Urban Movement Labs Announces Partnership with South Koreas’ Institute of Aerospace Industry-Academia to Collaborate on Advanced Air Mobility Research

Los Angeles, USA, July 26, 2022 – Today, Urban Movement Labs (UML) announced a new partnership with South Korea’s Institute of Aerospace Industry-Academia Collaboration (IAIAC) to jointly explore research opportunities around Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) planning and integration. 

IAIAC is an aerospace research and development organization working to integrate AAM safely and efficiently within the Incheon metro region. IAIAC shares UML’s goals of integrating safe, sustainable, and equitable transportation solutions into cities and regions. The collaboration will focus on more technical aspects of AAM integration that address shared characteristics between the Los Angeles and Incheon regions. 

Los Angeles and Incheon host busy international shipping ports and airports along their respective coasts, which are geographically distanced from dense urban cores. As population and goods movement demands grow, both regions are challenged with finding connections for people and goods between urban and logistics centers. This growing demand to move goods and people continues to strain the efficiency and reliability of our distribution and logistics systems. Solutions towards advancing AAM technology may aid in providing relief to our transportation network by allowing our airways to serve as a newfound pathway, but safety cannot be compromised.

Studying weather conditions is a critical piece of safety measures for AAM. This way, the inaugural research project between IAIAC and UML aims to understand the implications of urban microclimate conditions on future AAM flights. This safety-critical research will inventory existing sources of weather information, assess the fidelity of data for aeronautical decision-making, and identify gaps. In addition, the research will include recommendations on how to fill gaps with existing technology. This study parallels other research exploring how enhanced weather forecasting can exponentially improve the safety outcomes of AAM flights. 

UML and IAIAC are also partnering in organizing the second annual K-UAM Confex to be held in Incheon, South Korea, where both organizations will present the inaugural research findings. The K-UAM Confex will bring together global leaders within the AAM Community to discuss advances within the industry to facilitate connected cities. Global cities, such as Los Angeles, Incheon, airports, universities, and other research institutions and AAM businesses will converge to advance the AAM ecosystem. 

“We are proud to partner with UML and welcome their perspective and deep expertise on AAM Integration,” said Kwangho An, Director of Aviation Division in Incheon Metropolitan City. “We expect this international research will contribute significantly to Incheon’s leap into AAM demonstration & leading city. And we will continue to strengthen our global intercity cooperation network to make Incheon a global city for AAM.”

“Our partnership with IAIAC represents a significant step forward in Los Angeles’ efforts to lead AAM integration efforts across the nation, but also globally,” said Justine Johnson, UML’s Interim Executive Director. “Cities around the world can benefit greatly from the model of collaboration between Los Angeles and Incheon. Bringing together cities with shared characteristics, challenges, and aspirations magnifies respective research efforts and positions the AAM industry to scale in a way that’s truly safe, sustainable, and equitable.”

IAIAC and UML will begin work immediately on the urban microclimate research and planning of the 2022 K-UAM Confex. 

ENDS

About the Institute of Aerospace Industry-Academia Collaboration

The IAIAC is a non-profit organization established by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), Incheon Metropolitan City, Incheon International Airport Corporation, and Inha University. IAIAC’s mission is to foster new domestic aviation convergence and complex industries. IAIAC is carrying out various projects in Aerospace, including UAM demonstration supporting and development research.

For more information, visit: http://www.iiaci.or.kr/eng/index.htm

About Urban Movement Labs

Urban Movement Labs (UML) is a first-of-its-kind mobility-innovation organization that links government, businesses, and community members to innovative technology solutions to help solve transportation challenges in the City of Los Angeles and beyond. UML is committed to a community-first approach and ensuring that mobility innovations help build safe, equitable, and sustainable cities. 

For more information, visit: https://urbanmovementlabs.org / Twitter: @UrbanMvmtLab

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