Mapping the risks, challenges, barriers and opportunities to using drone technology to engage underserved audiences with heritage

Almeida, Isilda and Prieto-Blanco, Patricia (2024) Mapping the risks, challenges, barriers and opportunities to using drone technology to engage underserved audiences with heritage. IMPact e-journal of Higher Education Research, 7 (1). ISSN 2516-7561

Text (IMPact_Submission (1))
IMPact_Submission_1_.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.
Download (195kB)

Abstract

Although the heritage sector has explored the potential of drone technology for surveying, modelling, monitoring, and documentation, (Themistocleous, 2020 (Historic England, n.d.) there has been little research on how drones could be used to facilitate the engagement of underserved audiences with heritage sites, collections and narratives. By working in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority (from here on referred to as SDNPA) and the National Trust (from here on referred to as NT), we have mapped what heritage organisations perceive to be the barriers, risks and unique opportunities drone technology brings to their work, as stewards of heritage spaces. The key themes thereby identified are: public perception (including staff’s own attitudes towards drone technology and the perceptions of existing audiences on how drones may impact on their enjoyment, privacy, safety and security when visiting); complexity of planning and the logistics of deploying drone technology; conservative organisational policies. This paper reports on those and suggests ways in which drone technology can empower underserved communities to shape how they engage with natural and cultural heritage.