The
integration of vertical urban mobility solutions (drones, and other forms of
low-aerial mobility, as well as services) into existing surface multimodal
transport (both freight and passenger) systems will add further complexity to
the organisation of the urban and peri-urban transport and mobility services.
It will require changes in integration
of public/shared transport management,
logistics operations and infrastructure operations. With rapid technological progress in urban air mobility, especially
local and regional public sector authorities are faced with challenges such as
in financing, procuring, planning (infrastructure,
systems), transport operations, safety, noise, security and public acceptance of these solutions.
The proposal should
include plans for all of the following actions:
a)
To provide a knowledge base
(dynamic updated, with a 'brand') and to deliver a set of policy
recommendations (in at least 8 languages – for use by local, regional, national
and European public authorities, businesses and other organisations) for
measures to (seamlessly) integrate the vertical and horizontal dimensions in
urban and peri-urban mobility systems. These are notably:
-
Minimum required standards for
products and processes in for ITS-type applications, urban planning (SUMPs),
data-exchange, energy infrastructure, payments, environmental objectives,
travel information and possibly other sectors such as building, construction,
health care, retail etc.
-
Foresight scenarios of
deployment of up to 10 possible use cases in 5 to 15 years; public acceptance,
governance, mobility systems, energy supply systems, infrastructure, investment
opportunities, funding and financing needs, and land-use. An approach to set up
these scenarios with wide consultation should be included in the proposal to
ensure that social acceptance aspects are fully understood.
-
To provide tools for exchange
and learning of urban air mobility with and to public authorities (notably
local and regional), businesses civil society and research organisations.
b)
To provide specific project
development support and technical assistance for up to 10 deployment 'use
cases' in locations (or groups thereof) with a demonstrated commitment from public
and private organisations that are planning to start testing urban air mobility
applications in the next 3 years. The type of support should as minimum include
feasibility and market studies, programme and urban planning actions (for
example procurement strategies).
This proposal should
closely work together with the ongoing actions of the European Innovation
Partnership in Smart cities (or it successor) and possibly other networks with
a strong participation of local and regional authorities.
The proposal should propose
actions for cooperation with EASA, the SESAR Joint Undertaking, EUROCONTROL and the
European U-Space Demonstrator network to ensure that project results are fed
into developments in the institutional, regulatory and architectural frameworks
for a competitive U-space services market.
The Commission considers that proposals
requesting a contribution from the EU of EUR 1 to 1.5 million each would allow
this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does
not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.