Haivision Releases 2026 Public Safety Technology Report Highlighting Drone Investments and AI Analytics

MONTREAL, Oct. 21, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Haivision, a leading global provider of mission-critical real-time video networking and visual collaboration solutions, has released its 2026 Public Safety Technology Report, offering insights into the current state and future trends in public safety operations. The report, based on responses from over 100 public safety professionals, highlights the critical role that live video and advanced technologies play in modern emergency response and management.

According to the findings, live video is central to public safety operations. Seventy-seven percent of respondents use fixed surveillance cameras, while more than half also utilize drones (57%) and body-worn cameras (54%). These diverse sources of live video are essential for providing real-time intelligence and situational awareness during emergencies.

Drone as First Responder programs are leading the planned technology investments in the sector. Forty-five percent of respondents plan to invest in these programs over the next 12 months, making them the top priority among the survey participants. This investment underscores the growing recognition of drones as a vital tool in public safety operations, capable of providing rapid and detailed situational awareness.

Operation and command centers are also playing a critical role in public safety operations. Sixty-nine percent of respondents operate such centers, which support functions like real-time crime monitoring, emergency response, and event and crowd control. These centers are essential for coordinating efforts and ensuring that information is shared effectively across various agencies.

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is poised to shape the future of public safety. Seventy-six percent of respondents believe that AI-powered video analytics will have the greatest impact on public safety over the next five years. This ranking is well ahead of all other technologies. Among the specific AI applications, license plate readers, object detection, and facial recognition are leading the way, with 34% of respondents leveraging one or more of these tools.

The report provides a comprehensive view of how live video, command center technologies, and AI-powered video analytics are supporting mission-critical operations. While these technologies offer significant benefits, public safety agencies continue to face challenges such as budget constraints, integration difficulties, network reliability concerns, and the complexity of information sharing across systems and agencies.

Founded in 2004, Haivision is headquartered in Montreal and Chicago, with offices, sales, and support located throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The company's mission is to enable organizations globally to engage audiences, enhance collaboration, and support decision-making through high-quality, low-latency, secure, and reliable live video at a global scale.