URBAN AIR
MOBILITY

Creating an interoperable semantic regulatory framework for the European Union

THE PROBLEM

The worldwide digital transformation is accelerating the disruptive innovation UAM (Urban Air Mobility) brings, not only in aviation but also in mobility systems and Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMP) at large. An emerging urban challenge is the proliferation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Related accidents and mishaps might increase unless operations are carefully, safely and securely planned and executed, including cases of contingency or emergency. Current applications of UAS in urban environments include: photography; monitoring of public or private areas; real estate, construction; property and infrastructure inspections; recreation; public safety (fires, natural disasters, investigations); transport of small parcels; and many more.

Emerging applications are mainly focused on last-mile cargo delivery and air taxis, which in aviation terms are both commercial air transport. However, as of today, no Low-level Traffic Management (LTM) system exists to organise the activity of thousands of UAS in airspace where also manned aircraft may travel (e.g. helicopters in an emergency or medical services). Furthermore, traditional communication, navigation and traffic surveillance systems do not include airspace at a very low level over urban areas. There are several hurdles with infrastructure, technology and legal issues that must be worked out, including the involvement of the local municipal administrations. In fact, while aviation authorities are essentially responsible for the safety of flight, municipal authorities are responsible to govern the territory. For flights at a low level, both responsibilities overlap and therefore they need an efficient platform to discharge their respective tasks as swiftly as demanded by modern society.

HOW WE SOLVE IT

Looking at the regulatory and legal requirements, one can identify rules for several aviation domains along with the initial and continuous airworthiness of the aircraft itself (and all its components, including the control unit on the ground as well as the command and control data link with the aircraft); the operations; personnel competency; Low-level Traffic Management (LTM); and the vertiport infrastructure. However, since the responsibility of regulating access to airspace remains at state level , there is a need to complement the current EU regulatory framework with a common approach between the Member States for tackling the whole operational concept of UAM, and not only the aspects concerning airworthiness certification. Moreover, while safety regulations are being processed, there is still the need to develop regulations to undertake other issues such as security, liability, privacy, environmental protection, etc. Today, the set of EU regulations necessary to facilitate the accelerated integration of UAS into urban national airspace systems is not complete, as there are still gaps in e.g. insurance and security. Since aviation regulations, including those for UAS are becoming more complex, it would be difficult for a small or medium-sized enterprise to comply with all of them without the support of digital tools. Digital tools would also greatly help the police and other law enforcement agencies to check the identity and flight parameters of several UAS in the sky.

Nalantis develops an ontology that captures and organises such rules, regulation and legislation into relevant concepts and hierarchies. The language-independent (semantic) character of this ontology would allow scaling the described features across language and EU countries.

“URBAN MOBILITY WAS LIMITED TO TWO DIMENSIONS, UNTIL NOW. BUT HUMANS DO SO THREE DIMENSIONS, THEREFOR URBAN AIR MOBILITY (UAM) WILL HELP SOCIETIES AN ENTIRE NEW DIMENSION OF MOBILITY. WE ARE FLYING FORWARD IN CREATING SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT CITIES”

Frank M. Salzgeber
Head of innovation and venture office, European Space Agency (ESA)

FF2020 is a consortium and ecosystem which will help Europe to accelerate the Urban Air Mobility development

Building and incorporating all related data from UAM infrastructures and operations within the digital infrastructure of cities will allow helping society to fly forward in a safe, secure and effective way to make life easier.

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