A Conceptual Framework for Economic Analysis of Different Law Enforcement Drones

The widespread use of drones in various fields has initiated a discussion on their cost-effectiveness and economic impact. This article analyzes in detail a methodological evaluation framework for the levelized cost of drone services for law enforcement purposes. Based on the data availability, we compared two vehicles: Phantom 4 Pro and Thunder-B. Moreover, we calculated their levelized costs per surveillance time and trip distance. Our approach helps users calculate the real costs of their vehicles’ services and produce equations for rapid estimations. We observed economies of scale for time and distance and showed differentiations per aircraft capacity. Furthermore, using the produced equations, we formulated a case study and compared the costs in a 4 km area constantly monitored by the two types of drones to support the best vehicle selection. We found that the Phantom 4 Pro costs less than the Thunder-B drone, for example. Thus, we demonstrate how, by applying this methodology beforehand, decision makers can select the most appropriate vehicle for their needs based on cost. Cost research estimations will improve UAV use and will help policymakers include UAV technology in crime prevention programs, especially when more data are available.