Harnessing UAV Technology for Disaster Risk Management: A Conceptual Evidence-Maturity Framework and Institutional Readiness Blueprint for Ethiopia

Abstract Background: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs/drones) are rapidly expanding within disaster risk management (DRM) for localized data acquisition and damage mapping. However, a critical socio-technical gap remains regarding how these technical workflows transition into sustained operational deployment and institutionalized policy frameworks, particularly in resource-constrained environments. In East Africa, and specifically Ethiopia, this challenge is intensified by a shifting hazard landscape characterized by recurrent Awash River basin flash floods, complex structural landslides in the mountainous Amhara and Gamo highlands, and a highly restrictive airspace regulatory environment. Objective: This paper introduces an original six-level evidence-maturity framework (L1–L6) designed to evaluate the progression of UAV integration from baseline data acquisition to measurable disaster risk reduction outcomes, establishing the foundational parameters for an Ethiopian UAV Disaster Readiness Index (EUDRI). Methods: Moving beyond conventional database-centric systematic reviews that focus strictly on technical performance metrics, this study applies a qualitative and thematic synthesis of validated global literature. The analysis tracks socio-technical dimensions across six distinct maturity levels: data acquisition (L1), information generation (L2), decision support (L3), operational deployment (L4), institutional integration (L5), and measurable DRM outcomes (L6). Results: Synthesis of the evidence base demonstrates a heavy concentration of literature at technical execution stages (L1–L2), frequently limited to small-scale rural experiments under 1 km² in high-income nations. In contrast, empirical validation for sustained operational deployment (L4) and institutional policy integration (L5) remains severely limited due to organizational friction and infrastructure deficits. The analysis reveals that technology adoption fails not from hardware scarcity, but from a “Socio-Technical Disconnect” where legal barriers and lack of automated data-sharing protocols paralyze operational deployment during the critical first 24 “golden hours” of a disaster. Conclusion: To bridge this technical-to-operational divide, this paper provides a tailored readiness pathway for developing-country settings. We outline a multi-agency operational blueprint and policy governance framework explicitly optimized for the socio-institutional and hazard profile of Ethiopia