A new research report released today has found increasing drone use in Australia presents a range of benefits for communities – particularly for regional areas and in emergency relief and disaster management.

The report, delivered by the national centre for transport and mobility research iMOVE with the University of South Australia as the lead research partner, identifies a number of benefits as well as challenges facing drone uptake across the country.

It also provides an overview of the Australian drone sector, including an international comparison, and assesses the geographic and social drivers behind drone uptake.

The report identifies a number of industries could greatly benefit from increased drone use, including in emergency relief and disaster management, security services, freight, agriculture, last-mile deliveries, recreation and entertainment.

The research was jointly funded, with the Australian Government, iMOVE and the University of South Australia. The Australian Government contributed $100,000.

Find out more:

• read the full report
• read the Minister's media release
• visit the iMOVE project outcomes webpage
• visit the data and research webpage.