{"id":31416,"date":"2025-06-19T08:13:29","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T07:13:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/research-blog\/?p=31416"},"modified":"2025-07-23T15:34:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T14:34:46","slug":"from-ambition-to-action-drone-use-by-local-government-in-england","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/research-blog\/2025\/06\/19\/from-ambition-to-action-drone-use-by-local-government-in-england\/","title":{"rendered":"From ambition to action: drone use by Local Government in England"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”31417″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dr Mariela de Amstalden, Dr Anna Jackman and Professor Michael<\/em> Lewis explore how Local Government across England are using drones, sharing the benefits they’re seeing and the challenges they face in initiating and scaling operations.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

From aerial inspection to policing<\/a>, drones are increasingly being used across commercial and civil applications as tools for aerial data gathering, carrying and transport. Drones, the UK Government<\/a> says, \u201cpresent a significant and exciting opportunity for the UK\u201d. They are regularly championed<\/a> as enabling the carrying out of tasks \u201cfaster, safer, cheaper and with less impact on the environment than traditional methods\u201d. This view is reinforced through ongoing initiatives such as Future Flight<\/a> \u2013 pursuing the \u201cindustrialisation of emerging aviation technologies\u201d including drones in the UK, as well as recent funding announcements<\/a> supporting the development of \u201cdrone pathways for industry\u201d and the delivery of a \u201cregulatory programme to enable drones to fly beyond visual line of sight\u201d.<\/p>\n

Yet, while ambitions for growing and scaled drone deployment continue, with the UK Government<\/a> hoping that \u201cby 2030 commercial drones will be commonplace in\u2026 a way that safely benefits the economy and wider society\u201d, critical questions<\/a> have nonetheless been raised about the next steps needed to translate drone trials and small-scale initiatives to more regular and routine operations.<\/p>\n

Drone use in Local Government<\/h3>\n

In our newly launched report, From ambition to action: Insights into drone use by Local Government in England<\/a><\/em>, we explore Local Government as active yet often under-considered drone users. Developing the first detailed investigation of Local Government drone use in England, our research explores drones in action, focusing on real-world use cases rather than abstract or potential applications. Through interviews with Local Government drone users spanning different use cases and levels of experience, the research focused on reported benefits, drivers, and barriers to adoption and scaling.<\/p>\n

Benefits<\/h3>\n

Local Governments show notable capability as domestic service providers. Use cases vary \u2013 in some councils, drones support core statutory functions (such as asset inspection and enforcement) while for others drone usage remains more ad hoc. Nonetheless, Local Government participants collectively and consistently reported clear safety, access, and data benefits, spanning improved worker safety, better access to remote sites, and more robust data collection. Time and cost savings were also reported, though benefits had to be considered alongside flight planning and lifecycle costs.<\/p>\n

Practices and processes<\/h3>\n

Our research also looked at how Local Government were using drones, focusing on key practices and processes:<\/p>\n