Drones in action over Blatten
Photo: Kanal9
After the rockslide in May 2025 in the Valais village of Blatten, the affected area was monitored around the clock for weeks. The civil defence was on permanent duty – an important but time-consuming task. The community was looking for a safe and efficient solution to ensure long-term monitoring and relieve the burden on the emergency services.
Drones in action over Blatten 2 Min.
Video: Kanal9
Support from the air
Despite clear communication and unmistakable barriers, unauthorised persons repeatedly entered the restricted area. It was clear to the community: The exclusion zone had to be permanently monitored to protect people and prevent damage to buildings and infrastructure.
Since the end of July 2025, an autonomous drone has taken over this task. It is stationed in a weatherproof docking station right next to the restricted area, which also serves as a charging and launch base. This means it is ready for use at any time and can be launched within a few minutes to capture and transmit live images of the terrain.
Equipped with a high-resolution camera, thermal imaging sensor and modern navigation and communication systems, the drone continuously delivers precise data to the Operation Control Centre (OCC) in Ittigen near Bern. From there, certified drone pilots plan and monitor all flights. During operation, the image and sensor data is transmitted in real time. This allows the team in Bern to assess at any time whether there is a need for action in the restricted area and, if necessary, inform the authorities in Blatten.
Safety in the air
As there were a lot of helicopter flights for transporting materials and people to and from the damage site, as well as aerial photography being done, the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) set up a temporary no-fly zone at the request of the authorities.
The DroneDefence drone detection system was installed to provide additional protection for the airspace. This was necessary because there were repeated violations of the no-fly zone by private drones. Such unauthorised flights pose a considerable safety risk for helicopters that were deployed on behalf of the authorities.
Thanks to DroneDefence, these incidents were detected at an early stage and the airspace was effectively monitored.
