OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL · MARCH 2026
Aerial Detection
of Illegal Dumping
Privacy-first camera technology that
finds, measures, and reports abandoned waste
so Oakland can clean smarter, faster, and more equitably.
Aerbits Inc. · Brian Johnson, President & Founder
Oakland spends $24M+ per year on illegal dumping
Complaint-driven systems are inequitable. Wealthier
neighborhoods file more reports — underserved communities get less service despite worse conditions.
You can't manage what you can't see. Without proactive
data, DPW deploys blind — wrong truck, wrong crew size, wrong location priority.
Dumping recurs in the same spots. Without ongoing
monitoring, cleaned sites are re-dumped within days.
How it works: Camera → AI → Data → Action
One pilot covers 1 sq mi in 30 minutes
on a single battery (Skydio X10D)
AI detects waste at 98-100%
confidence - finds dumps hidden behind
vehicles, in remote locations
Auto-classifies waste type - mattress,
furniture, construction debris, loose bags,
appliances
GPS-precise location - mapped,
clustered, deduplicated for efficient routing
Built privacy-first from day one
No Facial
Recognition
No License Plate
Reading
Private Property
Redacted
Private
Infrastructure
Short Retention
Periods
Restricted Live
Access
Privacy redaction in action
Every image is automatically processed — vehicles masked, personal information if any removed, private property removed, waste detected and classified.
redacted streets and sidewalks. no personal identity in photos.
Proven in Bayview:
118 → 3 dump sites in 26 days
Consistent reporting = cleaner streets. Daily reporting drove 97% reduction in under a month.
One person, one drone, one app. The entire case study was run by a single pilot.
AI finds what eyes miss. Remote locations, hidden waste, small debris - all detected at 98%+ confidence.
Data enables accountability. Before/after verification proves cleanup and catches re-dumping.
Continuous Reporting
steadily decreases the amount of
waste on the streets and sidewalks.
Oakland-scale coverage: fast, efficient, affordable
Pre-programmed flight paths. Automated
waypoint navigation - consistent, repeatable
coverage every time.
1,440 linear road miles in a 6-month pilot -
covering Oakland's most impacted areas.
Regular monitoring catches recurrence. Re-fly
the same routes to verify cleanup and detect new
dumping.
$150K pilot = 0.6% of Oakland's $24M dumping
spend. Small investment, massive data upgrade.
efficient dumpsite data
The Oakland Pilot: 6 months, $150K
6 Month pilot
72 Scheduled flights
1,440
Linear road miles
$150K
Total budget
Oakland-wide scale
THE ASK
Approve the amended
Use Policy & $150K pilot
Give Oakland the data to fight illegal dumping smarter, faster, and more equitably - with strong privacy protections.