How Western Wake Fire Rescue Uses Nova for Public Safety Preplanning at the North Carolina State Fair
Preplanning is the difference between chaos and control in emergency response. For large-scale public events like the North Carolina State Fair and high-security dignitary visits, Western Wake Fire Rescue relies on us to assess risks, allocate resources, improve operational planning, and conduct training exercises year-round.
“The ease of use and turnaround time from flight to deliverable has been incredible.”
Western Wake’s UAS Program Manager, Jimmy Spero, had already integrated various technologies, including live streaming, into their emergency response workflows. While they had experience with mapping software like WebODM, they needed a faster, more user-friendly solution for pre-planning and real-time decision-making.
After successful testing during Hurricane Debby, they experienced firsthand how our high-resolution mapping and intuitive interface streamlined their operations. Confident in our capabilities, Western Wake Fire Rescue integrated Nova into their response strategy, ensuring every team member could access and act on critical aerial data when it mattered most. Providing value beyond map making, Western Wake integrated their mapping data in TAK, their tactical command and control software, bringing critical data to every member of their department.
4 Ways to Use Nova for Preplanning
1. Risk Assessment: Better Data, Better Planning
Successful pre-event planning for public safety starts with understanding potential risks. Large-scale events like the North Carolina State Fair and the Got to Be NC Festival bring dense crowds, complex infrastructure, and unpredictable variables. With Nova, Western Wake Fire Rescue conducts high-resolution aerial risk assessments, identifying congested entry points, high-traffic pedestrian zones, and potential fire hazards.
By capturing and analyzing drone imagery before the event, their team gains a clear view of the terrain to pinpoint areas that require additional safety measures. This proactive approach minimizes risk to the public, ensures compliance with safety regulations, and improves decision-making in high-pressure scenarios.
2. Resource Allocation: Know Where to Send Your Team
Having boots on the ground isn’t enough—first responders need a strategic plan for where those boots should be. We help optimize resource allocation by mapping out critical infrastructure, staging areas, and emergency access routes.
For Western Wake Fire Rescue, this means clearly identifying hydrant locations, triage zones, and command posts before the fair even begins. These insights help responders move efficiently when seconds matter most, reducing response times and ensuring emergency crews are positioned for maximum impact.
3. Operational Planning: Improve Situational Awareness
A well-coordinated response relies on clear, actionable plans that include evacuation procedures, communication protocols, and inter-agency coordination. By integrating real-time aerial data with high-resolution PDF maps, Western Wake Fire Rescue is able to visualize the entire event layout in a centralized platform, specifically to track vendor layout modifications and egress/ingress changes for each type of event. This improves situational awareness and ensures all agencies—from fire and EMS to law enforcement—are working from the same, up-to-date information.
4. Training & Drills: Ensuring Every Team Member Is Ready
Preplanning is only as strong as the team executing it. That’s why implementing drone technology in public safety preplanning isn’t just about mapping—it’s about making sure responders can act on the data effectively. Western Wake Fire Rescue conducts training exercises and drills, using our drone-generated maps to simulate emergency scenarios.
With our easy-to-share PDF maps and collaborative tools, every team member can familiarize themselves with response plans before the event. This ensures that when the time comes, they’re not just reacting—they’re executing a well-rehearsed plan with precision.
The Future of Emergency Response Planning with Nova
Public safety professionals like Jimmy Spero from Western Wake Fire Rescue are leading the charge in strategic planning for emergency response in large events. With our drone mapping software, they gain a powerful tool that enhances situational awareness and operational planning, while driving significant cost reductions and more effective response.
As emergency response planning evolves, so does the technology that supports it. Whether you’re planning for a state fair, a concert, or your local Walmart, our platform ensures your team is prepared, equipped, and ready to take action with confidence.
Ready to transform your emergency preplanning with cutting-edge drone mapping technology? Contact us today to learn more.