Led by grant expert Kathy Wood in partnership with Skydio, this webinar provides practical strategies for securing funding to launch or expand Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs. It outlines key federal, state, and local grant opportunities, emphasizes the importance of community collaboration and consistent outreach, and shares case studies of successful grant-funded DFR initiatives. Kathy also offers tips on grant layering, using nonprofit partners to unlock funding, and positioning your program for sustainability. The session highlights Skydio’s support through its “Skydio for All” community engagement program, the Axon SkySwap initiative, and grant writing assistance via [email protected].

As critical infrastructure ages, the need for efficient, safe, and cost-effective inspection methods has never been greater. Traditional approaches are often slow, rely on costly resources, and are labor intensive. Stantec knows this well. That's why they've continued to optimize their drone processes and find new ways to leverage technology to solve complex critical infrastructure problems safely and efficiently. In this live talk, Joshua Sexton, Reality Capture Technology Manager, shares how Stantec uses Skydio drones to capture data in low-light GPS-denied environments autonomously — processed in gNext to transform the data collected in a challenging environment into actionable insights with a comprehensive operational picture around difficult assets. Join the discussion to learn: Innovation Leadership: How Stantec sets new industry benchmarks with advanced drone technology and software solutions. End-to-End Workflow Integration: Combining Skydio's autonomous drones with gNext's software for seamless data capture and processing for digital twins Crucial Capability: ensuring inspections can be conducted whenever required, even in environment drones previously couldn’t access Enhancing Safety and Efficiency: Real-world examples of reducing risks, streamlining operations, and improving project outcomes.

In this on-demand session, Noreen Charlton, Public Safety Strategy Lead at Skydio, is joined by Lieutenant Anthony Riccardi of the San Mateo Police Department to walk through how to launch and scale a Drone as First Responder (DFR) program using real call-for-service data. The webinar outlines the full progression from single-drone deployments to fully operational dock-based DFR systems, emphasizing how public safety agencies can take a crawl-walk-run approach. Riccardi shares San Mateo’s rapid advancement through these stages and the tactical advantages of remote and autonomous operations. The session reinforces DFR’s value not just for law enforcement, but as a citywide infrastructure asset—supporting fire, public works, and other civic missions.