Based on past experience of having dealt with countless disasters, the South Korean government is making sustainable efforts to develop systems for better disaster response. However, drastic changes in the environment are causing continued occurrence of and changes in disasters that include natural hazards due to extreme weather events and human-instigated disasters arising from social, cultural and religious disputes.
From prevention to response and restoration, every step of dealing with disasters holds its own importance. Since the extent and scope of damage tend to escalate in a rapid pace in the wake of a disaster, appropriate contingency plans are especially critical. Disaster waste and debris are responsible for secondary environmental damages such as groundwater contamination, stench and contagious diseases, which calls for their timely transport and processing. Recently, the field of environmental studies is witnessing scientific advances including the monitoring and measurement of atmosphere and water quality using drone technology or censors. In this regard, this study suggests R&D of drones for disaster area monitoring, search and rescue operations, and reviews studies on using drones for measuring and monitoring air and water quality, measuring the volume of disaster waste and planning post-disaster response methods.
To achieve the research objective, the development of drone technology at home and abroad and related previous studies were reviewed and analyzed. In particular, cases of drone application in worldwide disasters were analyzed to propose the use of