foundational UAV Knowledge for Emergency Response Professionals

When a disaster strikes, the difference between an effective UAV deployment and a grounded aircraft is preparation — regulatory, operational, and technical. This course builds that foundation.
The Introduction to Drone Technology in Disaster Recovery (I-DRP) is a two-session live online course developed by Volatus Aerospace in partnership with the University of Technology, Jamaica. Delivered by an instructional team whose backgrounds span military aviation, search and rescue operations, electronic engineering, and drone education, the I-DRP equips emergency response professionals with the conceptual, regulatory, and operational knowledge they need to integrate UAV technology into disaster response effectively and legally.

Self-Paced Online Course

 Trainer: Lee Dodson, Steve Welland, Matt Johnson, Glenn Lucas, & Dean Attridge

 Level: Beginner 

This course can be taken both as a stand alone course and is also the prerequisite for the Applied Drone Technology in Disaster Recovery Program (A-DRP), an intensive four-day in-person field training where these concepts are applied in realistic disaster scenarios.

WHAT WILL BE DISCUSSED?

The four phases of disaster response and where UAVs add value

Safety culture and crew structure


UAV regulatory frameworks for disaster response

Thermal imaging and sensor selection for search and rescue

UAV regulatory frameworks for disaster response

Risk management in disaster operations

Mission planning — hasty and full operational plans

Introduction to FlightHub 2 and integrated mission management platforms

Drone mapping and photogrammetry fundamentals

Who Should Attend?

This course is designed for professionals who work in or alongside emergency response and disaster management, including:

-Emergency management agency staff and Emergency Operations Centre personnel.
-Military, paramilitary, and law enforcement personnel with disaster response responsibilities.
-First responders seeking to understand UAV integration within multi-agency operations.
-Government officials responsible for emergency preparedness and resilience planning.
-UAV operators seeking to formalize their disaster response capability.
-Anyone planning to enroll in the Applied Drone Technology in Disaster Recovery Program (A-DRP).

No prior drone experience is required to enroll.

WHY ATTEND?

Operational Foundation

Gain the conceptual and procedural knowledge that separates effective UAV disaster deployment from ad-hoc, unsafe improvisation.

Regulatory Confidence

Understand the regulatory landscape governing UAV operations in disaster environments, including how to work within — and when to apply for exceptions to — standard airspace rules.

Sensor Literacy

Learn what thermal, RGB, and LiDAR sensors can and cannot do, and how to select, deploy, and interpret them in real disaster response scenarios.

Team Readiness

Understand crew roles, communication protocols, and coordination frameworks used by professional multi-agency UAV response teams.

Pathway to Applied Training

The I-DRP is the gateway to the A-DRP — the hands-on, field-based program where the concepts covered here are put into practice across four intensive days of scenario-based training.