Economic Benefits to New Zealand from Beyond-Line-of-Sight Operation of UAVs

Abstract

This report estimates the economic benefits to New Zealand from Beyond-Line-Of-Sight (BLOS) use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) for pasture measurement and monitoring, forestry, and electricity infrastructure inspection. The economic gains from the adoption of active pasture management techniques are estimated to be in the order of $1bn per year, with relatively modest additional gains of $67m per year available from BLOS UAV operation. Applications for disease and pest management within forestry are considered, with BLOS operation providing potential benefits of $46m-$69m per year from improved control of Dothistroma, and $26m per year from control of the eucalypt tortoise beetle. The direct cost savings from using UAVs for electricity infrastructure inspection could be in the order of $7.6m per year. Benefits from the reduced duration of electricity outages could provide additional benefits of $4.5m to $19.3m per year.

Keywords: drone, UAV, BLOS, beyond-line-of-sight, economic benefit, pasture management, forestry, infrastructure inspection