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^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Geography and Environmental Sciences Department

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

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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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	219-230
Journal	Nature Ecology & Evolution
Volume	5
Issue number	2
Early online date	4 Jan 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-01358-z
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2021

Keywords

Sustainability
Urban ecology

UN SDGs

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

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10.1038/s41559-020-01358-z

Goddard RAS horizon scan acceptedAccepted author manuscript, 1.39 MB

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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 & Evolution, 5(2), 219-230. 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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note = "Funding Information: We are grateful to all of the participants who took part in this study, and to J. Bentley for preparing the figures. This work was funded by the UK government{\textquoteright}s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (grant EP/N010523/1: {\textquoteleft}Balancing the Impact of City Infrastructure Engineering on Natural Systems using Robots{\textquoteright}). Z.G.D. was funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union{\textquoteright}s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (consolidator grant no. 726104).",

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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, I-C, 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, C-L, 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 & Evolution, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 219-230. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-01358-z

TY - JOUR

T1 - A global horizon scan of the future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on urban ecosystems

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

AU - Berland, Adam

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

AU - Dade, Marie C.

AU - Dawson, David A.

AU - Dobbs, Cynnamon

AU - Downs, Colleen T.

AU - Ellis, Erle C.

AU - Escobedo, Francisco J.

AU - Gobster, Paul

AU - Gulsrud, Natalie Marie

AU - Guneralp, Burak

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

N1 - Funding Information: We are grateful to all of the participants who took part in this study, and to J. Bentley for preparing the figures. This work was funded by the UK government’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (grant EP/N010523/1: ‘Balancing the Impact of City Infrastructure Engineering on Natural Systems using Robots’). Z.G.D. was funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (consolidator grant no. 726104).

PY - 2021/2/1

Y1 - 2021/2/1

N2 - 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.

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.

KW - Sustainability

KW - Urban ecology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85098750734&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41559-020-01358-z

DO - 10.1038/s41559-020-01358-z

M3 - Article

SN - 2397-334X

VL - 5

SP - 219

EP - 230

JO - Nature Ecology & Evolution

JF - Nature Ecology & Evolution

IS - 2

ER -

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

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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