In modern law enforcement, split-second decision-making, precise documentation, and unwavering officer safety are paramount. As technology evolves, agencies must adopt solutions that enhance situational awareness and provide actionable, real-time intelligence in the field. The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office has taken a significant step forward with the integration of Nova in its newly developed Drone Unit. Together, these tools have become force multipliers for crime scene documentation, operational planning, and public safety at large-scale events.

Accurate Documentation of Critical Scenes

Traditional methods of documenting outdoor crime scenes are often labor-intensive and prone to human error. With Nova, deputies now produce orthomosaic maps that deliver a precise, bird’s-eye view of complex environments.

To date, Davidson County investigators have leveraged Nova to document six major crime scenes, each benefitting from highly accurate aerial maps generated in a fraction of the time compared to traditional methods. These maps provide investigators, prosecutors, and command staff with a clear, comprehensive record that strengthens case integrity while preserving confidentiality in active investigations.

Impact:

• Orthomosaic mapping reduces the risk of oversight during scene documentation.

• Digital records provide a defensible, transparent method of capturing evidence.

• Complex outdoor environments, which once required extensive manual sketching, are now documented in high resolution and with measurable accuracy.

Pre-Planning for Emergencies and High-Priority Locations

Operational readiness is a cornerstone of public safety. Outdated online maps can create dangerous blind spots for first responders, especially in schools, infrastructure sites, or high-traffic community areas. Nova enables the Sheriff’s Office to maintain current, high-fidelity aerial maps of critical facilities, ensuring deputies are prepared for any scenario.

By leveraging these updated maps:

• Tactical teams can plan with greater precision.

• Response times improve due to familiarity with layouts.

• Agencies maintain a proactive, intelligence-led posture in emergencies.

Real-World Application: The Davidson County Fair

One of the most vivid examples of Nova’s impact is its role in the annual Davidson County Fair. Each year, this six-day event draws thousands of attendees and spans rides, games, agricultural showcases, food vendors, and live entertainment. Ensuring public safety in such a dynamic environment demands seamless coordination across multiple agencies.

This year, the Drone Unit used Nova to map the entire fairgrounds, identifying key areas such as emergency exits, first aid stations, staging areas, and critical access points. With the ability to export shareable PDF maps and scannable QR codes, law enforcement could quickly distribute situational intelligence to deputies and partner agencies on any device with no specialized equipment required.

Benefits observed:

• Clear, shareable maps enhanced coordination between Sheriff’s deputies and other emergency responders.

• QR code distribution allowed for near-instant dissemination of critical information.

• Command staff gained real-time confidence that their teams were operating with the most up-to-date intelligence.

Nova’s Broader Capabilities for Public Safety

Davidson County is already integrating Nova as a critical tool in their policing toolkit, and there are even more capabilities waiting to be leveraged. Additional tools your agency could integrate into daily operations include:

Emergency Mapping: Rapid aerial maps deployed during floods, storms, or fires.

Crime Scene Documentation: Fast, accurate 2D maps of large or complex environments.

Operational Planning: Detailed site layouts to prepare for tactical or community events.

Livestreaming: Real-time video feeds delivered directly to command staff or ground units via QR code, accessible from any connected device.

ColorFinder Tool: A powerful feature that identifies specific colors within video streams—invaluable for locating missing persons, identifying suspects, or spotting anomalies in wooded or crowded environments.

What This Means for Law Enforcement

The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office demonstrates how drone technology paired with powerful software like Nova can transform public safety operations. From enhancing evidence collection to ensuring readiness for community events, Nova has proven to be impactful, mission-critical, and indispensable in helping deputies better protect citizens, safeguard officers, and ensure justice with precision and efficiency.

Equally important is the ability to combine multiple data points such as orthomosaic maps, panoramic imagery, and live video streams into one unified platform. By layering these perspectives, law enforcement gains the most clear, concise, and actionable overview of any situation. Whether managing a critical incident, documenting a crime scene, or planning for a community event, Nova ensures that decision-makers and responders are working from the same accurate, real-time intelligence.