Increased urbanization and congestion are challenging mobility around the world. With the rapid advancement of autonomous technology, many cities are looking to the sky as a third dimension for transportation and growth. Self-piloted flying vehicles are unlocking the lower skies, allowing cities to expand their capacity for distribution of goods and passengers.
AERIAL FUTURES: The Third Dimension examines the emerging Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market, including opportunities for business and barriers to the operation of cargo drones and flying taxis. The value proposition underscores the potential to create a healthier and efficient future for urban mobility. Scalable, on-demand models for UAM will soon make cities more efficient, reducing transit and construction costs. With point-to-point connectivity that avoids ground traffic, UAM can decongest road traffic, reducing transport time, pollution, accidents and the strain on existing public transport networks.
In order for the safe, effective, and smooth adoption of UAM, cities will need to integrate its operations into the existing urban transportation system. Assimilating vertiports – networks of take-off and landing zones – into the urban fabric is imperative to ensure UAM vehicles can safely fly and land. Despite improvements in communications technology, GPS and big data, the market still faces significant challenges and constraints. New technology must be tested and certified, and other challenges mitigated: noise, community acceptance, cyber security, and integration with traditional aircraft operations.
Boston has long understood the importance of connectivity and mobility. As a world epicenter for tech research and design excellence, the city offers a template transformative of mobility patterns and lifestyles. AERIAL FUTURES: The Third Dimension will discuss provocative approaches for the safe deployment of UAM vehicles above urban areas and considerations to best prepare cities for the upcoming aerial revolution.
