Game of (delivery) drones: a serious game exploring transport futures involving logistics drones with stakeholders
Game of (delivery) drones: a serious game exploring transport futures involving logistics drones with stakeholders
Background: the use of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs, also known as drones) in logistics is evolving. However, there have been few opportunities for people to explore and understand the implications. Existing studies focus on acceptance, yet it is unclear what people are being asked to accept. Using a board game approach, this study has sought to develop ways to involve nonexperts in a more informed debate about logistics drones in their local area.
Method: a qualitative approach was adopted by developing a location-based board game to help a general audience explore the use of delivery drones and capture their views. Participants explore operational parameters, including ground risk (the probability of a drone hitting a person and injuring them if it fails in flight) and energy use while playing the game, and are prompted to respond to questions embedded within the game. Three game sessions with a total of 15 participants were completed.
Results: participants were able to explore and test complex scenarios involving different drone routings and levels of ground risk and energy use whilst building shared knowledge and evoking social learning during gameplay. Participants exchanged views in a relaxed environment and began to explore the implications of the possible future use of delivery drones. Questions embedded within the game allowed people to share their concerns about health and safety, regulation, and where they thought drones should fly. Participants were aware of their knowledge limitations, and it was evident that several misconceptions about delivery drones are emerging.
Conclusion: the board game has proved useful in involving people and capturing an in-depth understanding of their views. It is an engaging approach to involve stakeholders in the planning process, creating an artefact that can be adapted to other locations and used by other researchers and practitioners.
Nadeem, Taalia
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Dickinson, Janet
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Smith, Angela
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King, Katherine
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Cherrett, Tom
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Oakey, Andy
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Grote, Matt
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Pilko, Aliaksei
862c6e08-d848-49f9-ae61-d222751d6422
2 August 2024
Nadeem, Taalia
a3f44a23-5c19-478a-96a7-cc7f3e4c29fd
Dickinson, Janet
0d382d4e-a720-4b88-afd0-b4f1bb0a34e8
Smith, Angela
ad7d3dfe-2c8d-4778-b07d-cccc5885f00a
King, Katherine
80e368cf-b51c-48ca-83e2-52fd8ce0abb1
Cherrett, Tom
e5929951-e97c-4720-96a8-3e586f2d5f95
Oakey, Andy
dfd6e317-1e6d-429c-a3e0-bc80e92787d1
Grote, Matt
f29566f9-42a7-498a-9671-8661a4287754
Pilko, Aliaksei
862c6e08-d848-49f9-ae61-d222751d6422
Nadeem, Taalia, Dickinson, Janet, Smith, Angela, King, Katherine, Cherrett, Tom, Oakey, Andy, Grote, Matt and Pilko, Aliaksei
(2024)
Game of (delivery) drones: a serious game exploring transport futures involving logistics drones with stakeholders.
Journal of Transport & Health, 38, [101881].
(doi:10.1016/j.jth.2024.101881).
Abstract
Background: the use of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs, also known as drones) in logistics is evolving. However, there have been few opportunities for people to explore and understand the implications. Existing studies focus on acceptance, yet it is unclear what people are being asked to accept. Using a board game approach, this study has sought to develop ways to involve nonexperts in a more informed debate about logistics drones in their local area.
Method: a qualitative approach was adopted by developing a location-based board game to help a general audience explore the use of delivery drones and capture their views. Participants explore operational parameters, including ground risk (the probability of a drone hitting a person and injuring them if it fails in flight) and energy use while playing the game, and are prompted to respond to questions embedded within the game. Three game sessions with a total of 15 participants were completed.
Results: participants were able to explore and test complex scenarios involving different drone routings and levels of ground risk and energy use whilst building shared knowledge and evoking social learning during gameplay. Participants exchanged views in a relaxed environment and began to explore the implications of the possible future use of delivery drones. Questions embedded within the game allowed people to share their concerns about health and safety, regulation, and where they thought drones should fly. Participants were aware of their knowledge limitations, and it was evident that several misconceptions about delivery drones are emerging.
Conclusion: the board game has proved useful in involving people and capturing an in-depth understanding of their views. It is an engaging approach to involve stakeholders in the planning process, creating an artefact that can be adapted to other locations and used by other researchers and practitioners.
Text
Nadeem (2024) Game of (delivery) drones with stakeholders
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 25 July 2024
e-pub ahead of print date: 2 August 2024
Published date: 2 August 2024
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 502512
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/502512
ISSN: 2214-1405
PURE UUID: 669dc9b6-7c2a-4c3c-9bbb-dd7888ab4d9e
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Date deposited: 27 Jun 2025 16:46
Last modified: 11 Sep 2025 03:26
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Contributors
Author:
Taalia Nadeem
Author:
Janet Dickinson
Author:
Angela Smith
Author:
Katherine King
Author:
Andy Oakey
Author:
Aliaksei Pilko
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