Vertiport Localization for Urban Air Mobility: The Role of Intermodality and Urban Wind Conditions
Year: 2026
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: This paper presents an integrated, interdisciplinary methodology for vertiport localization in dense urban environments and applies it to real-world case studies in the metropolitan city of Milan, Italy.The research combines architectural, urban design, and aerospace engineering perspectives to jointly address intermodality and microscale urban wind condition challenges in Urban Air Mobility (UAM) infrastructure planning-two critical yet often separately treated factors in the current vertiport development research.Potential vertiport sites are first identified through an analysis of intermodal hubs within the existing and planned metropolitan mobility network, considering transport connectivity, urban morphology, and urban development strategies.Then, the local wind dynamics for the selected sites are assessed using high-resolution microscale wind simulations.By cross-comparing intermodal performance and urban wind dynamics, the study identifies site-specific opportunities and constraints for vertiport emplacement.The results demonstrate the feasibility of integrating UAM into complex urban contexts while highlighting potential conflicts between urban form, mobility infrastructure, and wind conditions.Overall, the proposed approach provides a robust framework for efficient localization of vertiports to support informed decision-making for socially acceptable/affordable realization of UAM.
Institution: Politecnico di Milano
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7171908323