Georgia Southern to deploy drone to monitor traffic on commencement at Paulson Stadium

May 4, 2018

On Saturday, May 5, thousands of graduates and their family and friends will flock to Allen E. Paulson Stadium for Georgia Southern’s Statesboro Campus undergraduate commencement ceremony. This year, with the help of a high-flying Phantom-3 Professional drone, graduates and their guests will get the state-of-the-art traffic assistance they need from a bird’s-eye view.

Joey Reeves, director of executive technology and athletic IT for Georgia Southern, will be the pilot of the drone. Reeves has an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate with a Small Unmanned Aircraft System rating to operate the drone. Beginning at 7 a.m., Reeves will deploy the drone near Paulson Stadium, capturing photos and video footage from a height of 400 feet. His main focus will be traffic near the stadium and the 301 Bypass.

“Our goal is to help people navigate the heavier traffic that day,” said Reeves. “When we know areas are backed up, we can share that information with the public.”

In between each 15-minute drone flight, Reeves will relay what he has discovered to a nearby spotter, who will then pass the necessary information along to the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing. From there, the traffic update will be provided to media contacts as well as help the Office of Public Safety to ensure traffic is routed appropriately.

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 27,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.