policy
February 26, 2026
5 min read
0 views
DroneWire Intelligence

Exploring the patterns of local drone policy adoption in California

Exploring the patterns of local drone policy adoption in California

AI Analysis

The article examines the adoption of local drone policies in California, highlighting the proactive measures taken by cities to manage UAV activities. It identifies motivation, capacity, and strategic interactions among local governments as key factors influencing policy adoption.

Confidence: 85%

Key Takeaways

  • Cities in California are actively adopting local drone policies.
  • Policy adoption is influenced by municipal capacity and motivation.
  • Strategic interactions among neighboring cities affect policy decisions.
  • There are disparities in policy adoption among communities of color.
  • California has the largest population of registered drones in the US.

Why It Matters

Understanding local drone policy adoption is crucial as it reflects how municipalities respond to the challenges posed by UAV proliferation. These policies can significantly impact the regulation and management of drone activities, influencing both civilian and potential military applications of drone technology.

Managing disruptive technologies: Exploring the patterns of local drone policy adoption in California - ScienceDirect[Skip to main content] [Skip to article] [![Elsevier logo] ScienceDirect] [My account] [Sign in]

  • ViewPDF
  • Download full issue Search ScienceDirect [![Elsevier]]

[Cities]

[Volume 126],July 2022, 103736 [![Cities]]

Managing disruptive technologies: Exploring the patterns of local drone policy adoption in California

Author links open overlay panelXiangyuLia,Jae HongKimb Show more Add to Mendeley Share Cite [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.103736] [Get rights and content] Under a Creative Commons[license] Open access

Highlights

  • •Cities are proactively adopting local drone policies to manage drone activities.
  • •Motivation and capacity factors jointly determine the status of drone policy adoption.
  • •Strategic interactions among local governments are at play.
  • •Communities of color appear to lag behind in drone policy adoption.

Abstract

Cities worldwide are facing new challenges and opportunities with the proliferation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones. However, despite the increasing importance of managing drone activities at the local level, little is known about the extent to which cities adopt regulatory measures to deal with the challenges posed by this emerging technology and the factors that determine the local policy adopted. This study examines the dynamics of local drone policy adoption, focusing on California, which has the largest population of drones currently registered in the United States. A review of 482 California cities' municipal codes shows evolving patterns of policy adoption over the last two decades, with a rapid expansion since 2015. Multivariate survival analysis indicates that policy adoption at the local level is shaped by both municipal capacity and motivation factors, including the actions of neighboring cities. The analysis also finds evidence of disparities associated with socio-demographics, calling for more attention to the variation in local policy responsiveness to technology-driven challenges and ways to support local efforts and their collaboration.

  • Previousarticlein issue
  • Nextarticlein issue

Keywords

Drone regulation Local policy adoption Disruptive technologies Survival analysis Recommended articles

Cited by (0)

©2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Recommended articles

No articles found.

Tags

UAV
drone regulation
California
policy adoption
municipal governance

Original Source

Sciencedirect (via Exa)

Intelligence Briefing

Weekly analysis of counter-UAS developments, contracts, and threats delivered to your inbox.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Read our privacy policy.

Trending Topics

#1Ukraine
1388
#2Counter-UAS
1239
#3Russia
945
#4air defense
750
#5drone-warfare
558