Optimizing Urban Air Mobility: A Ground-Connected Approach to Select Optimal eVTOL Takeoff and Landing Sites for Short-Distance Intercity Travel

The progression of low-carbon aviation policies and the maturation of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology have engendered considerable prospects for the advancement of short-haul intercity and intra-city transportation systems. To harness the potential of eVTOL travel in amelio...

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Main Authors: Yantao Wang, Jiashuai Li, Yujie Yuan, Chun Sing Lai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Open Journal of Vehicular Technology
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Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10767205/
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author Yantao Wang
Jiashuai Li
Yujie Yuan
Chun Sing Lai
author_facet Yantao Wang
Jiashuai Li
Yujie Yuan
Chun Sing Lai
author_sort Yantao Wang
collection DOAJ
description The progression of low-carbon aviation policies and the maturation of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology have engendered considerable prospects for the advancement of short-haul intercity and intra-city transportation systems. To harness the potential of eVTOL travel in ameliorating transportation carbon emissions and alleviating ground transportation congestion, the judicious selection of optimal eVTOL stop sites emerges as a pivotal consideration. This study delineates a framework for the delineation of intra-city and short-distance inter-city eVTOL site selection predicated on comprehensive analysis of ground transportation system interconnections. The initial phase of the framework entails the identification of potential optimal take-off and landing sites through a multi-faceted assessment of factors encompassing vehicular and passenger traffic flows, regional economic dynamics, travel behavioral patterns, and prevailing eVTOL flight regulations across heterogeneous ground transportation networks. Employing an enhanced iteration of the <italic>K</italic>-means algorithm, this phase undertakes the clustering of optimal takeoff and landing locations, thereby discerning their spatial distribution to effectively alleviate ground traffic congestion while aligning with eVTOL vertical port requirements and airspace regulatory mandates. The second phase involves the establishment of a demand gravity model to validate the optimal take-off and landing coordinate sites of eVTOL and further assess a service index indicative of traffic flow optimization. The case shows that six optimal eVTOL take-off and landing locations have been discerned by our model within the Beijing-Tianjin-Xiong&#x0027;an (Hebei) region. These locations are anticipated to yield a cumulative service index of 75,465 instances, thereby efficaciously mitigating travel pressure on ground transportation infrastructure.
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spelling doaj-art-a442084072c149169158f077b08cdc162024-12-31T00:02:08ZengIEEEIEEE Open Journal of Vehicular Technology2644-13302025-01-01621623910.1109/OJVT.2024.350627710767205Optimizing Urban Air Mobility: A Ground-Connected Approach to Select Optimal eVTOL Takeoff and Landing Sites for Short-Distance Intercity TravelYantao Wang0Jiashuai Li1Yujie Yuan2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5003-5872Chun Sing Lai3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4169-4438School of Air Traffic Management, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Air Traffic Management, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Air Traffic Management, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Brunel University of London, London, U.K.The progression of low-carbon aviation policies and the maturation of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology have engendered considerable prospects for the advancement of short-haul intercity and intra-city transportation systems. To harness the potential of eVTOL travel in ameliorating transportation carbon emissions and alleviating ground transportation congestion, the judicious selection of optimal eVTOL stop sites emerges as a pivotal consideration. This study delineates a framework for the delineation of intra-city and short-distance inter-city eVTOL site selection predicated on comprehensive analysis of ground transportation system interconnections. The initial phase of the framework entails the identification of potential optimal take-off and landing sites through a multi-faceted assessment of factors encompassing vehicular and passenger traffic flows, regional economic dynamics, travel behavioral patterns, and prevailing eVTOL flight regulations across heterogeneous ground transportation networks. Employing an enhanced iteration of the <italic>K</italic>-means algorithm, this phase undertakes the clustering of optimal takeoff and landing locations, thereby discerning their spatial distribution to effectively alleviate ground traffic congestion while aligning with eVTOL vertical port requirements and airspace regulatory mandates. The second phase involves the establishment of a demand gravity model to validate the optimal take-off and landing coordinate sites of eVTOL and further assess a service index indicative of traffic flow optimization. The case shows that six optimal eVTOL take-off and landing locations have been discerned by our model within the Beijing-Tianjin-Xiong&#x0027;an (Hebei) region. These locations are anticipated to yield a cumulative service index of 75,465 instances, thereby efficaciously mitigating travel pressure on ground transportation infrastructure.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10767205/Urban air mobility (UAM)electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL)takeoff and landing sitesmulti-factor site selection
spellingShingle Yantao Wang
Jiashuai Li
Yujie Yuan
Chun Sing Lai
Optimizing Urban Air Mobility: A Ground-Connected Approach to Select Optimal eVTOL Takeoff and Landing Sites for Short-Distance Intercity Travel
IEEE Open Journal of Vehicular Technology
Urban air mobility (UAM)
electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL)
takeoff and landing sites
multi-factor site selection
title Optimizing Urban Air Mobility: A Ground-Connected Approach to Select Optimal eVTOL Takeoff and Landing Sites for Short-Distance Intercity Travel
title_full Optimizing Urban Air Mobility: A Ground-Connected Approach to Select Optimal eVTOL Takeoff and Landing Sites for Short-Distance Intercity Travel
title_fullStr Optimizing Urban Air Mobility: A Ground-Connected Approach to Select Optimal eVTOL Takeoff and Landing Sites for Short-Distance Intercity Travel
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing Urban Air Mobility: A Ground-Connected Approach to Select Optimal eVTOL Takeoff and Landing Sites for Short-Distance Intercity Travel
title_short Optimizing Urban Air Mobility: A Ground-Connected Approach to Select Optimal eVTOL Takeoff and Landing Sites for Short-Distance Intercity Travel
title_sort optimizing urban air mobility a ground connected approach to select optimal evtol takeoff and landing sites for short distance intercity travel
topic Urban air mobility (UAM)
electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL)
takeoff and landing sites
multi-factor site selection
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10767205/
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AT yujieyuan optimizingurbanairmobilityagroundconnectedapproachtoselectoptimalevtoltakeoffandlandingsitesforshortdistanceintercitytravel
AT chunsinglai optimizingurbanairmobilityagroundconnectedapproachtoselectoptimalevtoltakeoffandlandingsitesforshortdistanceintercitytravel