Drones and the Future of Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Developmen
Overview: Drones and the Future of Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development
In an accelerating landscape of technological advancements, drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are playing a transformative role in the administration of urban planning, community, and rural development. Drones have been forecast to have a global economic impact of up to $1.46 trillion by 2025 (source: PwC). Greater use of drones could lead to 100,000 new jobs in the U.S. by 2025 (source: AUVSI) and bring many benefits to rural and urban communities alike.
Drone Usage in Urban Planning
Drones are increasingly being leveraged in urban planning due to their ability to produce real-time, accurate data. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there were 1.7 million drones in the United States in 2020, a substantial increase from 1.1 million in 2016. The use of drones enables urban planners to obtain aerial imagery and topographic data that can aid in planning and designing infrastructure, thus ultimately reducing project timelines by up to 55% (source: DroneDeploy). Drones can also generate precise land surveys, which can guide decisions about land use, zoning, and infrastructure placement.
Community Development through Drones
Community development is another area where drones are making an impact. The use of drones in community development projects can contribute to cost savings of up to 60% compared with traditional methods (source: PwC). For instance, drones facilitate rapid and efficient assessments of local assets, such as parks, recreational centers, and public utilities. They can also support service delivery, for example, through the swift delivery of medical supplies in emergencies, a benefit demonstrated in Rwanda where drones delivered blood products to 21 transfusing facilities within an average delivery time of 34 minutes.
Drones in Rural Development
In rural development scenarios, drones are used to improve service delivery and bring benefits to communities that have traditionally been underserved by innovation. According to the United Nations, an estimated 500,000 villages worldwide are still inaccessible by road. Drones provide potential solutions for accessibility issues and can assist in projects ranging from delivering goods to remote communities to aiding in emergency response and natural disaster recovery. In Malawi, for example, drones were used to fast track HIV tests, reducing the turnaround time from 11 days to less than one.
Key Takeaways
- Drones are playing a transformative role in urban planning, community, and rural development, optimizing project timelines and costs and bringing crucial services to underserved communities.
- The use of drones in urban planning, community development, and rural areas is expected to result in substantial economic impact and job creation.
- Rapid advancements in drone technology will further enhance their potential for improving service delivery, community asset assessments, and emergency response.
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