The EU-funded CITYAM project has developed a new roadmap, which it intends as a guide to support cities looking to integrate urban air mobility (UAM).
“As drone technology rapidly moves from concept to reality, cities are in urgent need of a structured approach to integrate these new modes of transport into their existing urban fabric,” the project said.
The CITYAM roadmap offers a step-by-step tool for city planners and officials to proactively manage the transformation, helping them shape their UAM future in a way that aligns with their own urban development goals. This includes addressing critical issues like airspace management, the placement of takeoff and landing sites, and ensuring public acceptance. The roadmap is designed to guide cities through a complex landscape of regulatory challenges and infrastructure requirements, helping them to develop smart, sustainable and equitable UAM strategies.
The roadmap is divided into five sections: Preparation and analysis, strategy development, policy measures, implementation and monitoring, and goals achieved. Each of those considers stakeholder engagement and management, regulation and policy, technology, and business and drone services development. For example, the regulation and policy sub-section for strategy development includes mapping airspace and identifying possible flight routes, whereas policy measures include application for EU-funded projects and subsidies, low taxes and other incentives for companies looking to test their systems and services.
“This initiative underscores the rapid pace of change. With UAM deployment on the horizon, having a pre-emptive plan is paramount,” CITYAM said. “By fostering a collaborative network among cities in the Baltic Sea Region, the CITYAM project allows for shared learning and the development of best practices, ensuring no city has to start from scratch.”
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Image: CITYAM
