Drone Unit Overview

Watch the videos below to discover how DCC is using drones across multiple departments and the impacts drones have made on our city services.

• Short video:  DCC drones use cases_short version
• Longer video: DCC drones use cases_long version
  

Video overview content:

Survey & Mapping Division uses drones to support projects, carry-out inspections, for an asset management, to produce videos, 3D models and orthophoto maps. Drones enhance safety by removing the need for staff to access hazardous areas and ensure fast, efficient responses across departments. 

Flood Defence Projects Office – the team uses drones to inspect critical infrastructure efficiently and safely (e.g. Fitzwilliam Quay and the 12th-century Islandbridge Weir). Drones are becoming vital for safeguarding both historic sites and flood-prone areas, ensuring community safety while reducing costs.

Dangerous Buildings Section - inspectors are using drones to safely assess structural damage, eliminating the need for scaffolding or cherry pickers. This approach minimizes risk, reduces costs, and speeds up response times in hazardous situations.

Active Travel and Urban Mobility - drones are assisting with large scale projects, such as the Clontarf to City Centre Project (C2CC), supporting project oversight by capturing progress updates and visuals to inform decision-makers. This technology is a key enabler for modern urban mobility projects.

Dublin Fire Brigade - firefighters use drones for real-time aerial insights, 3D mapping of high-risk sites, and pre-incident planning. This technology enhances safety, improves efficiency, and strengthens emergency preparedness.

The current DCC drone operations structure has four sections registered with the IAA, including Dublin Fire Brigade, Survey & Mapping with the new corporate Drone Unit, National Building Control Office and Dublin Civil Defence. The Chief Executive of DCC is the overall accountable manager. With a new corporate focus and the addition of a number of new dedicated roles to manage and deliver drone services it will enable the unit to support other sections seeking to apply drones within their services.

Drone Unit has qualified remote pilots operating in Open category (DJI Mini 3 and DJI Mini 4 drones) as well as in Specific category under SORA (DJI Mavic 3E).

The DCC Drone Unit competencies:

1. Operations

• Shared Services: The Drone Unit provides drone services for other DCC sections as demand grows and maintain relationships with other registered DCC drone operators (DFB, NBCO and DCD). 
• Centralised Management of Drone Equipment: The Drone Unit is responsible for researching and then purchasing relevant drone hardware including base flight units and relevant accessories (e.g. LIDAR/Camera/sensors). 
• Regulatory Knowledge: Drone Unit staff keeps up to date with all State and EU regulations with regard to safe flying, drone & pilot registration, submission of mandatory documentation to the IAA as well as providing advice to other DCC Departments/ Sections. 
• Training and Skills: Staff within the unit maintains training standards and ensure minimum flying hours are logged (as per EU regulation). 
• Procurement: The Drone Unit is responsible for procuring and maintaining Framework Agreements for pilot training and consultancy work around registration and conducting operations with the IAA. Where external surveying drone services are required, the Unit will develop a framework so various departments can easily access the services. 
• Centre of Excellence: The corporate Drone Unit is at the centre of all drone operations for DCC carrying out flight missions, offering advice and technical assistance to all Departments/Sections within DCC. 

• Expertise: The section is staffed by colleagues who are fully trained and qualified as remote pilots in accordance with the relevant State and EU regulations. 

1. Governance & Policy:

• Governance: The Drone Unit will be responsible for the implementation of all State and EU Regulations. The Unit will operate under the High-Level Drone Steering Group (comprising members of the DCC Senior Management Team) and will be responsible for the development of operational terms and conditions for all DCC drones services. 

• Policy Support: Keeping up to date on international best practice and industry development to inform city policy.

2. Innovation 

• Ecosystem Co-ordination and Collaboration: The Drone Unit in partnership with the Smart Cities Unit will co-ordinate relationships within DCC and external bodies such as universities, IAA, consultants and other drone services providers to share best practices and identify new opportunities for collaboration.