Data-Driven Approaches for Urban Air Mobility Planning and Operations
DETAILS
CALL FOR PAPERS
Data-Driven Approaches for Urban Air Mobility Planning and Operations
Journal: Journal of Urban Mobility
Publisher: Elsevier
Submission Deadline: 1 August 2026
Introduction
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is revolutionizing urban transport by introducing three-dimensional mobility solutions that alleviate ground congestion and support sustainable, efficient travel in growing cities. Enabled by advances in eVTOL technology, AI, and urban digitalization, UAM is transitioning from concept to reality — with commercial operations expected by 2025–2030.
This Special Issue invites data-driven, interdisciplinary research that tackles key challenges in UAM implementation — including demand forecasting, public acceptance, operations optimization, infrastructure planning, and policy integration — emphasizing analytical rigor and practical relevance to urban mobility systems.
Literature review articles are encouraged to be submitted.
Scope & Significance
UAM represents one of the most transformative emerging developments in urban transport planning. As cities prepare for the integration of air taxis, cargo drones, and autonomous aerial vehicles into their mobility ecosystems, there is an urgent need for rigorous, evidence-based research that addresses the technical, behavioral, infrastructural, and policy dimensions of this transition. This Special Issue provides a dedicated platform for that scholarly work — bridging data science, transport planning, operations research, and urban governance.
Four Core Thematic Areas
Theme 1 — Data Analytics and Modeling
Big data analytics for UAM demand prediction and route optimization
Machine learning approaches for UAM traffic management
Data-driven safety and risk assessment models
Real-time data integration for UAM operations
Theme 2 — Travel Behavior and Planning
Public acceptance and adoption patterns of UAM services
Mode choice modeling incorporating UAM options
Travel behavior changes induced by UAM availability
Equity and accessibility considerations in UAM planning
Theme 3 — Operations and Logistics
Fleet management and dispatching algorithms for UAM
Integration of UAM with ride-sharing and multimodal transport
Optimization of vertiport operations and ground handling
Dynamic pricing strategies for UAM services
Theme 4 — Infrastructure, Network Design, and Policy
Vertiport location optimization and capacity planning
UAM corridor design and airspace management
Infrastructure requirements for electric charging and battery swapping
Simulation frameworks for UAM network performance
Evidence-based UAM planning and regulation — safety risk assessment, noise, and environmental impact
Integration strategies for UAM and ground transportation
Economic modelling of UAM implementation scenarios
List of Topic Areas
Manuscripts are invited on themes including, but not limited to:
Big data analytics and machine learning for UAM demand prediction and route optimization
UAM traffic management and real-time operational data integration
Safety and risk assessment models for UAM systems
Public acceptance, adoption, and travel behavior changes under UAM availability
Mode choice modelling incorporating UAM options
Equity, accessibility, and vulnerable group considerations in UAM planning
Fleet management, dispatching algorithms, and operational optimization for UAM
Multimodal integration — UAM with ride-sharing, public transit, and ground transport
Vertiport location optimization, capacity planning, and ground handling
Dynamic pricing strategies for UAM services
UAM corridor design and airspace management
Electric charging and battery swapping infrastructure for eVTOL vehicles
Simulation frameworks for UAM network performance assessment
Regulatory frameworks and evidence-based UAM policy development
Environmental impact and noise assessment of UAM operations
Economic modelling of UAM implementation and business models
Guest Editors
Dr. Mohamed Abouelela Technical University of Munich, Germany Email: mohamed.abouelela@tum.de
Prof. Tao Feng Hiroshima University, Japan Email: taofeng@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Prof. Kai Wang Tsinghua University, China Email: chwangkai@gmail.com
Dr. Hao Wu Technical University of Munich, Germany Email: wu.hao@tum.de
Key Deadlines
Manuscript Submission Deadline: 1 August 2026
(Authors may submit at any time before the deadline)
Submission Guidelines
Submit your manuscript via Editorial Manager, the official online submission system for the Journal of Urban Mobility. When submitting, select Article Type:
"VSI: Urban Air Mobility"
All submissions deemed suitable will be reviewed by at least two independent reviewers. Upon editorial acceptance, articles will be published in the latest regular issue and simultaneously presented on the Special Issue webpage.
Both the Guide for Authors and the submission portal can be found at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-urban-mobility
All submissions must be original and must not be under review elsewhere at the time of submission.
Why Publish in This Special Issue?
Special Issue articles are downloaded twice as often within the first 24 months compared to regular issue articles
Special Issue articles attract 20% more citations in the first 24 months
Articles are published together on ScienceDirect — easy for researchers to discover your work
All articles reviewed by no fewer than two independent experts
About the Journal
The Journal of Urban Mobility, published by Elsevier, is a fully open access peer-reviewed journal with a CiteScore of 7.2 and Impact Factor of 6.1. It is dedicated to advancing research on urban mobility systems — providing an international platform for interdisciplinary scholarship exploring transport planning, mobility futures, sustainable urban movement, and the social, cultural, and spatial dimensions of how people move within and between cities.
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