China's low-altitude economy continues to reach new heights as more cities across the country make full use of their related resources to reach a wider range of application scenarios, from traffic monitoring to tourism.
Referring to activities involving both manned and unmanned aircraft operating in airspace up to 3,000 meters above the ground, China has recognized the low-altitude economy as a key strategic emerging sector, as its development continues to gather pace.
In Shiyan City of central China's Hubei Province, staff at the city's data bureau are using drones to act as scouts patrolling the skies, keeping an eye on traffic at intersections and highways and being alert to respond to any situations which may unfold.
"It only takes five minutes for the drones to arrive at the scene and send back live footage, which has shortened the speed of our response and handling by an average of three to five times compared to the past," said Meng Yuxiao, a staff member at the city's Zhangwan District data bureau.
The city's self-developed fleet of drones known as "air traffic butlers" are playing a key role in monitoring the low-altitude airspace from 120 meters to 300 meters above the ground. Each airspace zone is split into its own section and assigned a unique identification code, with an "air traffic light" system being put in place to enable orderly navigation for low-altitude unmanned aircraft and drones.
"We've arranged 83 drone patrol routes. Over 100 patrolling tasks can be completed in one day," said Shi Jing, another staff member at the data bureau.
Different regions across China have been adopting different approaches in how they are utilizing the advantages afforded by the low-altitude economy.
The tech hub of Hangzhou in the eastern Zhejiang Province has emphasizes the integration of low-altitude tourism alongside the digital economy, introducing immersive cultural tourism products from an aerial perspective supported by a digital scheduling platform.
South China's Guangdong Province, meanwhile, is rapidly building multiple low-altitude application bases to establish a multifunctional support network for smart logistics, aerial mobility, and emergency response mechanisms.
Experts say these steps point to an exciting future as more places across the country explore how best to advance the sector in order to benefit their respective regions.
"The low-altitude economy represents the most vibrant frontier in China's efforts to open up application scenarios. Across provinces, municipalities, counties, and even scenic spots, systematic approaches to opening-up the low-altitude economy are being actively explored," said Cheng Chengqi, a professor at the aerospace engineering department under Peking University's college of engineering.
According to forecasts from China's civil aviation authority, the total scale of the country's low-altitude economy is expected to top 3.5 trillion yuan (almost 500 billion U.S. dollars) by 2035, highlighting its massive market potential.
China steps up utilization of low-altitude economy with wider application scenarios
