In a move that could redefine how incidents are managed on the front line, Versaterm is weaving drone operations into its Computer-Aided Dispatch system. The change turns aerial assets into an integral part of the response playbook, not a separate tool. Agencies will now deploy drones with the same speed and visibility as a patrol car or fire unit. The goal is to shorten the gap between an initial 9-1-1 call and the moment responders converge on the scene.

The core idea is simple: treat drones as dispatchable units within CAD. The integration, enabled by Versaterm’s acquisition of DroneSense, places drones on the same map as patrols and ambulances. Commanders can see drone locations in real time and stream video directly into dispatch screens, removing the need to toggle between apps.

This shift is designed to deliver a single-source view of an incident. When a call comes in, responders can allocate air assets in parallel with ground units, improving coordination and reducing quiet time between decision and action. The result is faster situational awareness for incident commanders and, ultimately, safer and more effective responses on the ground.

According to CBJ coverage, the integration is part of a larger push to modernize public safety workflows. Versaterm is highlighting a user interface that blends drone feeds with traditional CAD data, making it easier for operators to manage multiple streams of information without sacrificing accuracy or speed.

New capabilities highlighted by Versaterm include drones treated as dispatchable units, real-time location tracking, and integrated live video feeds that appear directly within the CAD and MDT (mobile data terminal) screens. This design removes the friction of switching between separate systems and provides incident commanders with an immediately usable, panoramic view of evolving scenes. For dispatchers, the workflow becomes more intuitive: launch a drone with a few clicks and watch the live feed alongside other responding assets.

Rohan Galloway-Dawkins, Versaterm’s Chief Product Officer, framed the effort simply: “We kept asking ourselves why deploying a drone should be harder than dispatching a patrol vehicle. Now dispatchers can launch a drone with a few clicks and watch the live video feed right in their CAD system. It’s really that simple.”

Versaterm will showcase the integrated drone solution at IACP 2025, including a lineup of Blue UAS–cleared, NDAA-compliant drones. The event spotlights not only the new CAD integration but also updates across the product line, such as a refreshed Versaterm CAD UI for faster incident management and the IAPro UI for professional standards. The company also points to the Public Portal’s transparency dashboard, designed to improve community trust through accessible reporting. Beyond the CAD integration, Versaterm positions its BlueTeam and RMS integrations as ways to reduce duplication and streamline frontline workflows, while CommunityConnect helps supervisors identify trends from public feedback. The Adashi C&C now includes access to drone video live streams, tying real-time aerial intelligence directly to incident command decisions.

From a policy and market perspective, the move aligns with a broader push to normalize drone use in critical operations. The FAA is weighing new BVLOS rules that could ease the operational burden on public safety flights, potentially expanding the types of missions agencies can pursue. The 2025 Public Safety Trends Survey, cited by Versaterm, found that 61% of police leaders expect their drone budgets to rise over the next year, with priorities including search and rescue, large-event security, and Drone as First Responder programs. This signals a growing willingness to fund integrated, high-visibility drone capabilities as a standard element of emergency response.

For readers outside of the public safety sphere, the shift offers a clear template for how drone data can be folded into existing workflows. The takeaway is not just about adding new tools; it is about rethinking operations so aerial intelligence becomes a natural extension of ground response. The integration demonstrates a practical pathway from siloed drone missions to a unified, mission-centric platform that can adapt as incidents unfold in real time.

What does this mean for agencies eyeing a similar transition? Start by mapping your current CAD workflows against the data streams your drone teams produce. Identify where real-time video, location data, and flight status can be embedded directly into dispatch screens. Invest in training that emphasizes rapid drone deployment alongside traditional units. Finally, monitor regulatory developments around BVLOS and privacy to ensure operations remain compliant as you scale up.

Conclusion

Versaterm’s drone CAD integration marks a watershed moment for how public safety operations can evolve. By dissolving the gap between air and ground assets, agencies gain faster, more coordinated responses and clearer situational awareness for every incident. If implemented thoughtfully, this approach could become a new baseline for dispatch centers worldwide, signaling where the future of public safety operations is headed.