All lessons learnt from this U-space management project are documented in a performance assessment and a recommendations report. The report includes:
Refinements to the current U-space architecture principles.
Proposals for improved operational procedures and mechanisms for an effective interface with Air Traffic Control (ATC) and U-space service providers.
Α Human Performance Assessment (led by Future Needs) detailing how controllers performed during the demonstrations.
Another innovative outcome of the project is the creation of a set of Urban Air Mobility indicators which will help cities get acquainted with their role in U-space management and help them include UAM in their Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs).
Future Needs led the development of the Smart City UAM indicators framework in the SAFIR-Med project, conducting an impact assessment on the effectiveness and implications of UAM adoption for urban spatial structures and citizens in the mid-term. The analysis focused on city-level changes, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the European Commission’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators (SUMI).
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Furthermore, Future Needs led the project’s dissemination, communication, and exploitation activities. This included the creation and continuous management of the project website, dissemination materials (posters, flyers), press releases, newsletters, and social media (Twitter and LinkedIn), as well as the organisation of project events. The team also implemented cross-project campaigns such as #UAMExplained, significantly exceeding initial outreach targets and receiving recognition from SESAR3 JU for outstanding dissemination and communication.
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Future Needs also conducted the Human Performance Assessment during demonstrations, identifying requirements and recommendations to support the design of U-space concepts, ensuring clear roles, effective procedures, and optimal performance of human actors.
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In addition, Future Needs acted as Sustainability Manager, ensuring the long-term exploitation, deployment, and continuation of the project’s results.
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Finally, Future Needs was responsible for research ethics and data protection, coordinating all processes related to data collection, processing, storage, access, and security, as documented in the project’s Data Management Plan and ethics deliverables.
The SAFIR-Med project carried out a series of real-life demonstrations and simulations to validate new U-space services and their contribution to operational safety in urban environments. Key technologies tested included detect-and-avoid as a service, dynamic geofencing, and air traffic prioritization rules. These were evaluated through operational exercises combining five drone platforms—passenger eVTOL, hydrogen fuel cell VTOL, AED medical drone, X8 medical transport, and tiltwing VTOL—with manned aviation.
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Demonstrations took place in Antwerp (Belgium), with additional activities in Aachen (Germany) and the trans-border MAHHL region, alongside a de-risking exercise at the DronePort test facility in Sint-Truiden. These real-world trials were complemented by large-scale simulations to assess system performance under maximum airspace capacity. Further validation was achieved through simulated demonstrations in Athens (Greece) and Prague (Czech Republic), focusing on use cases such as passenger transport and the delivery of life-saving medical goods.
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Through these activities, SAFIR-Med supports EU cities in adapting to regulatory developments, integrating Urban Air Mobility into urban planning, and leveraging UAM technologies to improve services and quality of life for citizens.
