K-State Salina's Applied Aviation Research Center Continues Drone Research for Large Event Monitoring at Kansas State Fair

Kansas State University Salina's Applied Aviation Research Center (AARC) is advancing its drone technology research by assisting law enforcement with uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) during large-scale events such as the Kansas State Fair. In partnership with the Kansas Highway Patrol, AARC provided drone support to monitor crowd activity and enhance public safety efforts.

With over 300,000 attendees, the Kansas State Fair is the largest single event in the state. AARC's drones offered live aerial footage, broadcasting directly to incident command to help law enforcement monitor crowd movements and efficiently direct officers to incidents. This technology not only identified incident locations but also assisted in quickly deploying the closest officers on the ground.

This project builds on previous work conducted by AARC at Kelce Jam earlier this year, where they also assisted law enforcement in monitoring a large outdoor event. Lessons learned from previous experiences have made AARC's efforts at the Kansas State Fair even more efficient.

AARC’s research is also contributing to advancements in public safety and disaster response. Under multiple grants, AARC is working with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Kansas Department of Transportation to develop improved processes and technology for emergency crews during natural disasters. These large events provide real-world environments to test and refine communication and technology strategies for emergency management.

"These large concert-type venues work great for a project like this because you have support from multiple organizations working together," said Travis Balthazor, AARC deputy director. "These environments help us refine the technology and communication procedures so when a disaster happens, emergency crews are prepared to respond as efficiently as possible."