The public acceptance of drones in Finland
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Journal Title
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School of Business |
Master's thesis
Authors
Date
2023
Department
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Information and Service Management (ISM)
Language
en
Pages
51+57
Series
Abstract
The integration of drones into public spaces has revolutionized the world of modern technology. However, for these technologies to be successfully implemented, it is crucial to understand and achieve broad public acceptance. This thesis focuses on examining the public acceptance of various drone use cases and the main benefits and concerns associated with Urban Air Mobility (UAM) in Finland. The literature review conducted in the research helped to identify gaps in the existing literature and provided a theoretical foundation for the empirical part of the study. The literature review explored the current research on drone technology, public acceptance, and the factors that affect the public's attitudes towards drones. The literature review also helped to identify the gaps in the existing research and provided a theoretical foundation for the empirical part of the study. The empirical study presents the results of a survey study conducted among 189 participants in the Greater Helsinki region in Finland. Utilizing the Knowledge - Attitudes - Practices (KAP) model, the study indicates a low general level of knowledge and trust in Urban Air Mobility among the public, which are influenced by gender and prior drone usage. The study also reveals that people are more likely to accept drone technology if they perceive the benefits to outweigh the risks. The primary benefits of drones are seen as improved access to remote areas and reduced congestion and local emissions. In contrast, safety, privacy, and noise pollution are the public's top concerns. To address these concerns, the study suggests maintaining safety standards of current aircraft systems and ground transport, raising public awareness through media, and enhancing connectivity between rural and urban areas to showcase socially beneficial uses, among other best practices. The study also explores the public's attitudes towards various use cases of drones. Security surveillance, infrastructure maintenance, and environmental monitoring are the most supported use cases of drones. Medical services by delivery drones and passenger eVTOLs are supported only in cases of emergency.Description
Thesis advisor
Kuula, MarkkuMallat, Niina
Keywords
drone, public acceptance, KAP, survey