Spatial Patterns of Drone Adoption: Insights from Communities in Southern California

Most US cities have seen a rapid proliferation of Civilian drones in the past decade. This study applies spatial regression models to identify the potential spatial clustering of drone adoption and the effects of socioeconomic, Information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, and land use characteristics, with a focus on the association between drone adoption and high-speed broadband coverage (which provides access to information and infrastructure for drone technology). Drone adoption exhibited a significant spatial clustering pattern, indicating spatial interaction in innovation adoption. The age, income, occupation, and land use characteristics significantly explained the drone adoption rate, while populations of color and communities with lower broadband coverage had lower drone adoption rates, indicating racial and ethnic disparities in innovation technology adoption. The underlying digital divide amplifies such disparities and requires the development of policy interventions to reduce inequality.