The use of rescue drones is expected to increase in forthcoming years. However, the success of their implementation through different applications will depend on public acceptance. Studies to date have analyzed public support for the use of drones with various applications, although public acceptance of drones in specific contexts remains to be explored. In particular, the use of drones for beach rescues has proven beneficial in reducing response times, thus helping to save lives. In this study, we analyze the public acceptance of lifesaving drones and their associated variables. Data collected from a survey of beach users (N = 3363) for this study are used to measure public acceptance of rescue drones. We found that public acceptance of rescue drones is moderate, with approximately half of all participants accepting their use. In terms of influencing variables, we found that the factors most associated with their use are ‘perceived benefits’ and ‘perceived risks’. We also found that the participants from beaches without lifeguard services were more likely to accept the use of rescue drones. These results initiated a discussion on the variables that are associated with public acceptance in the specific context of lifesaving. In addition, based on the results of this study, we propose implementation plans for rescue drones that might also include public information campaigns on their benefits for beach users.
Introduction
The use of drones for safety and emergency applications is on the rise, marked by increasing public acceptance. Despite drone applications evolving since the 20th century, their proliferation as an emerging technology, characterized by novelty and rapid growth, prompts a need to gauge public approval. Understanding public sentiment is crucial for policymakers, safety agencies, and the industry to ensure successful implementation and avoid negative perceptions. In the safety and emergency domain, drones have been explored for search and rescue applications, especially in Spain, a country heavily reliant on tourism with a significant coastline. Drones offer advantages over human lifeguards, covering larger areas, responding faster, operating in hazardous conditions, and collecting valuable information. However, public acceptance studies on drones, particularly in the context of beach rescue in Spain, are limited. This study aims to fill this gap, providing insights into whether beach users in Spain would accept lifesaving drones and identifying factors associated with public acceptance, contributing valuable information for future drone implementation projects in the realm of safety and emergency services.
Literature review
Studies conducted on public acceptance of drones differ slightly from those conducted on other technologies such as mobile phones [22] or robots [28,31]. Studies on the acceptance of drone use by third parties are addressed using two approaches. On the one hand, the comparative analysis of drone use by situations and, on the other, the risk perception, privacy concerns, and perceived benefits associated with drone use. Both approaches are discussed in the following paragraphs.
The present study
Drones represent a technology of great potential for surveillance and rescue operations on beaches. However, there is still little empirical evidence on the nature of public opinion towards the use of drones in the context of rescue in Spain. Using a sample of 3363 respondents, the current study was designed to advance research into public opinions towards drones by pursuing three objectives: (1) to determine to what extent the public accepts the use of drones for search and rescue applications
Questionnaire
An ad hoc questionnaire to assess public acceptance of the use of rescue drones on beaches and the associated factors was designed. The questionnaire was structured into eight sections containing 25 questions. Our dependent variable was the public acceptance of rescue drones, which we measured with two questions, one measuring behavioral acceptance –question 3–, and the other measuring acceptance through judgment –question 4–. We used a 4-point Likert scale to rate the responses
Public acceptance of rescue-drones
The results showed that public acceptance of rescue drones was moderate (Min. = 1, M = 2.9, SD = 0.8, Md = 2.5, Max. = 4). Analyzing by questions, we found that the participants scored slightly higher on the question of whether they would still visit the beach, if the drones were used (Min. = 1, M = 2.9, SD = 0.9, Md = 3, Max. = 4), than on whether they would still like the beach (Min. = 1, M = 2.9, SD = 0.8, Md = 3, Max. = 4). The responses to whether they would also visit the beach are mostly
Discussion
As citizens become more risk-averse and susceptible to expecting prompt responses, drones can make an important contribution to safety and emergency management. Complementing the service provided by humans, the incorporation into lifesaving tasks of the drone will be one of the major growth areas in the deployment of this technology. At present, technological barriers to the addition of new safety and emergency services are hardly present and any legal barriers are gradually being removed.
Conclusion
The objective of this paper has been to determine public acceptance of beach rescue drones and the associated variables because understanding public acceptance is important for designing implementation programs. To achieve this goal, we have conducted an extensive literature review of research on public acceptance of drones. The set of variables has been defined that might, in our opinion and based on the literature review, affect public acceptance of drones. These variables have been
