Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and the Urban Circulation Space: Evaluation Proposal for the Reduction of Social Inequalities

Abstract

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is a disruptive new technology ready to be deployed in the coming years. By reducing travel time and alleviate traffic congestion with low carbon emission using eVTOL small vehicles suitable for intercity low-altitude flights, UAM promises to reshape urban mobility. Expectations are high, as most major players and investors are betting that, in the next decades, large cities in developed countries will have fully operational UAM services for intercity flights. However, in developing countries, this technology will impact the urban circulation space and, depending on the initial policies adopted, can help either to promote solutions to reduce inequalities related to transport or to deepen inequalities even further. This social aspect, despite its relevance, has not been addressed in most part of the related literature, which focuses mainly on technical-functional aspects. In this contribution, we seek to identify key elements in which UAM, as a new modal, could contribute to reduce transport-related inequalities in large cities in developing countries. The present work is the initial part of an ongoing research project dedicated to the study of UAM integration to help reduce social inequalities related to urban mobility.