SUSANNA PUOMIO
Finland’s largest drone survey up to now 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 constructive angle in the direction of the usage of drones in emergencies. A brand new survey has simply been launched.
The latest opinion survey acquired responses from slightly 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 venture, which concluded on the finish of 2023.
The outcomes present perception on the expectations, issues and attitudes of Helsinki Metropolitan Space residents relating to drones and their familiarity with drones. The survey targeted notably on the usage of 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 price implementing in Helsinki. Residents’ acceptance of the expertise is essential for profitable enterprise,” says Enterprise Helsinki’s Crew Supervisor of Innovation Providers Kimmo Heinonen.
In keeping with a examine performed on Helsinki, the city air mobility service market in Helsinki can be price roughly EUR 20–80 million by 2030, so progress is anticipated.
“To ensure that this progress to be realised, the wants and issues of metropolis residents have to be taken significantly,” Heinonen continues.
Residents would love clearly outlined areas for drone flying
One of many issues examined within the survey was the place respondents would most wish to see drones. The highest responses had been workplace hubs and inexperienced areas, comparable to parks. Alternatively, respondents had 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 anyplace 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, knowledge safety and privateness are the biggest issues
Nearly all of the survey respondents, 95%, had seen a drone, and as many as 65% of respondents felt that they knew no less than one thing about drones. Simply over half of respondents had a constructive or impartial angle in the direction of drone expertise. The commonest expectations reported by respondents had been that the usage of drones would scale back emissions and enhance the accessibility of locations and other people positioned far-off or in difficult-to-reach places.
Based mostly on the survey, persons are most involved about security, safety and privateness points with regards to city air mobility: 84% of respondents had been no less than considerably involved about elevated monitoring on account of digicam drones, whereas 66% had issues about cyber safety, comparable to hacking. The subsequent greatest perceived dangers had 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 protected 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 assist emergency medical companies in Helsinki. For instance, the AiRMOUR venture concerned testing the transportation of defibrillators and epipens by drone. In the meantime, the continued CITYAM venture entails testing drones in maritime rescue operations.
Based mostly on the survey, Helsinki Metropolitan Space residents are most approving of the usage of drones for images, video recording, monitoring and upkeep work. Solely 7% of respondents thought-about the usage of drones for monitoring to be fully inappropriate.
The share of respondents who had a constructive angle in the direction of the usage of drones in emergencies was 43%, with as many as 91% being welcoming of drones close to their houses within the occasion of an emergency. Greater than half of respondents additionally permitted of the usage of drones for transporting medical provides and samples. Moreover, 69% of respondents had been no less than barely within the transportation of medical personnel and injured folks with drones.
Don’t agree with the outcomes? A brand new survey is already in progress!
The outcomes of this survey had been collected in 2022 and 2023. This spring, the CITYAM venture is holding a brand new drone survey for Helsinki residents for the aim of additional mapping native attitudes. In case you disagree with the outcomes of the earlier survey, you may reply the brand new survey till 26 April 2024 (in Finnish)!
Along with Helsinki, related surveys are additionally being performed in Hamburg, Stockholm, Tartu, Vilnius and Gdansk. The survey was produced by the Tallinn College of Know-how.
