IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - September 2020 - 51

In order to reduce the impact of these issues, developed
countries could start to move towards green solutions,
e.g., drones could be more efficient. While there have
been some reports that drones will be environmentfriendly as they will not require carbon-based fuels [3],
thereby reducing carbon emissions, their other effects
on the environment have not been quantified.
There are also issues of aesthetics, as drones will
change the skylines of cities. It is perhaps an artistic
and scientific challenge to enable drone flights across a
city in a way that is aesthetically pleasing. Swarms of
drones can be coordinated in flight as an artistic display
as in Intel's 2018 drone display [7] and China's 1374
drone display [11], both at night, suggesting that it might
be plausible to have night flights actually be a spectacle, rather than a disturbance, if choreographed or
scheduled well. Another major concern associated with
low-altitude drones above populated areas, is the noise
pollution level [5]. But recent work suggests that drones
can be made to fly quietly [14].
More research is needed on the environmental
impact of drones in urban and rural environments in
order to inform policymakers and the general public.

Widespread Adoption Uncertain
In this paper, we discussed the concept of civilian drone
services, and highlighted the wide range of drone-types
and their associated applications. We then outlined societal issues and challenges towards their widespread
adoption and usage. It remains to be seen whether
drones will be part of daily life as extensively as cars
and other land vehicles today.

Author Information
Majed Alwateer is with the Computer Science and Engineering College, Yanbu Taibah University, Saudi Arabia.
Seng W. Loke is with the School of Information Technology, Deakin University, Geelong, Melbourne, Australia.

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IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE

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http://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/17/'\h https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/17/intel-breaks-world-record-2018-drones.html http://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/17/'\h https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/17/intel-breaks-world-record-2018-drones.html https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/drones/electronic-license-plates-for-drones https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/drones/electronic-license-plates-for-drones http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/'\h http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/'\h https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/ehang-drone-display-world-record/ https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/ehang-drone-display-world-record/ https://www.dronerush.com/display-faa-drone-registration-number-15037/ http://www.dronerush.com/' https://www.dronerush.com/display-faa-drone-registration-number-15037/ https://www.fpvdronereviews.com/reviews/silent-drone-technology/ http://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2016/' https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2016/11/09/path-5g-building-highway-sky-autonomous-drones/ https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2016/11/09/path-5g-building-highway-sky-autonomous-drones/ http://www.unmannedairspace.info/about/' https://www.unmannedairspace.info/about/ https://www.wing.com/intl/en_au/australia/ https://www.wing.com/intl/en_au/australia/

IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - September 2020

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