and Beyond
Unleashing the Power of Drones Across Europe: Safety, Sustainability, and Beyond
By Jeremiah Karpowicz
Introduction
To say that the landscape for enterprise and community-based drone applications across Europe has changed doesn’t begin to describe what’s taken place over the past few years. After initial discussions of regulation changes took place 2017-2020, timing and exact rollout of those regulations had remained uncertain.
In December 2020, a foundation for drone operations across the continent was established. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) released categorizations of drones into three classes: open, specific, and certified. As of December 31, 2020, operators need to register in the country where they live or where they have their principal place of business - creating a baseline for compliance that was not previously possible.
This has created a renewed interest in applications of the technology across the continent, which has been underscored by multiple reports and estimates about the size of the commercial drone market. A report from 2023 called out that value as $54.8 billion (~€51.3 billion) by 2030. Specific to the commercial drone market in Europe today, one report calls out that value as $7.32 billion (~€6.8 billion) in 2024, while the drone services market in Europe alone could be worth $15.6 billion (~€14.6 billion) and create 145,000 jobs by 2030.
However, to access this potential value, there are still questions on the table:
How can operators and stakeholders across Europe best consider these options? What does it mean to move forward with the technology in a way that will unlock value? How can improvements to safety and overall sustainability efforts be measured?
Some of this value will be better enabled as the technology becomes part of established workflows in industries that range from construction to public safety to energy. This need has compelled the launch of events like Commercial UAV Expo Europe, which will offer a complete overview of industrial and enterprise solutions across key industry segments. This focused approach ensures that attendees can quantify the value associated with their use of the technology, much of which will be related to an organization’s established safety and sustainability efforts that drone technology can take to the next level.
This report will highlight several potential answers to those questions, with stories of success coming from both countries across Europe and from the drone industry in the United States.
Understanding the regulations
In 2020, EASA published a proposal of airworthiness standards for the certification of the vast majority of light uncrewed aircraft. That led to the establishment of standards that have contributed to the safe operation of drones for a wide variety of services, such as parcel delivery in urban environments, railway and power lines inspection, or delivery of essential supplies into crisis zones.
The “open” category is the primary reference for the majority of leisure drone activities and low-risk commercial activities. A drone can be operated in the “specific” category when it is operated outside of the operational limitations laid out under the “open” drone category. The “certified” category is associated with operations at the highest level of risk. Future drone flights with passengers on board, such as the air taxi, will fall into this category.
For the most part, commercial operators and operations fall into the ‘specific’ category. Examples of UAS operations in the ‘specific’ category are BVLOS, flying higher than 120m above ground level, or flying a drone with a weight exceeding 25kg.
All drone operators in the specific category need to register themselves in the Member State where they have their residence for natural persons or where they have their principal place of business for legal persons. To fly in the specific category as a drone operator and before starting the flight/s, operational authorization from the National Aviation Authority (NAA) of the state of registration is needed. Even if the intention is to conduct the operation in a state other than the one of registration, the authorization is issued by the NAA of the state of registration.
Operators need to take an online exam to obtain a remote drone pilot competency certificate from a recognized aviation authority. It is also them who award the certificate.
THE TAKEAWAY: With clear definitions and certifications, the uncertainty is lifting for drone use across European countries.
Map of EASA Member countries, as of 2024.
Understanding the business requirements
Once the regulatory environment is understood, it’s easy to talk about concepts like workflow efficiencies or sustainability initiatives when it comes to the impacts drones can make. However, users of all types run into challenges when they make investments without knowing exactly what problem the technology will help them solve.
The following examples highlight what it means to pursue adoption in the context of how drones will solve a problem rather than being a piece of technology that needs to find a task or project – something that is a key consideration for any industry.
My advice to anyone considering what it will mean to create or set up a drone program is to experiment with the technology. Buy the drone, form a group, but don’t expect them to do everything. They’re not going to be that silver bullet to every problem. It’s one more piece you use to pull together to solve problems.”
– David Boardman, CEO of Stockpile Reports
Distributie Energie Oltenia, a power distribution network operator (DNO) in southern Romania, utilized traditional inspection tools to monitor 600 KM of power lines but faced challenges with capturing data related to vegetation management as well as condition information with the towers and other supporting structures. Crewed aircraft were expensive and didn’t provide complete information, creating a situation that compelled a new approach. Drones allowed the team to collect data in one pass and minimize field costs as far as possible. It was more cost-effective to deploy BVLOS UAVs on their largest projects, where relatively shorter network lengths need to be captured.
Public safety officials across Europe have utilized the technology in emergency situations to improve response times, with many recognizing the difference the technology can make in these situations. It’s an understanding that compelled the Amsterdam police to establish a specialized drone team to offer a previously unavailable and broader security perspective but also a sense of awareness for the commanders and the public. This team will consist of full-time drone pilots, marking a significant step forward in using new technology for safety purposes.
THE TAKEAWAY: No matter which industry, it is paramount to identify the specific need for a UAS before choosing the technology.
To build in-house or outsource?
The question of whether to build or outsource is one that many organizations work through once they decide they want to leverage any piece of technology. While it’s often not a case of either/or, decisions about whether internal or external resources will be flying the drone can sometimes be more about timing and policy than the technology itself.
In house:
The team at STRABAG AG has internalized their drone operations, with all of their efforts led by the Digital Object Survey and UAV business unit in Regensburg. The team has used drones to support quantity surveying of stockpiles at an asphalt mixing plant and the calculation asphalt surfaces for billing. On a recent Stockerau Landfill project, the team was able to quantify the construction value of their use of the technology at €2.1 million.
Outsource:
Other organizations rely on vendor and contractor partnerships. With advanced drone technology and skilled pilots, companies like Flyby Guys can efficiently capture data from difficult-to-reach locations, saving time and resources while reducing safety risks. Their work with Stara, a public entity supporting the City of Helsinki, provided a 360-degree view of how the organization performs its operation, revealing multiple ways they can now approach creating these efficiencies.
While many have embraced how drones can take over mundane or dull work previously done by humans, others are still resistant because they believe drones could replace certain jobs or positions. However, the technology is almost always discussed in terms of augmentation rather than replacement, and drones will ultimately be just another tool. These are the types of realities that need to be highlighted and repeated as stakeholders approach drone implementation and change management. People and processes matter as much as the technology itself, highlighting one of the most important elements around the adoption of any new solution or tool.
THE TAKEAWAY: The true power of drone technology is associated with its capacity to scale up and across an organization, all related to project-specific applications that can involve an internal drone team, partnering with an external expert, or a mix of both.
The right people and the right solutions
As drone technology has gotten better and cheaper, more and more company stakeholders have begun to see that their biggest challenges with integration often aren’t about costs or the technology itself. Instead, they’re about getting people to change their processes or behavior. The challenge of doing so is not unique to drones, and it’s why stakeholders need to find or empower individual people or teams as part of this process.
Above, Under and Below
A national symbol in Hungary since it was built, the Széchenyi Chain Bridge spans the Danube River and links the downtown area of Buda and Pest, the two parts of Budapest. The bridge has become a symbol of connection and advancement for the country, underscoring why an effort to improve the 380m-long, 14.8m-wide suspension bridge was carefully considered.
Capturing reality above ground and underwater, the team at Ventus Tech came up with 13 different types of output data that allowed them to create a digital twin of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge. The model provides construction engineers with mean to discover problems that might not be visible from their perspective (like cracks on the underside of the bridge) or geometric distortions in some of the supporting structures.
3D After Devistation
The entire country of Lebanon was changed forever when a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored at the Port of Beirut exploded on August 4th, 2020. The $15 billion in property destruction that it caused was the least of that damage, as the hundreds dead, over 7,000 injured, and the estimated 300,000 people that were rendered homeless signify the true catastrophic nature of the event. In the midst of this tragedy, experts from a handful of companies came together to use data captured by drones to create a 3D map of the area most affected by the explosion. Developed on a “Pro Bono” basis that has made these assets available to anyone, these 3D models of the area allowed first responders to take decisive action and literally save lives. The detailed and accurate open-access map of the blast area and surrounding damage to the city bolstered rescue and recovery efforts on multiple levels.
These examples showcase what it can look like when teams have been empowered to find the best solutions. The differences can be stark, highlighting a need to ensure these efforts are properly supported once enabled.
THE TAKEAWAY: Drones can be utilized to capture information in ways that were previously impossible, but what’s being done with the data, who else uses it, and how all of that impacts established processes changes the value proposition.
Continuing training & maintenance
One of the most revealing parts of the drone adoption process can be what happens once decisions have been made around which solutions and technologies are going to be utilized. Some envision this as the end, but in fact, it’s just the beginning. Needs associated with pilot training and maintenance have to be outlined as part of the overall adoption process. Some energy & utility organizations have rushed to purchase drone-in-a-box systems only to realize they only have half of a solution, as they still need the support of a properly trained human pilot.
As an example of what this can look like, the training program that is currently utilized by the US Forest Service began to take shape in 2018. That effort has created a standard around the support and training for individual drone pilots that ties into UAS utilization and performance of the entire agency.
“Our training is designed to make sure we’re meeting the needs of our pilots,” said Dusty Kavitz, an Unmanned Aerial Systems program manager with the Rocky Mountain Region of the U.S. Forest Service.
“We take a lot of pride in that, which is why we offer refreshers and additional trainings that folks need to continue to grow in their knowledge of the use of UAS. A lot of that entails planning; planning different types of trainings, getting people together to talk about what went wrong, or what went right, and how we can continue to grow and be a professional UAS organization within the Forest Service.”
Pilots in the Forest Service’s drone program are trained on drone sensors and systems from start to finish and beyond, which is essential given that many pilots are firefighters or fuel technicians first, meaning they all have day jobs.
THE TAKEAWAY: An approach centered on policies, practicalities, and standards are essential for a drone program of any size or type (or country). These efforts shape the ultimate value proposition when it comes to adopting the technology.
Courtesy of US Forest Service
Safety
Similar to workflow efficiencies, it’s easy to say that drones increase safety by keeping people out of harm’s way. One of the fundamental benefits of using drones is that they can keep people out of otherwise dangerous situations and locations.
In some industries, this is even more apparent. The difference it makes to someone who no longer has to walk on a stockpile is real in a way that’s beyond measurement.
“There’s always a real possibility of falling off these piles, and I don’t just mean falling to the bottom of the pile itself,” said John Davenport from Whitaker Contracting.
“The drone takes all of that away. On our quarries, we have areas where we reclaim water, and there’s always a possibility of falling into some of that. On construction sites, we have heavy equipment running back and forth, but we have to go into these environments to survey the points so that I can make volumetric comparisons and accurately figure out our estimates for payment. There’s quite a bit of liability when you’re walking around out there. It’s really dangerous. We have to figure out how we’re going to do things like manufacture a small rock out of a larger one or separate a rock from a cliff face. To do so, we use explosives, drills, and crushers. We’re talking about very large excavators, trucks, dozers, motor grades and everything else. Being able to avoid all of that means a lot to me.”
There’s a next-level impact on safety when it comes to how drones can be utilized for railroad inspections, as the more frequent collection of data can provide insights that help prevent a train from derailing, impacting public safety. Ultimately, though, the safety impact is one that can be seen and felt at an operational level, contributing to how and why the technology makes sense for individuals, teams, and entire organizations.
“We’re not looking at it for the monetary value; we’re looking at it more for the safety aspect,” said Richard Lopez, Virtual Design and Construction Manager at Hensel Phelps.
“Us having control of the job site and knowing that our people aren’t being put in harm’s way and can react to developments much quicker is where the ROI is for us. If we can provide information to the superintendent, they can then plan their workload and get all their crews in the right locations when they need to be there by looking at the aerial data, right there you have value.”
Lopez mentioned he had returned from a job where this exact scenario played out. He watched a superintendent plan their morning meetings based on the drone information they received the day before. The drone flew the job site, processed the data, and provided an ortho photo for the safety briefing. It gave that superintendent a completely different perspective that went beyond the info they were able to gather from walking the job site.
That sort of efficiency is connected to larger sustainability efforts, which will further shape workflows and teams in every sector.
THE TAKEAWAY: There can be an unmeasurable benefit to deploying drones when and where it can reduce the likelihood of harm to a worker – and the places where that difference can be made are growing.
Sustainability
Drones have been mentioned as a great ally of sustainability efforts on account of their ability to reduce the carbon footprint associated with certain tasks. The World Economic Forum mentioned in a report that drones in the transportation sector alone could reduce carbon emissions by up to 4.5 billion tons per year. For companies with net-zero ambitions, drones are becoming a go-to tool for sustainability.
For delivery and logistics applications, drones can replace some ground delivery vehicles for shortdistance trips. This reduces the number of vehicles on the road, leading to less fuel consumption and fewer emissions. Regular drone inspections of solar farms and wind turbines help these facilities operate at peak efficiency, maximizing clean energy output. In agriculture, drones can apply pesticides with greater precision, reducing the amount of chemicals needed. Additionally, researchers are exploring the possibility of using drones for artificial pollination, which could further revolutionize agriculture.
As more companies measure the impact, it’ll become even more apparent that drones produce far fewer emissions than traditional methods used for inspections and monitoring. It makes getting drone projects and programs off the ground even more of a priority, with safety benefits that will be opened up in the short term connected to long-term sustainability efforts.
THE TAKEAWAY: Drones have a proven place in efforts aimed to cut emissions and reach net-zero goals.
Conclusion
Drones can create value across enterprise and community-based workflows, but the specifics associated with unlocking that value will vary depending on the size, scope, scale, and goals of the initiative. Fully leveraging this value will also depend on a regulatory framework that will be further defined when EASA releases new regulations for BVLOS operations. Existing regulations could also be changed based on feedback and experience, accentuating the many challenges and opportunities that need to be sorted out across the continent.
Understanding what this can mean to individual operators and entire organizations is one of the goals of Commercial UAV Expo Europe, as attendees will unlock tangible, implementable strategies and solutions and have a chance to look into the future of aerial technology integration, operation, and regulation. It’s a future that will only take shape as teams get the technology off the ground, and there are individuals and organizations across the entire drone industry that can offer support and insights around what doing so can mean.
About the author
Jeremiah Karpowicz
Jeremiah Karpowicz is the Editorial Director of Commercial UAV News. He has spent over a decade cultivating communities of all types, in-person and online. He has created articles, videos, newsletters, ebooks, and plenty more for these communities as a contributor and editor. He has also shaped and defined various conference programs. Today, he is focused on defining what it means to take the engagement that happens in both the physical and digital worlds to the next level.
