The CoSky initiative, funded by the Norwegian Funds, aims to enhance the efficiency of drone usage in civil protection in Poland and Norway. In Norway, drones have been successfully used for tasks such as mapping rescue operation sites. In Poland, provincial coordinators for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are already in place, and by the end of this year, drones are expected to be used by every municipal and district headquarters of the State Fire Service.
“The bilateral CoSky initiative was launched in Poland as a several-month project designed to assess the potential for cooperation between Poland and Norway in improving the efficiency of drone use in the security sector, primarily for the needs of the State Fire Service, but also for the Police and other internal affairs institutions,” said Dr. Jakub Ryzenko, head of the Crisis Information Center at CBK PAN, in an interview with Newseria.
The goal of the CoSky initiative is to evaluate cooperation possibilities and explore methods for effective coordination between manned and unmanned aviation. By exchanging experiences, drone data can be better utilized. As part of CoSky’s activities, an e-learning course on UAV mapping for crisis management will be developed, targeting both decision-makers and drone pilots.
“Drones are an innovative system that is already well utilized but still holds great potential for further application. They should have a permanent place in the logic of civil protection in Poland. They provide information on developing crisis situations, offer rapid situation assessments, and serve as a tool for improving coordination efforts. Safe flight operations, data collection, analysis, and sharing, along with a common information base for all civil protection entities, contribute to more effective actions, and drones can be a significant source of this information,” Dr. Jakub Ryzenko emphasized.
In Norway, drones are already successfully used in rescue operations. A notable example of their effective application was the rapid drone mapping of the landslide in Gjerdrum in December 2020. Within 18 hours of the landslide, the first 3D map collected by drones was made available on a cloud platform.
“We mainly use drones for search and rescue operations, locating missing persons, assessing situations, and determining resource needs in various scenarios. This is their primary application. In search and rescue missions, we observe excellent results. Missing individuals are located by drones equipped with infrared and thermal cameras. Drones can also locate boats in the ocean and quickly survey large mountainous areas from the air,” said Bjarte Mong, search and rescue coordinator at the Norwegian Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Stavanger.
“We strive to integrate drones into existing airspace management methods—helicopters, rescue planes, and more. In our country, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre oversees all operations. Everyone heading to an incident site falls under its coordination. Drones, helicopters, and planes can work together in such scenarios,” said Robert Holand, operational director at Tiepont, a partner in the CoSky initiative.
The CoSky project aims to collect and compare best practices in complex aerial operations involving both drones and manned aircraft in Poland and Norway, ultimately leading to shared conclusions based on the experiences of both countries.
“Norway and Poland face the same challenges when it comes to drone coordination and legal frameworks, so we are dealing with very similar issues. We don’t need to find solutions individually; we can communicate and collaborate on various matters. The primary focus is on legal frameworks from an international perspective. Organizations like ICAO and EASA have not yet established sufficient frameworks for the effective integration of drones with manned aircraft,” Bjarte Mong admitted.
“In the fields of fire protection and civil defense, Poland has implemented very effective solutions that we can adopt in Norway. Similarly, our approaches can be applied in Poland. By discussing and learning from each other, we can have a tangible impact on our respective operations,” said Robert Holand.
Drone data was utilized during the floods in September 2024. According to the State Fire Service, regular drone surveys allowed continuous monitoring of water levels in rivers and reservoirs, as well as the condition of embankments and hydrotechnical structures for potential damage. Photogrammetric images were used to create flood maps, helping assess damage and support local crisis teams. Live drone footage was transmitted during national crisis team meetings and, in some cases, to local emergency teams as well.
The Chief Commander of the State Fire Service, Brigadier General Wojciech Kruczek, recently announced plans to develop specialized drone groups within the service. By the end of this year, a model will be established where each municipal and district fire station will handle basic drone tasks, while the headquarters, regional commands, and fire schools will take on specialized roles. Drones will be primarily used in search operations in difficult terrain and for aerial fire assessment. Currently, 16 provincial coordinators for unmanned aerial vehicles are already active within the State Fire Service.
According to analysts at Fact.MR, the global rescue drone market was valued at $3.76 billion in 2024. By 2034, its revenue is expected to grow to $13.49 billion.
