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The Future. Built Smarter.Author: IMEG Corp.
Engineers and designers from IMEG, a top 5 U.S. engineering firm, discuss innovative and trend-setting building and infrastructure design with architects, owners, and others in the AEC industry. Topics touch on all market sectors, engineering disciplines, and related services. Language: en Genres: Business News, Mathematics, News, Science Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Emerging drone threats require early, proactive defense security
Episode 84
Friday, 25 September, 2026
As drone technology continues to advance, building owners and designers face a rapidly evolving threat landscape. How drones are changing security planning—and what the future may hold for protecting facilities, critical infrastructure, and public spaces—is explored in this episode featuring Ryan Searles, leader of IMEG’s Security Consulting Group. “Drones have really advanced and are now causing very serious security threats to even the private sector,” Ryan says. From delivering contraband over prison fences to gathering corporate intelligence and threatening crowded venues, drones can create risks across a wide range of building types. Healthcare facilities, educational institutions, manufacturing plants, and critical infrastructure all require analysis of how drones could access sensitive areas or interfere with essential systems. “It's all about where do you and how do you protect those critical infrastructure systems,” Ryan says. It’s also about when: For owners, architects, and engineers, determining drone threat risk and planning for the appropriate security measures is best done early in the design phase of a project. Early coordination allows detection and deterrence technologies to be integrated more seamlessly and at less cost than waiting until after construction. These systems can include radar, radio-frequency detection, and believe it or not, netting. Ryan’s team incorporated the low-tech material into the security design for a project in the Middle East, specifying fine webbing over the building’s architectural openings—preventing drones from entering and not compromising the structure’s appearance. Emerging counter-drone solutions include interceptor drones capable of identifying and flying to an unauthorized drone, deploying a net, and bringing it back for investigation. In all situations, Ryan says, security measures must be proportionate to the risks. “First let's figure out what posture and level of security you want,” he says. “The objective is to establish appropriate protection without turning every facility into a fortress.” For existing buildings, security teams may need to retrofit detection and response systems. In healthcare settings, these systems must also account for helicopter operations and emergency medical flights, requiring trained personnel and carefully established response procedures. On the positive side, drones are also becoming useful tools for a growing number of legitimate operations, including healthcare deliveries, perimeter monitoring, and various industrial applications. Artificial intelligence, of course, is expanding the applications—both for good and for bad. Counter measures, however, may be one step behind when a new type of threat emerges. For example, detection systems can identify drone signals and support responses, but the newer threat of autonomous drone swarms presents a more complex challenge. “A single drone, OK, we can deal with that,” says Ryan. “A hundred drones, your defense system may only be able to stop one or two of them.” “The defense side and the detection side will definitely catch up,” Ryan adds, but responding to ever-emerging new threats will require constant vigilance and counter-measure adaptation and advances. For building owners, designers, and the general public, drones have become and will remain part of the landscape, says Ryan. “It's just becoming part of everyday life.” Read more about defending against drones on the IMEG blog.
