A global horizon scan of the future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on urban ecosystems

Mark A. Goddard; Zoe G. Davies; Solène Guenat; Mark J. Ferguson; Jessica C. Fisher; Adeniran Akanni; Teija Ahjokoski; Pippin M.L. Anderson; Fabio Angeoletto; Constantinos Antoniou; Adam J. Bates; Andrew Barkwith; Adam Berland; Christopher J. Bouch; Christine C. Rega-Brodsky; Loren B. Byrne; David Cameron; Rory Canavan; Tim Chapman; Stuart Connop; Steve Crossland; Marie C. Dade; David A. Dawson; Cynnamon Dobbs; Colleen T. Downs; Erle C. Ellis; Francisco J. Escobedo; Paul Gobster; Natalie Marie Gulsrud; Burak Guneralp; Amy K. Hahs; James D. Hale; Christopher Hassall; Marcus Hedblom; Dieter F. Hochuli; Tommi Inkinen; Ioan Cristian Ioja; Dave Kendal; Tom Knowland; Ingo Kowarik; Simon J. Langdale; Susannah B. Lerman; Ian MacGregor-Fors; Peter Manning; Peter Massini; Stacey McLean; David D. Mkwambisi; Alessandro Ossola; Gabriel Pérez Luque; Luis Pérez-Urrestarazu; Katia Perini; Gad Perry; Tristan J. Pett; Kate E. Plummer; Raoufou A. Radji; Uri Roll; Simon G. Potts; Heather Rumble; Jon P. Sadler; Stevienna de Saille; Sebastian Sautter; Catherine E. Scott; Assaf Shwartz; Tracy Smith; Robbert P.H. Snep; Carl D. Soulsbury; Margaret C. Stanley; Tim Van de Voorde; Stephen J. Venn; Philip H. Warren; Carla Leanne Washbourne; Mark Whitling; Nicholas S.G. Williams; Jun Yang; Kumelachew Yeshitela; Ken P. Yocom; Martin Dallimer

doi:10.1038/s41559-020-01358-z

A global horizon scan of the future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on urban ecosystems

Mark A. Goddard, Zoe G. Davies, Solène Guenat, Mark J. Ferguson, Jessica C. Fisher, Adeniran Akanni, Teija Ahjokoski, Pippin M.L. Anderson, Fabio Angeoletto, Constantinos Antoniou, Adam J. Bates, Andrew Barkwith, Adam Berland, Christopher J. Bouch, Christine C. Rega-Brodsky, Loren B. Byrne, David Cameron, Rory Canavan, Tim Chapman, Stuart ConnopSteve Crossland, Marie C. Dade, David A. Dawson, Cynnamon Dobbs, Colleen T. Downs, Erle C. Ellis, Francisco J. Escobedo, Paul Gobster, Natalie Marie Gulsrud, Burak Guneralp, Amy K. Hahs, James D. Hale, Christopher Hassall, Marcus Hedblom, Dieter F. Hochuli, Tommi Inkinen, Ioan Cristian Ioja, Dave Kendal, Tom Knowland, Ingo Kowarik, Simon J. Langdale, Susannah B. Lerman, Ian MacGregor-Fors, Peter Manning, Peter Massini, Stacey McLean, David D. Mkwambisi, Alessandro Ossola, Gabriel Pérez Luque, Luis Pérez-Urrestarazu, Katia Perini, Gad Perry, Tristan J. Pett, Kate E. Plummer, Raoufou A. Radji, Uri Roll, Simon G. Potts, Heather Rumble, Jon P. Sadler, Stevienna de Saille, Sebastian Sautter, Catherine E. Scott, Assaf Shwartz, Tracy Smith, Robbert P.H. Snep, Carl D. Soulsbury, Margaret C. Stanley, Tim Van de Voorde, Stephen J. Venn, Philip H. Warren, Carla Leanne Washbourne, Mark Whitling, Nicholas S.G. Williams, Jun Yang, Kumelachew Yeshitela, Ken P. Yocom, Martin Dallimer

Architecture and Town Planning

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Technology is transforming societies worldwide. A major innovation is the emergence of robotics and autonomous systems (RAS), which have the potential to revolutionize cities for both people and nature. Nonetheless, the opportunities and challenges associated with RAS for urban ecosystems have yet to be considered systematically. Here, we report the findings of an online horizon scan involving 170 expert participants from 35 countries. We conclude that RAS are likely to transform land use, transport systems and human–nature interactions. The prioritized opportunities were primarily centred on the deployment of RAS for the monitoring and management of biodiversity and ecosystems. Fewer challenges were prioritized. Those that were emphasized concerns surrounding waste from unrecovered RAS, and the quality and interpretation of RAS-collected data. Although the future impacts of RAS for urban ecosystems are difficult to predict, examining potentially important developments early is essential if we are to avoid detrimental consequences but fully realize the benefits.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	219-+
Number of pages	12
Journal	Nature Ecology and Evolution
Volume	5
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-01358-z
State	Published - 4 Jan 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Ecology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1038/s41559-020-01358-z

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Goddard, M. A., Davies, Z. G., Guenat, S., Ferguson, M. J., Fisher, J. C., Akanni, A., Ahjokoski, T., Anderson, P. M. L., Angeoletto, F., Antoniou, C., Bates, A. J., Barkwith, A., Berland, A., Bouch, C. J., Rega-Brodsky, C. C., Byrne, L. B., Cameron, D., Canavan, R., Chapman, T., ... Dallimer, M. (2021). A global horizon scan of the future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on urban ecosystems. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 5(2), 219-+. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-01358-z

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abstract = "Technology is transforming societies worldwide. A major innovation is the emergence of robotics and autonomous systems (RAS), which have the potential to revolutionize cities for both people and nature. Nonetheless, the opportunities and challenges associated with RAS for urban ecosystems have yet to be considered systematically. Here, we report the findings of an online horizon scan involving 170 expert participants from 35 countries. We conclude that RAS are likely to transform land use, transport systems and human–nature interactions. The prioritized opportunities were primarily centred on the deployment of RAS for the monitoring and management of biodiversity and ecosystems. Fewer challenges were prioritized. Those that were emphasized concerns surrounding waste from unrecovered RAS, and the quality and interpretation of RAS-collected data. Although the future impacts of RAS for urban ecosystems are difficult to predict, examining potentially important developments early is essential if we are to avoid detrimental consequences but fully realize the benefits.",

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Goddard, MA, Davies, ZG, Guenat, S, Ferguson, MJ, Fisher, JC, Akanni, A, Ahjokoski, T, Anderson, PML, Angeoletto, F, Antoniou, C, Bates, AJ, Barkwith, A, Berland, A, Bouch, CJ, Rega-Brodsky, CC, Byrne, LB, Cameron, D, Canavan, R, Chapman, T, Connop, S, Crossland, S, Dade, MC, Dawson, DA, Dobbs, C, Downs, CT, Ellis, EC, Escobedo, FJ, Gobster, P, Gulsrud, NM, Guneralp, B, Hahs, AK, Hale, JD, Hassall, C, Hedblom, M, Hochuli, DF, Inkinen, T, Ioja, IC, Kendal, D, Knowland, T, Kowarik, I, Langdale, SJ, Lerman, SB, MacGregor-Fors, I, Manning, P, Massini, P, McLean, S, Mkwambisi, DD, Ossola, A, Luque, GP, Pérez-Urrestarazu, L, Perini, K, Perry, G, Pett, TJ, Plummer, KE, Radji, RA, Roll, U, Potts, SG, Rumble, H, Sadler, JP, de Saille, S, Sautter, S, Scott, CE, Shwartz, A, Smith, T, Snep, RPH, Soulsbury, CD, Stanley, MC, Van de Voorde, T, Venn, SJ, Warren, PH, Washbourne, CL, Whitling, M, Williams, NSG, Yang, J, Yeshitela, K, Yocom, KP & Dallimer, M 2021, 'A global horizon scan of the future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on urban ecosystems', Nature Ecology and Evolution, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 219-+. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-01358-z

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AU - Goddard, Mark A.

AU - Davies, Zoe G.

AU - Guenat, Solène

AU - Ferguson, Mark J.

AU - Fisher, Jessica C.

AU - Akanni, Adeniran

AU - Ahjokoski, Teija

AU - Anderson, Pippin M.L.

AU - Angeoletto, Fabio

AU - Antoniou, Constantinos

AU - Bates, Adam J.

AU - Barkwith, Andrew

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AU - Bouch, Christopher J.

AU - Rega-Brodsky, Christine C.

AU - Byrne, Loren B.

AU - Cameron, David

AU - Canavan, Rory

AU - Chapman, Tim

AU - Connop, Stuart

AU - Crossland, Steve

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AU - Dawson, David A.

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AU - Escobedo, Francisco J.

AU - Gobster, Paul

AU - Gulsrud, Natalie Marie

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AU - Hahs, Amy K.

AU - Hale, James D.

AU - Hassall, Christopher

AU - Hedblom, Marcus

AU - Hochuli, Dieter F.

AU - Inkinen, Tommi

AU - Ioja, Ioan Cristian

AU - Kendal, Dave

AU - Knowland, Tom

AU - Kowarik, Ingo

AU - Langdale, Simon J.

AU - Lerman, Susannah B.

AU - MacGregor-Fors, Ian

AU - Manning, Peter

AU - Massini, Peter

AU - McLean, Stacey

AU - Mkwambisi, David D.

AU - Ossola, Alessandro

AU - Luque, Gabriel Pérez

AU - Pérez-Urrestarazu, Luis

AU - Perini, Katia

AU - Perry, Gad

AU - Pett, Tristan J.

AU - Plummer, Kate E.

AU - Radji, Raoufou A.

AU - Roll, Uri

AU - Potts, Simon G.

AU - Rumble, Heather

AU - Sadler, Jon P.

AU - de Saille, Stevienna

AU - Sautter, Sebastian

AU - Scott, Catherine E.

AU - Shwartz, Assaf

AU - Smith, Tracy

AU - Snep, Robbert P.H.

AU - Soulsbury, Carl D.

AU - Stanley, Margaret C.

AU - Van de Voorde, Tim

AU - Venn, Stephen J.

AU - Warren, Philip H.

AU - Washbourne, Carla Leanne

AU - Whitling, Mark

AU - Williams, Nicholas S.G.

AU - Yang, Jun

AU - Yeshitela, Kumelachew

AU - Yocom, Ken P.

AU - Dallimer, Martin

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AB - Technology is transforming societies worldwide. A major innovation is the emergence of robotics and autonomous systems (RAS), which have the potential to revolutionize cities for both people and nature. Nonetheless, the opportunities and challenges associated with RAS for urban ecosystems have yet to be considered systematically. Here, we report the findings of an online horizon scan involving 170 expert participants from 35 countries. We conclude that RAS are likely to transform land use, transport systems and human–nature interactions. The prioritized opportunities were primarily centred on the deployment of RAS for the monitoring and management of biodiversity and ecosystems. Fewer challenges were prioritized. Those that were emphasized concerns surrounding waste from unrecovered RAS, and the quality and interpretation of RAS-collected data. Although the future impacts of RAS for urban ecosystems are difficult to predict, examining potentially important developments early is essential if we are to avoid detrimental consequences but fully realize the benefits.

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A global horizon scan of the future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on urban ecosystems

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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