SUSANNA PUOMIO

Finland’s largest drone survey to this point 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 current opinion survey acquired responses from just below 400 grownup residents of Helsinki and its neighbouring municipalities, making it the most important drone survey ever carried out in Finland. The survey was carried out as a part of the EU-funded AiRMOUR city air mobility mission, 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 targeted notably on the usage of drones in emergency medical providers, transport and emergency conditions.

“Surveys assist not solely the Metropolis but additionally firms to evaluate what sorts of drone providers are price implementing in Helsinki. Residents’ acceptance of the know-how is essential for profitable enterprise,” says Enterprise Helsinki’s Group Supervisor of Innovation Companies Kimmo Heinonen. 

Based on a examine carried out on Helsinki, the city air mobility service market in Helsinki will likely be price roughly EUR 20–80 million by 2030, so development is predicted.

“To ensure that this development to be realised, the wants and considerations of metropolis residents should be taken severely,” 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 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, information safety and privateness are the most important considerations

The vast majority 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 know-how. The commonest expectations reported by respondents had been that the usage of drones would cut back emissions and enhance the accessibility of locations and other people situated distant or in difficult-to-reach areas.

Primarily based on the survey, persons are most involved about security, safety and privateness points on the subject of city air mobility: 84% of respondents had been no less than considerably involved about elevated monitoring because of digicam drones, whereas 66% had considerations about cyber safety, comparable to hacking. The subsequent largest perceived dangers had been the danger of drones colliding and crashing and weakening privateness safety. The share of respondents who thought of it vital for drones to be as secure as at present 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 providers in Helsinki. For instance, the AiRMOUR mission concerned testing the transportation of defibrillators and epipens by drone. In the meantime, the continued CITYAM mission includes testing drones in maritime rescue operations. 

Primarily based 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 of the usage of drones for monitoring to be utterly 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 accepted 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 individuals 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 mission is holding a brand new drone survey for Helsinki residents for the aim of additional mapping native attitudes. In the event 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, related surveys are additionally being carried out in Hamburg, Stockholm, Tartu, Vilnius and Gdansk. The survey was produced by the Tallinn College of Know-how.