Case study of
#00069 Real-time drone (UAV) aerial surveillance with lifeguard alerting
Queensland, Australia
#00066
Implementer
Surf Life Saving Queensland, for the Queensland Government (DPI / Fisheries)
Timeline
Sep 1, 2020 – Apr 30, 2024
Location
Description
The Queensland SharkSmart drone trial ran 2020–2024, with Surf Life Saving Queensland pilots flying 17,954 flights over 10 beaches (16,601 in South East Queensland, 1,353 in North Queensland) covering 7,181 km. A peer-reviewed analysis of the 2020–21 subset (3,369 flights) found that location, time of day, season, and the presence of other marine life all influenced detection rates. Murky water in North Queensland sharply reduced effectiveness compared to clearer South East Queensland beaches. The program was subsequently institutionalised as a priority initiative within Queensland's Shark Management Plan 2025–2029.
Metrics
5Funding
Lessons learned
- Drones detect sharks effectively in clear water but are far less reliable in murky water — North Queensland conditions produced significantly worse results than South East Queensland beaches.
- Dangerous shark sightings are rare per flight (~3% of flights in the 2020–21 subset), so the technology functions as a risk-reduction layer within a broader management system, not a standalone guarantee.
- A multi-year evaluated trial (4 years, peer-reviewed analysis) was sufficient evidence to institutionalise drone patrols within the state shark management plan, suggesting this is a viable pathway for formalising the approach elsewhere.
Sources
2Documented Jun 26, 2026