Hu, Xinting (Nanyang Technological University), Pang, Bizhao (Nanyang Technological University), Mir, Feroskhan (Nanyang Technological University)

Airspace Reconfiguration for Urban Air Mobility: A Spatial-Temporal Analysis of Airspace Availability within Aerodrome

Scheduled for presentation during the Poster Session "Air Traffic Management" (WeBT14), Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 14:30−16:30, Foyer

2024 IEEE 27th International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC), September 24- 27, 2024, Edmonton, Canada

This information is tentative and subject to change. Compiled on December 26, 2024

Abstract

Urban air mobility (UAM), a key component of advanced air transportation, envisions transforming air travel with a door-to-door air transportation concept. This novel concept aims to enable swift journeys and improved passenger experiences by connecting airports directly to passengers’ homes. However, realizing this seamless connection depends on a detailed understanding of the airspace availability for UAM within aerodromes. This study investigates the spatial-temporal airspace utilization by using a real-world dataset of historical flight trajectories, aiming to uncover underutilized airspace suitable for UAM operations. Historical flight trajectory data are first processed to remove anomalies, followed by data sampling to streamline computational processes while retaining key trajectory characteristics. We then employ statistical analysis methods to identify the lower and upper bounds of trajectory distributions, which are subsequently used for the computation of airspace occupancy across various altitudes. Our findings lead to the definition of optimized no-fly zones for UAM and discuss the potential release of airspace for safe UAM operations, considering spatial dimensions of airspace utilization, altitude-related constraints, decision-making standards, and temporal dynamics of airspace usage. By identifying available airspace, this research lays the groundwork for integrating UAM into existing aviation infrastructure, facilitating a future where UAM seamlessly complements conventional air transportation.