La Coordination of drones for emergencies in the Valencian Community A significant leap forward has been made with the implementation of joint exercises, technical meetings, and the development of a specific regional protocol. Authorities aim to transform these unmanned aerial systems from occasional support into an integrated tool, available to any service that needs it within minutes.
In this context, the Generalitat is promoting a a global strategy that unites forest firefighters, Police of the Generalitat and emergency services From Alicante, Castellón, and Valencia, all under one command. The objective is clear: to get the right drone to the scene of the incident as quickly as possible, regardless of the agency it belongs to, and making the most of its technological capabilities.
A regional protocol for deploying drones in any emergency
The Ministry of Emergencies and the Interior is working on the development of a regional protocol for drone mobilization This framework will allow these aircraft to be activated according to the actual needs of each incident. It will regulate how they are requested, who coordinates them, and how they are integrated with the other resources deployed on the ground.
The approach involves break down administrative barriers between bodiesThis allows a Forest Firefighters drone to intervene in an urban emergency in another province, or a police unit to provide support at a forest fire, always under a single command system. What will matter is proximity, speed of response, and the technical suitability of the device, not the patch it has on its fuselage.
This measure aims improve operational efficiency and responsiveness in the event of forest fires, rescuesFloods, earthquakes, or technological incidents. Drones allow for the assessment of hazardous scenarios without endangering responders, providing real-time aerial views and enabling detailed technical analysis from the very beginning.
The Catalan government wants this protocol to be complemented by standard operating procedures for all pilots and operatorsso that, although they come from different administrations, they share the same operational language and integrate seamlessly into any emergency system.
Exercises in Enguera: the laboratory where coordination is tested
The Enguera base has become a key scenario for testing drone coordination in emergency situationsThere, they have developed advanced practices The drone units of the Generalitat Forest Fire Service and the Generalitat Police participated, along with an Emergency firefighting helicopter.
In one of the main exercises, a large forest fireOn that fictional scenario, but with real means and procedures, it was verified how the drones and the V-2 helicopter, equipped with a locator, could be integrated into the same operational device, coordinating with the ground teams deployed on the ground.
During these maneuvers, the teams worked on advanced sensor and transmission managementOptical cameras, thermal cameras, positioning systems, and real-time data links were used. The aim was to verify not only that the technology worked, but also that the information reached the right place at the right time to be useful to those in command of the operation.
The trials also allowed rehearse the safe coexistence between aircraft manned and unmannedHelicopters and drones shared airspace, always under strict coordination, to avoid interference and demonstrate that it is possible to work together in the same theater of operations without compromising safety.
Single platform: one screen to view the entire emergency
One of the most innovative elements tested in Enguera is a common technological platform for coordination capable of integrating live drone video, flight telemetry, media location, and other external video sources into a single operating environment.
This tool generates what emergency managers define as a "shared operational image"A comprehensive overview of the incident is shared by all levels of command, from the Advanced Command Post to the Generalitat's Emergency Coordination Center in l'Eliana. This overview informs tactical and strategic decisions, from where to deploy additional resources to which areas to prioritize in an evacuation.
The drone unit verified in these exercises the real-time transmission of images, positions and flight data to command posts, as well as the stability of communications in a complex environment. This continuous flow of information aims to minimize uncertainty, one of the main problems at the beginning of any large-scale emergency.
The platform is designed to also integrate with the coordination of manned aviationespecially in forest fires where helicopters and water bombers operate. The idea is that all aerial resources share clear rules and common data, which puts the Valencian Community in a leading position within Spain.
Detection of unauthorized drones and airspace security
In addition to direct support in fire management or rescues, the internships in Enguera included a risk scenario linked to the emergence of private drones in emergency zones. The situation was recreated in which an unauthorized aircraft invades the airspace reserved for the operation.
In this drill, the Forest Firefighters and the Generalitat Police tested the detection systems and action protocols in the face of these intrusions. The presence of a drone not belonging to the device may force the suspension of air operations for safety reasons, with the consequent impact on the effectiveness of the operation.
The test allowed us to verify the ability of detectors to locate and alert of the presence of unidentified devicesas well as the degree of coordination between the different bodies to make quick decisions: from the temporary closure of a sector of the airspace to the possible police intervention aimed at locating the pilot.
This work on emergency sky safety is complemented by the development of a pioneering platform for airspace control using drones during critical incidents. The Emergency Risk Analysis Unit of the Generalitat collaborates on this tool, designed to integrate with manned air coordination and minimize the risk of interference.
Technical working group and common catalog of capabilities
To ensure that this entire system functions stably over time, the Generalitat has promoted the creation of a specific technical working group on emergency dronesThe Forest Fire Service, the Generalitat Police and the six Fire Prevention, Extinction and Rescue Services (SPEIS) of the provinces of Alicante, Castellón and Valencia participate in it, in addition to the provincial consortia and municipal services.
This table is responsible for preparing a detailed catalog of mobilizable resourcesThis document outlines the technological and operational capabilities of each unit: types of drones, flight autonomy, available sensors, pilot certifications, and specific specializations. Not all devices are suitable for the same purpose, and that's the key.
With that catalog in hand, the Emergency Coordination Center can select the most suitable drone for each situation: thermal cameras for locating people, sensors for fire analysis, zoom systems for perimeter surveillance, or equipment capable of operating at night in hard-to-reach areas.
During the meetings, the following topics were also addressed: identification of future training and equipment needsThe idea is to stay one step ahead of technology and emerging risks, planning what types of aircraft, sensors, and software will be needed in the coming years to keep the emergency system up to date with climate and urban challenges.
The human factor and coordination between bodies
Beyond the devices, the Generalitat insists that the success of this model depends largely on the The human talent behind each droneThe Director General of Innovation in Emergencies, Raúl QuÃlez, has stressed the need to create a network of experts in the operation of unmanned aircraft and in the coordination of aerial resources.
The idea is that, although the operators belong to different agencies —firefighters, police, or municipal services—Everyone works with similar procedures, shares safety standards, and integrates seamlessly into a common system. This standardization reduces errors, streamlines communication, and makes it easier for any team to join an ongoing operation.
In the meetings held at the Generalitat's Emergency Coordination Center, the following issues were raised: importance of continuous training in areas such as airspace management, thermal image interpretation, integration into command structures and use of new software tools.
This approach reinforces the idea that the Valencian strategy is not limited to "buying drones", but to build an organized and secure networking system, in which each operator and each pilot knows what their role is and how they fit into the group.
Advanced capabilities of the Forest Firefighters drone unit
Within this framework, the drone unit of the Generalitat's Forest Firefighters plays a particularly important role. This unit is Specializing in search and rescue, thermography, hotspot detection, and photogrammetryall of these functions are essential in forest fires and rescues in natural environments.
Their teams provide regular support in forest fires, prescribed burns, floods, earthquakes and major disastersIn addition to participating in rescues of people in hard-to-reach areas, thanks to aerial views and maps generated from images, commanders can better understand the evolution of a fire or the impact of a flood.
The unit also features drones equipped with artificial intelligenceThermal imaging camera, night vision, and high-resolution RGB camera. These devices are capable of recognizing patterns associated with people, vehicles, fires, or plumes of smoke, making it easier to prioritize search areas and detect risks that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The exercises carried out in Enguera have demonstrated how these technological capabilities, combined with the coordination platform, They increase the effectiveness of emergency servicesproviding a level of detail and speed of analysis that was difficult to imagine in a field operation a few years ago.
This entire process of advancement in the Coordination of drones for emergencies in the Valencian Community This reflects a firm commitment to integrating technology, training, and networking. The trials in Enguera, the development of a unified platform, the technical working group, and the future regional protocol outline a model in which manned and unmanned aerial resources act as a single tool at the service of the public, providing more information, greater safety, and a response capacity that places the Valencian system among the most advanced in Europe.
