Community group pitches Airbits drone/AI pilot to detect illegal dumping; Public Works flags privacy and policy hurdles

At the San Francisco Public Works Commission meeting on March 13, entrepreneur Brian Johnson, founder of Airbits, and community organizer Vince Yuen urged the department to pursue a pilot that uses drones and artificial intelligence to detect and report illegal dumping.

Johnson described a Bayview pilot he has run for approximately two years and said the system integrates with SF311 to identify dump sites daily and improve routing for cleanup crews. "It can efficiently find and report dump sites throughout the city on a daily basis," he said, arguing the tool can save the department money and result in cleaner streets.

Vince Yuen, founder of grassroots group Refuse Refuse, told commissioners his organization has submitted a proposal supporting the Airbits pilot and emphasized routing efficiency for service workers and potential cost savings amid budget pressure.

Director Carla Short confirmed Public Works has been in talks with Johnson and is working to obtain the clearances needed to enter into an agreement. Short said the department must revise and reapprove drone policies and address related IT questions before launching a pilot, and she described the current work as "jumping through" necessary hurdles.

Commissioners expressed interest in a pilot but acknowledged sensitivity around drones and privacy; Chair Warren Post suggested returning to the commission for a follow-up report if a pilot moves forward.