This educational module is aimed at the drone and advanced air mobility industries to provide a guide to the functions and priorities of local authorities. The aim is to help industry to optimise their engagement with local authorities when selling services directly to them, seeking local authority support in developing an ecosystem of third-party drone operations and introducing advanced air mobility services into the community.
This educational resource was Commissioned by the Community Integration Working Group (CIWG) ~ Funded by UKRI Future Flight Challenge.
There is a wide assumption among many in the UK’s drone industry that most local authorities are largely unaware of the potential that drones can play in transforming council service delivery but a survey undertaken in early 2024 by the www.aam4gov.com research team of over 100 councils throughout the UK tells a different story. We found widespread use of drones by councils and innovation on a large scale. Infrastructure monitoring is the key use-case, though drones are also being used widely in planning permission investigations, environmental monitoring and traffic congestion monitoring. This module identifies the councils who are most prolific in their drone use, policies on in-house development and contracting-out and motivation behind their use: cost and time savings; health and safety benefits; environmental benefits; and economic growth.
The topics covered include:
- Research findings into drone use by UK councils.
- Pre and post COVID trends in local authority use of drones
- How council budget cuts have impacted drone use
- Analysis of reasons behind council drone purchases: supporting live saving services,
- Analysis of reasons behind council drone purchases: reducing survey costs
- Analysis of reasons behind council drone purchases: reducing the environmental footprint
- Legal and regulatory issues behind council drone services
Who should view these resources:
- Senior decision makers and business managers responsible for strategic planning, business development, sales and marketing in pioneering, innovative companies
- SMEs and micro enterprises
- offering drone based and AAM solutions to support public sector and local government service provision
- seeking to provide private drone based services within a local authority area
- SMEs and micro enterprises providing AAM and drone solutions using local airfields / aerodromes to serve local communities and local councils
Materials presented:
- Video summary of topic
- Video transcript
- Reference documents for additional reading
- Reference resources via hyperlinks.
Requirements
All resources can be accessed online using Smart Phone / Computer / Tablet. using Smart Phone / Computer / Tablet.
Philip Butterworth-Hayes
- 14. How councils are using drones