East China's city constructs drone system for smart emergency management

(ECNS) -- The moment a fire alarm sounded at the Fire and Rescue Command Center at Xiuzhou District, Jiaxing City, in east China's Zhejiang Province, the nearest drone station was immediately activated. Within just 4.5 minutes, a drone arrived at the smoke-covered grass fire scene, transmitting real-time thermal imaging footage to the command center.

The command center quickly relayed instructions to the fire crew en route, who arrived at the scene in nine minutes.

Firefighters monitor real-time footage from drones to assess the situation ahead at the command center of Xiuzhou District, in east China's Zhejiang Province in March 2025. (Photo courtesy of Xiuzhou District Fire Rescue Bureau)

This marked the first operational deployment of the drone system introduced by the command center.

Zhang Kang of the command center said that the drones demonstrated exceptional mobility and rapid response, providing critical real-time data for precise firefighting deployment. Compared to traditional fire reconnaissance, the drone system significantly improves response time and efficiency, representing a major leap forward in firefighting operations.

In Xiuzhou District, eight drone stations now provide fast, 24/7 emergency response. These "smart sentinels" are placed in industrial zones, high-risk residential areas, and crowded locations, ready to deploy at any moment.

Since the Xiuzhou Aviation System was launched in December 2024, it has built a fully connected drone emergency network.

By March 13, 2025, the drones have completed 965 patrols, flown 7,911 minutes over 2,133.8 kilometers, and issued 2,819 early warnings.

Acting as the city's "eyes in the sky," these drones enhance safety by detecting risks in real-time and supporting emergency teams, creating a stronger shield for residents.

Xiuzhou is expanding the role of drones beyond policing and firefighting to cover wider emergency response needs.

In urban management, drones are now used to monitor illegal waste dumping and construction dust, providing real-time data for law enforcement.

As drone applications continue to expand, Xiuzhou is steadily building a smart and efficient urban emergency management system. (By Gong Weiwei)