SUSANNA PUOMIO
Finland’s largest drone survey thus far measured the attitudes of Helsinki Metropolitan Space residents. The outcomes point out that residents are most accepting of drones getting used for monitoring and imaging duties, with 43% having a optimistic perspective in the direction of using drones in emergencies. A brand new survey has simply been launched.
The latest opinion survey obtained responses from just below 400 grownup residents of Helsinki and its neighbouring municipalities, making it the biggest drone survey ever performed in Finland. The survey was carried out as a part of the EU-funded AiRMOUR city air mobility challenge, which concluded on the finish of 2023.
The outcomes present perception on the expectations, considerations and attitudes of Helsinki Metropolitan Space residents concerning drones and their familiarity with drones. The survey centered significantly on using drones in emergency medical companies, transport and emergency conditions.
“Surveys assist not solely the Metropolis but additionally firms to evaluate what sorts of drone companies are value implementing in Helsinki. Residents’ acceptance of the expertise is essential for profitable enterprise,” says Enterprise Helsinki’s Crew Supervisor of Innovation Companies Kimmo Heinonen.
In line with a examine performed on Helsinki, the city air mobility service market in Helsinki might be value roughly EUR 20–80 million by 2030, so progress is anticipated.
“To ensure that this progress to be realised, the wants and considerations of metropolis residents should be taken significantly,” Heinonen continues.
Residents would really like clearly outlined areas for drone flying
One of many issues examined within the survey was the place respondents would most prefer to see drones. The highest responses have been workplace hubs and inexperienced areas, equivalent to parks. Alternatively, respondents have been additionally extra against drones flying over parks than on routes crossing water areas, for instance.
The share of respondents who did need drones to be flown freely wherever within the metropolis was 59%, with pedestrian centres and residential areas being the areas the place residents least wished to see drones by a transparent margin.
Collisions, information safety and privateness are the biggest considerations
The vast majority of the survey respondents, 95%, had seen a drone, and as many as 65% of respondents felt that they knew not less than one thing about drones. Simply over half of respondents had a optimistic or impartial perspective in the direction of drone expertise. The commonest expectations reported by respondents have been that using drones would scale back emissions and enhance the accessibility of locations and other people situated distant or in difficult-to-reach places.
Primarily based on the survey, persons are most involved about security, safety and privateness points in terms of city air mobility: 84% of respondents have been not less than considerably involved about elevated monitoring on account of digicam drones, whereas 66% had considerations about cyber safety, equivalent to hacking. The subsequent largest perceived dangers have been the chance of drones colliding and crashing and weakening privateness safety. The share of respondents who thought-about it essential for drones to be as secure as at the moment used plane was 85%.
Drones present assist in emergencies
In recent times, drones have been used to move items and meals and to help emergency medical companies in Helsinki. For instance, the AiRMOUR challenge concerned testing the transportation of defibrillators and epipens by drone. In the meantime, the continuing CITYAM challenge includes testing drones in maritime rescue operations.
Primarily based on the survey, Helsinki Metropolitan Space residents are most approving of using drones for pictures, video recording, monitoring and upkeep work. Solely 7% of respondents thought-about using drones for monitoring to be utterly inappropriate.
The share of respondents who had a optimistic perspective in the direction of using drones in emergencies was 43%, with as many as 91% being welcoming of drones close to their properties within the occasion of an emergency. Greater than half of respondents additionally authorized of using drones for transporting medical provides and samples. Moreover, 69% of respondents have been not less than barely within the transportation of medical personnel and injured individuals with drones.
Don’t agree with the outcomes? A brand new survey is already in progress!
The outcomes of this survey have been collected in 2022 and 2023. This spring, the CITYAM challenge is holding a brand new drone survey for Helsinki residents for the aim of additional mapping native attitudes. Should you disagree with the outcomes of the earlier survey, you’ll be able to reply the brand new survey till 26 April 2024 (in Finnish)!
Along with Helsinki, comparable surveys are additionally being performed in Hamburg, Stockholm, Tartu, Vilnius and Gdansk. The survey was produced by the Tallinn College of Know-how.
