UAV-Enabled Smart Metering for Smart Cities: A Review
Keywords:
Data Management Center (DMC), Energy efficiency, Scalability, Security, Smart City, Smart meteringAbstract
With a focus on improving urban efficiency, sustainability, and human well-being, smart cities are rapidly emerging as a result of the convergence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) alongside the Internet of Things (IoT). One of the key drivers of a smart city is the concept of Smart Metering Infrastructure (SMI) as it provides intelligent data collection, monitoring, and control. This article covers the concepts of smart metering, its fundamental elements comprising Smart Meters (SMs), Data Management Centers (DMCs), and communication networks utilizing technologies such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, 6LoWPAN, Wi-Fi, and WiMAX, and its use in smart city applications. Security and privacy concerns are examined using the CIA triad framework (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability), in addition to accountability requirements and policy implications for data protection. Furthermore, the research investigates the integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for enhanced operational efficiency in smart city applications such as health monitoring, firefighting, Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, and surveillance. Performance analysis reveals that UAVs achieved detection rates exceeding 90% in search and rescue scenarios, while COVID-19 detection systems effectively covered 2 km² areas in approximately ten minutes. Despite these benefits, there are some limitations like high implementation costs, scalability, and data security that remain significant barriers to widespread adoption. The study concludes by identifying future research directions, including the development of adaptive regulatory frameworks, the enhancement of interoperability standards, and the establishment of robust security mechanisms to ensure the seamless deployment of smart metering systems in evolving urban environments.
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