Innovations and Capacity building in Agricultural Environmental and Rural Uav Services

Project Information

ICAERUS

Grant agreement ID: 101060643

DOI

10.3030/101060643

Project closed

EC signature date 7 June 2022

Start date 1 July 2022

End date 30 June 2026

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 5 436 911,25

EU contribution

€ 5 436 911,25

Coordinated by

GEOPONIKO PANEPISTIMION ATHINON
Greece

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ICAERUS (Innovations and Capacity building in Agricultural Environmental and Rural Uav Services)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Drone adoption in the EU is challenged by socio-economic, environmental, and regulatory issues, including high costs in poorer agricultural regions, societal concerns over privacy and misuse, and environmental conditions that affect operations. These factors, alongside safety concerns, result in complex and varied regulations for drone use. Emphasising an "application-oriented" approach, ICAERUS focuses on exploiting drones' potential in agriculture, forestry, and rural areas. By selecting 5 key applications, ICARUS targets comprehensive coverage within the EU's rural settings, showcasing both "eye-in-the-sky", and "hand-in-the-sky" drone uses. ICAERUS aims to exploit the potential of drones and strengthen capacities to reduce risks, achieve better informed decision-making and enhance sustainability performance and competitiveness.
The aim of ICAERUS is to showcase and support, through application, the effective, efficient and safe deployment of drones as well as, identify the risks and added values associated with their use.
SO1: Research the drone ecosystem and exploit possibilities to use drones as multi-purpose vehicles. Assess and optimise drone related technologies; and analyse standards, regulations, risks and socio-economic and environmental effects related to their use.
SO2: Develop and demonstrate multiple innovative approaches of the application of drones to assess and reduce risks emerging from their use and from the activities they perform.
SO3: Strengthen capacities through free, open-access education, training and value-added services to develop fundamental skills of EU stakeholders on the application of drone technologies in sustainable smart farming, forestry and rural communities.
SO4: Build a EU innovation ecosystem and develop business and governance models, for the effective and efficient dissemination and adoption of drone technologies to scale-up, increase sustainability.
This collaborative effort across 8 countries aims to boost stakeholder capabilities via the ICAERUS Academy and improve drone safety through market analysis and data analytics. Aligned with the Green Deal and Sustainable Development Goals, the project emphasises resilience, innovation, and risk management, seeking to impact over 20,000 stakeholders for scientific and societal advancements.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

ICAERUS has made notable progress in leveraging drone technology for EU agriculture, forestry, and rural areas, encompassing research, development, education, and scaling up applications. The project began with an in-depth analysis of the EU drone market, identifying key players, innovations, and regulatory aspects to form a strategic development roadmap. A significant effort, the Drone Data Analytics Library, was established to refine and share analytical models, supported by a collaborative GitHub Repository and Zenodo community for ongoing development. Practical applications were explored through the ICAERUS Use Cases, translating research into real-world drone uses in agriculture, environmental monitoring, and rural logistics, informed by feedback to understand benefits and challenges. The project emphasised education, creating an online course on drone business development within the ICAERUS Academy, enhancing stakeholder skills and encouraging innovative drone applications. Ecosystem building efforts aimed to extend project reach and impact, involving diverse stakeholders and promoting innovation and sustainable development through communication strategies, Open Calls, and preliminary business and governance model development. The ICAERUS Platform launch marked a key milestone, offering an integrated resource for drone market intelligence, analytics, use cases, and educational materials, showcasing the project's collaborative and innovative spirit.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The ICAERUS approach and its results beyond SOTA are multiple, emphasising advancements in technological standards, data analytics, educational programs, and inclusive business models.
The project builds on AW-Drones' work, providing deeper analysis to establish clear, binding drone standards and regulations tailored to various conditions and needs, exceeding its goal by assessing 20 sets of standards.
The Drone Data Analytics Library, with 34 models and 6 datasets, marks a significant progress in drone data modelling, incorporating AI for real-time processing and diagnostics to improve end-user transparency and efficiency.
An open-access online training program has been developed, offering 3 hours of content with an additional 9 hours in preparation, filling a crucial gap in drone technology education and enhancing technical and business skills.
Efforts to develop inclusive business and governance models aim to engage a wider stakeholder range, focusing on gender inclusivity and support for disadvantaged farmers, moving beyond traditional business benefits.
The project is formulating evidence-based policy guidelines to aid future policy development, ensuring thorough stakeholder consideration and benefits.
Key Needs for Further Uptake and Success
To ensure drone technology's widespread adoption and success, continuous regulatory updates, expanded sector-specific educational programs, and ongoing R&D with field testing are essential. Strong collaborations across industry, academia, and government are crucial for innovation and sustainable integration. Increasing public awareness and addressing privacy and safety concerns are key to acceptance. Lastly, prioritising environmentally sustainable practices is vital for long-term success and acceptance of drone technologies.

The ICAERUS overall concept