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Advances in Sustainability in Air Transport and Multimodality

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Transportation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 October 2025 | Viewed by 12713

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali, Capua, Italy
Interests: air traffic management; air traffic optimization; autonomous flight systems; detect and avoid; remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS); urban air mobility (UAM); aviation operations sustainability
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide researchers in the field of air transport and multimodal transport with a place to share their ideas and results about their latest research and developments. The addressed topic has been of relevant importance in recent years, given the increasing attention that is devoted to sustainability aspects in aviation and to the emerging need to achieve multimodality in transportation by integrating the vertical dimension with the horizontal one in particular in urban and peri-urban environments. The topic, therefore, also includes new concepts of urban air mobility (UAM), advanced air mobility (AAM), unmanned traffic management (UTM), and U-space, which are emerging as new perspective paradigms for transport and flying traffic management in future cities, which in turn will have to implement proper actions to adapt their urban structure to host new infrastructure, enabling new mobility forms, both on the surface and in the air.

The research community is considering new technologies and concepts regarding the implementation of seamless door-to-door travel, which requires the implementation of fully integrated intermodal transport systems, allowing passengers an easy and seamless transfer between different transport modes, where air traffic management (ATM) and air transport can play a fundamental role. In this framework, the new paradigm from the ATM perspective is one of shifting from the optimization of the air segment of the journey to the optimization of the overall journey, including not only the air segment but also the surface and even water transport segments.

Through such a new global optimization paradigm, it will be possible to increase the efficiency of the overall transport chain by improving the interoperability of the different modes of transport while at the same time increasing environmental, social, and economic sustainability, whose complementary implications are of the utmost importance today and will become more and more fundamental in the future, making more efficient use of existing and future infrastructure.

To be more precise, the topics covered in this Special Issue include (but are not limited to) the following: air traffic management (ATM), advanced air mobility (AAM), unmanned traffic management (UTM) and U-space, urban air mobility (UAM), sustainability in transportation, multimodal transport, integrated transport services, digitalisation in multimodal transport management, data sharing in multimodal transport, automation in vertical and surface transport vehicles, algorithmic governance, and new paradigms and infrastructure in air, rail, and water transport.

Dr. Vittorio Di Vito
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • air traffic management (ATM)
  • door-to-door transport
  • urban air mobility (UAM)
  • advanced air mobility (AAM)
  • unmanned traffic management (UTM)
  • U-space
  • multimodal transport concept of operations (ConOps)
  • intermodal transport
  • passenger experience
  • journey optimization
  • air transport
  • surface transport
  • rail transport
  • water transport

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 3976 KiB  
Article
Efficient Urban Air Mobility Vertiport Operational Plans Considering On-Ground Traffic Environment
by Jaekyun Lee, Uwon Huh, Peng Wei and Kyowon Song
Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 5054; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115054 - 30 May 2025
Viewed by 866
Abstract
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) has high potential as an ecofriendly transportation mode that can alleviate traffic congestion on the ground and reduce travel times by utilizing three-dimensional airspace. However, efficient vertiport operational plans are needed for UAM to become an accessible transportation mode [...] Read more.
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) has high potential as an ecofriendly transportation mode that can alleviate traffic congestion on the ground and reduce travel times by utilizing three-dimensional airspace. However, efficient vertiport operational plans are needed for UAM to become an accessible transportation mode for the public. In this study, the numerical analysis program MATLAB (R2023a) and the traffic simulation software VISSIM (PTV VISSIM 2024) were used to model vertiport operations and analyze the on-ground traffic environment, including vertiport capacity and UAM aircraft delays. Additionally, on-time performance was considered by applying uncertainties to the intervals between consecutive generations and the turnaround time to simulate situations where UAM aircraft cannot adhere to their scheduled arrival and departure times. Operational scenarios were developed by varying the interval time between UAM aircraft generated in the simulation (3–10 min) in two cases: (1) without considering the on-time performance and (2) considering the on-time performance. This study aimed to maximize vertiport capacity and minimize UAM aircraft delay times. In addition, the reduction of delay times and improvement of turnaround efficiency directly contribute to sustainable urban airspace management by lowering ground energy use and environmental impact. In Case 1, the vertiport was most efficient at an interval time of 7 min. In Case 2, capacity was maximized at an interval time of 6–7 min while delay times were minimized at an interval time of 8–10 min. The simulation results provide valuable insights for developing not only efficient but also environmentally responsible vertiport operational plans, contributing to the successful and sustainable implementation and scalability of UAM systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainability in Air Transport and Multimodality)
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12 pages, 3297 KiB  
Article
Temperature Management Strategy for Urban Air Mobility Batteries to Improve Energy Efficiency in Low-Temperature Conditions
by Seon-Woong Kim, Do-Hun Kwon and In-Ho Cho
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8201; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188201 - 20 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1822
Abstract
As urban population concentration accelerates, issues such as traffic congestion caused by automobiles and climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions are becoming increasingly severe. Recently, urban air mobility (UAM) has been attracting attention as a solution to these problems. UAM refers to [...] Read more.
As urban population concentration accelerates, issues such as traffic congestion caused by automobiles and climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions are becoming increasingly severe. Recently, urban air mobility (UAM) has been attracting attention as a solution to these problems. UAM refers to a system that uses electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to transport passengers and cargo at low altitudes between key points within urban areas, with lithium-ion batteries as the primary power source. The lithium-ion batteries used in UAM have characteristics that degrade performance in low temperatures, including decreased power output and diminished energy capacity. Although research has been conducted on preheating lithium-ion batteries to address this issue, sufficient consideration has not been given to the energy used for preheating. Therefore, this study compares the energy recovered by preheating lithium-ion batteries with the energy consumed during preheating and proposes a temperature management method for low temperatures that maximizes the energy gain of lithium-ion batteries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainability in Air Transport and Multimodality)
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15 pages, 5003 KiB  
Article
Assessing Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing for Urban Air Taxi Services: Key Parameters and Future Transportation Impact
by Yinfei Liu and Chao Gao
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4732; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114732 - 2 Jun 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3985
Abstract
Urban air mobility (UAM) enabled by electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft presents an innovative transportation system for mega-cities. An analysis of the techno-economic feasibility of eVTOL air taxis can provide insights into the development and potential impacts of this emerging mobility [...] Read more.
Urban air mobility (UAM) enabled by electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft presents an innovative transportation system for mega-cities. An analysis of the techno-economic feasibility of eVTOL air taxis can provide insights into the development and potential impacts of this emerging mobility solution. This study examines eVTOL configurations and proposes a conceptual model for eVTOL air taxi services. A generic cost–revenue model is developed to evaluate the economic feasibility using the rate of return-on-investment approach. Two critical parameters are identified—maximum voyage and price per kilometer. The modeling analysis shows that eVTOL air taxis can achieve a positive rate of return given realistic assumptions on the critical parameters. Reductions in operating costs and increases in maximum voyage range improve financial viability. With technological advancement, eVTOL air taxis are expected to transform urban transportation by increasing capacity and flexibility. The techno-economic analysis provides useful implications for urban planning and policy regarding this innovative mobility mode. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainability in Air Transport and Multimodality)
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23 pages, 4618 KiB  
Article
Exploring Passengers’ Emotions and Satisfaction: A Comparative Analysis of Airport and Railway Station through Online Reviews
by Rui Song, Wen Shi, Wanyi Qin, Xingjian Xue and Hongzhou Jin
Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 2108; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16052108 - 3 Mar 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2443
Abstract
To enhance the service quality and sustainable development of urban transport hubs, a comprehensive understanding of passengers’ emotional inclinations and satisfaction levels is paramount. This study analyzes online reviews from passengers at three different types of transport hub in Changsha, China. We aim [...] Read more.
To enhance the service quality and sustainable development of urban transport hubs, a comprehensive understanding of passengers’ emotional inclinations and satisfaction levels is paramount. This study analyzes online reviews from passengers at three different types of transport hub in Changsha, China. We aim to understand passengers’ experiences by analyzing word frequency, semantic networks, and sentiment. Our analysis shows that passengers’ words can be grouped into four categories. Core words are more important in shaping passenger evaluations than edge words. The sentiment and satisfaction analysis reveals passengers are generally satisfied with the convenient transit options and the cleanliness of the transport hubs. The study also shows that passenger satisfaction levels have steadily increased over the years across different transport hubs. During holidays, passengers at airports and high-speed train stations express more positive sentiments. Passengers with shorter comments tend to be more satisfied than those with longer comments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainability in Air Transport and Multimodality)
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Review

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 4755 KiB  
Review
Clear-Air Turbulence and Aviation Operations: A Literature Review
by Vittorio Di Vito, Alessandra Lucia Zollo, Giovanni Cerasuolo, Myriam Montesarchio and Edoardo Bucchignani
Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 4065; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094065 - 30 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2425
Abstract
Aviation operations are increasingly impacted by clear-air turbulence (CAT) encounters, a growing concern in both media and academic circles. Research into CAT focuses on the generation, prediction, detection, and monitoring of the occurring events (thanks to weather-related methodologies and instruments) along with technologies [...] Read more.
Aviation operations are increasingly impacted by clear-air turbulence (CAT) encounters, a growing concern in both media and academic circles. Research into CAT focuses on the generation, prediction, detection, and monitoring of the occurring events (thanks to weather-related methodologies and instruments) along with technologies and operational aspects to mitigate their effects, from the perspective of both the flight segment (aircraft and pilot and related onboard systems) and the ground segment (ATM and ATC and related tools). Climate changes have led to more frequent and severe CAT events, highlighting the need for sustainable aviation solutions, aiming to achieve improved theoretical knowledge and technological and operational management advancements. This paper addresses the CAT topic under two main perspectives: the scientific understanding of the phenomena, and the technological management of such occurrence in aviation operations. With reference to the first addressed domain, the paper provides a comprehensive review of the currently used and perspective proposed methodologies and tools for understanding, detecting, and predicting CAT phenomena. With reference to the second addressed domain, then, this paper aimed to analyze the state of the art and trends in the technological and operational management and mitigation of the CAT occurrences at a tactical level (i.e., while in flight) by the aviation, covering the technologies and procedures implemented onboard and in the ground segment. Overall, therefore, this paper assesses the state of the art and identifies the most promising innovations that promote safer, more sustainable future aviation operations, by bridging weather and climate science with aviation engineering, in the presence of CAT events. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainability in Air Transport and Multimodality)
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