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EXPERT SURVEY STUDY
• Id entify e xpert vi ews acro ss secto rs & dom ains
• Pr ovide in sights f or infor med deci sion-mak ing
• Su pport ev idence-b ased gov ernance strategy
SOCIETAL ACCEPTANCE
OF URBAN DRONES
B R I E F I N G R E P O R T
T H E B R I D G E L A B P U B L I C A T I O N S E R I E S | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3
CONTEXT
Societal acceptance of the use of drones in
urban areas is crucial for their successful
integration into society. This survey study
focuses on the experts in fields such as
robotics, aviation, mobility, and smart
cities, to offer insights that will guide the
development of strategies and policies for
drone implementations.
Contact: bridge@dsi.uzh.ch
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OBJECTIVE
This briefing report series are targeted at
policy makers and industry members in the
fields of technology governance and
innovation management. Our goal is to
raise awareness of the importance of
societal acceptance, and to shed light on
how to address it based on our own
research findings.
DOI:10.5281/zenodo.10058773
KEY FINDINGS
> Awareness-raising activities are crucial to inform the public about the drone
technology and its applications. It is currently challenging, though, to collect useful
information for public education due to regulatory constraints on drone operations.
> It is important to address the practical aspects for assessing societal
acceptance of urban drones, such as resource management and information
sharing, on the one hand, and to handle the regulatory aspects which may potentially
interfere with drone operations, on the other hand.
> Acceptance factors such as safety, privacy, noise, and regulation can be deeply
connected. The interrelated dynamics among the acceptance factors plays a
crucial role in understanding how society at large perceives urban drones.
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> There is a diverse spectrum of opinions about drone use among experts of different
domains and sectors. This suggests the need for inclusion of a wide scope of
expertise when developing policies related to urban use of drone.
> While technical knowledge about drones is vital, a comprehensive framework of
acceptance factors helps society to better assess drone usage from the social
and human dimensions.
IMPLICATIONS
> Experts tend to place less importance on the general public’s views and
concerns about drones, such as noise or malicious use, and focuses more on the
practical sides of drone operations, such as business cases and financial viability.
> It is important to recognise the dynamical complexity of acceptance factors
beneath the surface, and take more nuanced approaches to support smooth
integration of urban drones.
> The sector- and domain-specific viewpoints of experts imply that a one-size-fits-all
approach to drone regulation is not effective, compared to context-appropriate
strategies that are more responsive.
> Experts suggest evaluating drones against the specific context in which they
are used, including the purpose of usage, the operators involved, and the health and
environmental impacts of the application.
> Experts advocate for more public education efforts to be made, such as targeted
information campaigns and broader public engagement activities.
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DO > Reflect on current regulatory approaches.
DO NOT > Underestimate the power of public engagement.
DO > Develop strategies tailored for specific stakeholders.
DO NOT > Work in silos in framework development.
DO > Invest in public education and communication.
Adapt regulations to be more flexible to allow for more pilot testing and data
collection. This will support communication and education efforts in the field,
increasing public understanding about the drone technology and its operations.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Actively engage the involved community in drone projects helps improve awareness,
preventing misunderstanding and distrust from developing. This participatory
approach will enhance public sensitivity which, in turn, support societal acceptance.
Recognize and respect the different priorities across sectors and adjust strategies
accordingly. This will help enable needs to be met and interests to be aligned across
stakeholder groups, paving the way for better acceptance in society.
Promote collaboration among academia, industry, and government to co-develop
framework to support informed policymaking. This collaborative approach will connect
concepts with practice for more responsive governance and wider benefit to society.
Timely develop education programs to improve public understanding of new
technology. This proactive approach will clarify doubts of the public around negative
consequences of technology, while increasing their awareness to its benefits.
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