In recent years, the low altitude economy has emerged as a pivotal sector in China’s economic landscape, driven by national policies, technological innovations, and expanding market prospects. As a researcher, I have observed that this field, which encompasses activities in low-altitude airspace, has gained significant attention since its inclusion in national plans, such as the “National Comprehensive立体 Transportation Network Plan” in 2021. The low altitude economy represents a new form of productive forces, characterized by high technology, efficiency, and quality, and it integrates various industries like unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), general aviation, and digital applications. However, despite its rapid growth, there is a pressing need to systematically understand the research progress, hot topics, and future trends in this domain. To address this, I employed a hybrid approach combining large language models (LLMs) and visual bibliometric methods, such as CiteSpace, to analyze Chinese academic literature on the low altitude economy. This methodology not only enhances the efficiency and depth of literature reviews but also provides a comprehensive overview of the field’s evolution. In this article, I will discuss the key findings, including the exponential growth in research publications, the dominant themes, and the emerging directions, while incorporating tables and formulas to summarize the data. The analysis reveals that the low altitude economy is transitioning from a nascent stage to a booming phase, with implications for policy, technology, and industrial development.
The low altitude economy refers to economic activities conducted in low-altitude airspace, typically below 1,000 meters, involving UAVs, general aviation, and related infrastructure. It is considered a strategic emerging industry in China, fostering innovation and cross-sector integration. My analysis focuses on literature from 2021 to 2025, sourced from Chinese databases, and utilizes LLMs like DeepSeek and ChatGPT-4 for semantic understanding and CiteSpace for quantitative visualization. This combined approach allows for a holistic examination of research patterns, addressing limitations of traditional methods by leveraging LLMs’ ability to extract implicit themes and CiteSpace’s strength in mapping knowledge networks. For instance, LLMs identified additional keywords like “new quality productivity” and “security risks,” which were overlooked in initial bibliometric analyses, thereby enriching the insights. The integration of these tools enables me to present a detailed account of the low altitude economy’s research landscape, highlighting its dynamic nature and potential for future growth.
To begin, I outline the research methodology used in this study. The data collection involved retrieving 957 academic papers from Chinese databases, with the keyword “low altitude economy,” and applying multi-stage filtering to ensure relevance. LLMs assisted in refining search strategies and excluding non-research documents, such as announcements and reviews, while CiteSpace handled the removal of duplicates and incomplete entries. The analytical process included generating annual publication trends, institutional collaborations, keyword co-occurrence networks, and timeline visualizations. Specifically, I used CiteSpace to calculate metrics like frequency and centrality of keywords, and LLMs to perform content-based summarization and trend prediction. This dual approach ensures robustness, as LLMs complement CiteSpace by delving into semantic nuances. For example, the formula for the growth rate of publications can be expressed as: $$N(t) = N_0 e^{rt}$$ where \(N(t)\) is the number of publications at time \(t\), \(N_0\) is the initial count, and \(r\) is the growth rate. This model helps quantify the explosive growth observed in 2024. Additionally, I inserted a visual element to illustrate the low altitude economy’s applications, as shown below:
The annual publication trends for the low altitude economy research reveal a significant shift from a slow start to rapid expansion. As shown in Table 1, the number of papers increased modestly from 2021 to 2023, but surged in 2024, indicating heightened academic interest. This trend aligns with policy developments, such as the inclusion of the low altitude economy in government work reports, which stimulated research activities. The growth can be modeled using an exponential function, where the parameters derived from the data suggest a compounding effect of policy support and technological advancements. For instance, the doubling time of publications decreased sharply post-2023, reflecting the sector’s maturation.
| Year | Number of Publications | Growth Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8 | — |
| 2022 | 15 | 87.5 |
| 2023 | 29 | 93.3 |
| 2024 | 751 | 2489.7 |
| 2025 (until March) | 160 | — |
In terms of institutional distribution, research on the low altitude economy is predominantly conducted by universities, research institutes, and industry organizations. Table 2 lists the top 10 institutions by publication count, highlighting entities like China Unicom Research Institute and Beihang University. However, the collaboration network density, as measured by CiteSpace, is low (0.0049), indicating fragmented efforts and limited knowledge sharing. This underscores the need for enhanced interdisciplinary cooperation to drive innovation in the low altitude economy. The LLM analysis further revealed that institutions focus on diverse aspects, such as communication infrastructure or economic impact, suggesting potential synergies if collaborations are strengthened.
| Rank | Institution | Publication Count | First Publication Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China Unicom Research Institute | 8 | 2021 |
| 2 | Legal Person Magazine | 7 | 2024 |
| 3 | Beihang University | 5 | 2024 |
| 4 | China Helicopter Design and Research Institute | 5 | 2013 |
| 5 | Editorial Department of Journals | 5 | 2024 |
| 6 | China Economic Weekly | 5 | 2024 |
| 7 | Chinese Academy of Engineering | 5 | 2021 |
| 8 | China Academy of Information and Communications Technology | 5 | 2024 |
| 9 | Civil Aviation University of China | 4 | 2024 |
| 10 | Civil Aviation Flight University of China | 4 | 2024 |
Moving to research hotspots, the keyword co-occurrence analysis using CiteSpace identified several core themes in the low altitude economy. Table 3 presents the high-frequency keywords, with “low altitude economy” being the most prominent, followed by “UAV” and “general aviation.” The centrality values indicate the influence of these terms in the research network, with “low altitude economy” serving as a hub connecting various subfields. The LLM supplement added keywords like “new quality productivity” and “infrastructure,” broadening the scope. These hotspots reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the low altitude economy, spanning technology, policy, and application scenarios. For example, the integration of UAVs in logistics and agriculture demonstrates the practical implications of research findings.
| Rank | Keyword | Frequency | Centrality | First Appearance Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | low altitude economy | 236 | 1.34 | 2021 |
| 2 | UAV | 50 | 0.29 | 2022 |
| 3 | general aviation | 16 | 0.12 | 2022 |
| 4 | industrial chain | 9 | 0.14 | 2024 |
| 5 | application scenarios | 9 | 0.06 | 2024 |
| 6 | technological innovation | 8 | 0.07 | 2024 |
| 7 | industrial development | 6 | 0.02 | 2024 |
| 8 | low altitude logistics | 6 | 0.16 | 2023 |
| 9 | low altitude airspace | 6 | 0.05 | 2023 |
| 10 | artificial intelligence | 5 | 0.17 | 2024 |
The research themes in the low altitude economy can be categorized into three main areas: conceptual and characteristic studies, technological applications, and policy environment and development strategies. For the conceptual aspect, the low altitude economy is defined as a multi-dimensional economic system leveraging low-altitude airspace, with features like technological dependency and industrial integration. The formula for its economic impact can be represented as: $$E = \sum (T_i \times A_i)$$ where \(E\) is the economic output, \(T_i\) represents technological factors, and \(A_i\) denotes application multipliers. This highlights the synergy between innovation and practical use cases. In technological applications, UAVs and AI play crucial roles, with advancements in 5G/6G communications and integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) enhancing efficiency. For instance, the deployment of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles illustrates the convergence of green technology and urban air mobility, contributing to the low altitude economy’s sustainability.
Regarding policy and development strategies, the low altitude economy requires robust regulatory frameworks to address safety, privacy, and international standardization. The LLM analysis emphasized the importance of agile governance and cross-border cooperation, as seen in comparative studies with countries like the U.S. and Japan. Table 4 summarizes the key research themes and their representative keywords, derived from both CiteSpace and LLM outputs. This synthesis shows how the low altitude economy evolves through policy incentives and market dynamics, with education and talent cultivation being critical for long-term growth.
| Research Theme | Representative Keywords |
|---|---|
| Conceptual and Characteristic Studies | low altitude economy, low altitude airspace, low altitude industry, general aviation, new quality productivity |
| Technological Applications | UAV, application scenarios, technological innovation, artificial intelligence, infrastructure, low altitude logistics, low altitude communication, integrated sensing and communication, flying cars, security risks |
| Policy Environment and Development Strategies | policy regulation, development strategies, industrial chain, industrial upgrading, industry-education integration, talent cultivation, regional development, smart cities |
Looking at research frontiers and trends, the timeline analysis from CiteSpace indicates a shift from foundational topics like “general aviation” to emerging areas such as “AI” and “green development.” The low altitude economy is increasingly aligned with digital transformation and sustainability, driven by global trends. The LLM-predicted trends include intelligentization, where AI and IoT optimize airspace management, and green low-carbon development, focusing on renewable energy sources. For example, the carbon reduction potential can be quantified as: $$C_{red} = \sum (E_{sav} \times \beta)$$ where \(C_{red}\) is the carbon reduction, \(E_{sav}\) is energy savings from electric UAVs, and \(\beta\) is an efficiency factor. Additionally, safety and privacy protection are gaining attention, with proposals for standardized data encryption and international collaboration frameworks. These trends suggest that the low altitude economy will continue to expand, necessitating interdisciplinary research and policy support.
In conclusion, my analysis of China’s low altitude economy research reveals a field in rapid transformation, characterized by exponential growth in publications, diverse research hotspots, and evolving trends. The integration of LLMs and CiteSpace has provided a nuanced understanding, highlighting the importance of conceptual clarity, technological innovation, and policy adaptation. The low altitude economy not only represents a new engine for economic growth but also poses challenges in governance and sustainability. Future research should focus on fostering international cooperation, enhancing regulatory frameworks, and promoting talent development to unlock the full potential of the low altitude economy. As I reflect on this study, the hybrid methodology demonstrates the value of combining quantitative and qualitative approaches for comprehensive literature reviews, offering a model for other emerging fields. The ongoing evolution of the low altitude economy will likely shape China’s economic landscape for years to come, driven by continuous innovation and strategic investments.