The Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office uses drones that run a special color recognition program used in missing persons cases.

It’s part of a new approach by the county to find possible clues in the woods when someone goes missing.

“When we’re in rescue mode – boots on the ground, dogs, search on foot, fixed wing, but as time goes on we may need to collect data, we need to map an area,” said Earl Bakke. , a volunteer drone pilot with ScenePhoto360, who assisted the Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office in a recent search.

Bakke launches a drone that flies over the search area and takes photos of the specific area.

Once landed, the drone’s images are analyzed by a special computer program that looks for a unique color with pixel precision.

Bakke sets the program to look for a color, often from a missing person’s clothing.

Last month, the drone took more than 5,800 photos during a law enforcement search in Aitkin County.

Crews attempted to find clues from a 23-year-old woman reported missing from Savanah Portage State Park.

“It’s doing math. That’s it: every color has a profile,” Bakke said.

If the program gets an answer about color, the information can then be transmitted to researchers in the field so they can check an area for clues.

Aitkin County Sheriff Dan Guida said this new technology is part of their search efforts. “The thought of losing someone is horrible,” said Aitkin County Sheriff Dan Guida. “My search and rescue teams are among the most dedicated in the state of Minnesota.”

The Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team operates its own drone that collects footage that can be analyzed for clues. Earlier this year, Bakke’s drone found red on a missing man’s jacket and helped other authorities locate the remains in the north woods of Minnesota.