# Requirements Engineering for a Drone-Enabled Integrated Humanitarian Logistics Platform
## 1 Introduction  
The indisputable digital transformation is disrupting entire sectors with the emergence and development of new business models that rely significantly on digital technologies [1, 2]. This trend not only refers to the commercial sector but also extends to the pursuit of ameliorating disaster management through the integration of cutting-edge technologies, which has received significant attention in recent years. Acknowledging the impossibility of preventing all disasters, the utilization of such technologies holds the potential to transform humanitarian logistics (HL) operations at pre-, intra-, and post-disaster stages by making them more accurate, agile, and resilient [3, 4, 5]. The integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in humanitarian operations, as evidenced by their revolutionary capabilities in communication, monitoring, and transportation, has played a crucial part in this advancement [6]. Moreover, a diverse array of disruptive digital technologies, including big data analytics [7], Internet of things (IoT) [8], cloud [9], edge [10], fog computing [11], artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) [12], social media and crowdsourcing [13], robotics and cyber-physical systems [9], blockchain [14], and extended reality [15], has also been harnessed to support HL initiatives. A systematic literature review was previously conducted, with a view to addressing the need to understand the complementarity and interoperability between humanitarian drones and these technologies [16]. This investigation resulted in the formulation of a novel framework, elucidating a plethora of dynamic synergies in a universal disaster context. In the pursuit of this framework, we laid the cornerstone for conceptualizing AIRDROP, a platform that aims to offer a cohesive disaster management approach spanning from preparedness to recovery of a wide range of natural and human-made disasters. AIRDROP aims to be a scalable, modular and flexible solution, employing an array of drones (UAVs, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), unmanned surface vehicles (USVs)) of different sizes and payload capabilities, able to provide different HL services to first responders and operational decision-makers. The need for a holistic platform that addresses the full spectrum of disaster management underscores the importance of a meticulous requirements engineering process and is further amplified by the complex interplay between diverse technologies and the multifaceted nature of HL operations. The manner in which requirements engineering is carried out in a given setting is a vital component in successful software development projects [17]. Visualized as the bedrock upon which the entire project edifice is erected, requirements intricately bind the various stages of project development, from inception to fruition. Requirements in the literal sense can be referred to as anything that is discovered with a view to developing products [18]. They encompass the critical features a product has to successfully address so as to fulfill its purpose, while meticulously taking into consideration a spectrum of factors, including technical aspects, resource availability, risk factors, and budgetary constraints [19]. A lack of robustness in, or non-abidance by, the predetermined requirements may lead a system astray from its intended purpose, ultimately culminating in its failure. While the reviewed literature highlights various initiatives in the field, it is evident that no single system comprehensively addresses the full spectrum of disaster management needs. Acknowledging the deficiencies in current solutions and AIRDROP's capacity to address them, the necessity for a rigorous requirements engineering process for such a holistic HL platform is underscored. This recognition forms the basis of our investigation, leading us to formulate two critical research questions (RQs):  
RQ1: What are the foundational requirements for developing a holistic HL platform, such as AIRDROP, considering both functional and non-functional aspects?