RESEARCH STUDY AND PARTICIPANT SURVEY

Criteria for Survey Participation

Participation is open to natural persons who have experience in using and operating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and are involved in critical infrastructure protection. This includes UAV operators, representatives of companies or organizations engaged in critical infrastructure protection, and individuals connected with supporting critical infrastructure security processes.

Research Objectives

Various security mechanisms based on modern technologies and innovative solutions are used to protect critical infrastructures that play a key role in the social and economic environment. Research and practice have shown that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are a suitable technical tool for critical infrastructure protection (CII).

However, this alone is not currently considered a necessary reason or condition for their adoption. Research findings to date do not yet provide insight into users/pilots attitudes toward the adoption and use of UAVs. It is crucial to recognize that the adoption and use of a particular technology does not guarantee its success or added value in system operations or work processes.
The primary objective of this research is to determine whether low user acceptance and use of UAVs may hinder successful implementation and whether other key factors influence the acceptance and use of UAVs to protect critical infrastructure.

Key research questions

This research study aims to answer several key questions related to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in critical infrastructure protection. These questions include:

  1. What factors contribute to the successful implementation and acceptance of UAVs in critical infrastructure protection?
  2. How does the unsuccessful implementation of UAVs in critical infrastructure protection further impact risk?
  3. What are the key factors, as defined by the UTAUT (Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology) model, that influence UAV acceptance and use in critical infrastructure protection?
  4. Are there any additional factors, not covered by the UTAUT model, that influence UAV acceptance and use in critical infrastructure protection?
  5. Which specific infrastructure sectors are particularly suitable for the use of UAVs in protection, and what are the underlying reasons for their suitability?

Participation in Research

Participation in the research is entirely voluntary. If you decide to participate, please click on the appropriate
box labelled “I agree.” Remember, you can choose to stop completing the questionnaire at any time.
Rest assured that the survey is anonymous. Your name and other personal information will not be requested
during the questionnaire. Other confidential details, such as gender and age, will only be accessible to me, the responsible researcher, in a secure and confidential manner.
The research results will be published as aggregated data in the dissertation, ensuring the anonymity of individual participants. These findings are expected to be disseminated through publication in international and national journals, as well as presentation at conferences. In exceptional cases, research data may be shared with third parties, such as the Social Science Data Archive. However, all shared data will be aggregated to prevent possible identification, for example, by grouping data into age categories.

The dissertation topic was approved on December 10, 2019, during the 22nd meeting of the Doctoral Studies
Committee at the University of Ljubljana.

Privacy and protection of personal data?

We prioritize the privacy and protection of your personal data. We implement stringent measures to ensure that your information remains secure. All data collected during surveys or interactions is anonymized and treated with strict confidentiality. We adhere to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Personal Data Protection Act of the Republic of Slovenia (ZVOP-2) to safeguard your data. Additionally, any shared research findings or publications will present aggregated data, ensuring the anonymity of individual participants. If you have any further questions or concerns regarding the privacy and protection of your personal data, please write to anja.kolak@fdv.uni-lj.si.