The COLLARIS Network is happy to publish another drone use case – this time looking at two ongoing R&D projects in Sweden and Austria. The projects are exploring how drones can be effectively deployed indoors for inspection, reconnaissance and search and rescue tasks. The Swedish project, led by Södertörns Brandförsvarsförbund in cooperation with national partners, focuses on drone operations in GNSS-denied environments. In Austria, the TU Graz Volunteer Fire Brigade, together with Graz University of Technology, is investigating indoor reconnaissance and unmanned search and rescue (USAR), including radiation detection using FPV drones.
The projects aim to assess the suitability of current drone systems for indoor missions, identify technical limitations, and generate insights to improve training and operational procedures. Early results demonstrate significant potential: In one test scenario, a 200-metre smoke-filled train tunnel was searched within seconds, highlighting the ability of drones to rapidly enhance situational awareness while reducing risks for personnel.
Be sure to check out the PDF summary on the COLLARIS2 project website (‘Outputs & Results’).
Key challenges and future potential
Despite these promising results, several challenges remain. These include signal loss in GNSS-denied environments, sensor limitations in low visibility, and increased collision risks in confined spaces. In addition, obstacle avoidance systems can become unreliable in heavy smoke, and the lack of onboard temperature sensing may pose risks when operating near fire. Beyond technical aspects, access to suitable test sites and funding for equipment also remain key constraints.
Looking ahead, both projects plan to share their findings with fire and rescue services across Europe. With growing confidence in the technology, indoor drone operations are expected to become a standard tool in civil protection. At the same time, ongoing developments towards autonomous and AI-supported systems could further expand their use, from search and rescue to industrial inspection and security applications.
Virtual Booklet On Drone Use Cases
COLLARIS2 will eventually produce a virtual „booklet” with at least 12 drone use cases, aiming to help overcome the lack of sufficient information about operational use cases for drones. The task is part of the project’s work package 3 - support for the uptake of lessons learnt, lead by the Greek Center of Security Studies, KEMEA. Some elements of the use cases may be included in trial scenarios and training materials.
Do you know any promising drone use cases? Let us know and we might share your experience with the rest of the COLLARIS Network!
About COLLARIS2
COLLARIS (COLLaborative network on unmanned AeRIal Systems) focuses on the use of UAS (e.g., drones) in the field of civil protection and disaster management. Building upon the results of COLLARIS, the EU-funded COLLARIS2 project aims to continue, expand and further develop the already established international network of crisis management and civil protection practitioners, research institutions and public administration. The members of the network collect and transfer knowledge, exchange experiences, skills, good practices and information on operational procedures for the optimal use of drones in crisis management and rescue missions.