Innovative Applications of UAV Data in Rural Revitalization: Case Studies and Insights

The Rural Revitalization Strategy is a major initiative launched by China to address the emerging challenges facing agriculture and rural areas under new historical conditions. Geographical elements such as the human-environment relationship, resource distribution, and physical geography are closely linked to the all-round development of the countryside, providing a theoretical basis for the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy, while mapping geographic information data, as an important support for rural revitalization, plays an irreplaceable role in precise policymaking and scientific planning. Among various remote sensing observation means and earth observation instruments, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology has seen rapid advancement due to its high spatial resolution, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, revealing significant potential for rural revitalization research. At EGU25, we will present the innovative applications of UAV data across multiple rural revitalization scenarios. Specifically, we will discuss the use of UAV data in rural industrial development, illustrated by marine aquaculture in coastal towns; the role of UAV data in preserving historical and cultural heritage; its contribution to urban-rural integration and governance in urban villages; and the promising future of UAV data in rural tourism development, including digital tourism and 3D navigation. Additionally, we will outline methods for processing multi-sensor UAV data and demonstrate how these results are integrated into practical platforms to foster rural development. We hope that this exchange will inspire broader applications of drone technology in rural development worldwide, contributing to the comprehensive and sustainable advancement of global rural areas.