A Framework to Develop Urban Aerial Networks by Using a Digital Twin Approach

Abstract

The new concept of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and the emergent unmanned aerial vehicles are receiving more and more attention by several stakeholders for implementing new transport solutions. However, there are several issues to solve in order to implement successful UAM systems. Particularly, setting a suitable framework is central for including this new transportation system into the existing ones—both ground and aerial systems. Regulation and definition of aerial networks, but also the characterization of ground facilities (vertiports) to allow passengers and freight to access the services are among the most relevant issues to be discussed. To identify UAM transportation networks, suitably connected with ground transportation services, digital twin models could be adopted to support the modelling and simulation of existing—and expected—scenarios with constantly updated data for identifying solutions addressing the design and management of transport systems. In this perspective, a digital twin model applied to an existing urban context—the city of Bologna, in northern Italy—is presented in combination with a novel air transport network that includes the third dimension. The 3D Urban Air Network tries to satisfy the principle of linking origin/destination points by ensuring safe aerial paths and suitable aerial vehicle separations. It involves innovative dynamic links powered by a heuristic cost function. This work provides the initial framework to explore the integration of UAM services into realistic contexts, by avoiding the costs associated with flight simulations in reality. Moreover, it can be used for holistic analyses of UAM systems.

YOLOTransfer-DT: An Operational Digital Twin Framework with Deep and Transfer Learning for Collision Detection and Situation Awareness in Urban Aerial Mobility

“…NASA describes a digital twin as a comprehensive simulation model that mirrors the life of its physical twin [26]. Current research in UAM highlights ODTs' potential in optimizing eVTOL routes, maintenance forecasting, and vertiport management, promising improved efficiency, safety, and reduced costs despite challenges like data accuracy and privacy concerns [27,28]. ODTs also offer insights into environmental impacts, energy use, and demand forecasting for UAM services, supporting AI model development with realistic sensor data simulation [29].…”

Digital Twin Development for the Airspace of the Future

“…The utilisation of digital twin methodologies to replicate and model the progression and transformations of geographical environments is increasingly commonplace. The objective is to provide a thorough and measurable depiction of the physical world, enabling simulation and prediction of the consequences of various interventions [35].…”

“…Ref. [35] presents a digital twin model for designing and developing Urban Air Mobility (UAM)/UTM applications, such as vertiport location problems, airspace and air vehicle management. The paper discusses a digital twin of a case study for a 3D Urban Air Mobility Network.…”

Three-Dimensional Urban Air Networks for Future Urban Air Transport Systems

“…Then, the route intersection information is employed for flight de-confliction and a predeparture flight level assignment plus departure delay integration is proposed, to solve conflicts and specify suitable UAM paths. Another approach employs a digital twin model together with an aerial urban network model [50] to identify both relevant elements, such as ground access points and obstacle heights, by using dynamic data and optimal flight paths.…”