A Scoping Review on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Disaster Management: Challenges and Opportunities

—Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, have recently become transformative tools in disaster management. This paper provides an overview of the role of drones in dis- aster response and recovery, covering natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and wildfires, as well as man-made incidents like industrial accidents and humanitarian crises. UAVs offer advantages including rapid data collection, real-time situational awareness, and improved communication capabilities. Notable examples include the use of drones in the 2015 Nepal earthquake for mapping and search operations, and during the 2017 Hurricane Harvey for flood assessment and resource distribution. Advanced technologies further enhance drone capabilities; AI algorithms were used in the 2019 Mozambique cyclone to prioritize rescue operations, while thermal sensors located survivors in the 2018 Mexico earthquake. Despite these benefits, challenges such as privacy concerns, regulatory issues, and community acceptance remain. For instance, privacy issues arose during Hurricane Harvey due to aerial surveillance, and regulatory barriers delayed responses in the 2018 Indonesia earthquake. Ethical dilemmas also surface, such as balancing response urgency with privacy rights and ensuring equitable access to UAV services. The paper discusses potential solutions, including establishing privacy protocols, engaging communities, and streamlining regulations. Collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector is essential to develop standardized protocols and enhance community acceptance. By integrating AI, machine learning, and advanced sensors, drones can significantly improve disaster response efficiency. In conclusion, drones play a pivotal role in revolutionizing disaster management strategies. Ongoing advancements in drone technology offer unprecedented opportunities to enhance disaster response, ultimately mitigating human suffering and preserving critical infrastructure. This paper reviews the role of drones in disaster response and recovery efforts, covering various disaster types including natural and man-made incidents.