Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Urban Air Mobility at the service of public administration for an acceleration of essential services in the smart cities of the future*

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a glimpse into the dimension of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) use and the emerging Urban Air Mobility (UAM) ecosystem as regards territorial control for different purposes and the medical sector. Public authorities are increasingly employing UAS for activities in the public interest, by means of private individuals acting on their behalf. Hence, the aim is to demonstrate, with examples taken mainly from the Italian experience, how their smart, environmental, privacy-compatible use can represent a new frontier for the tools that public administrations are already experimenting with and can in the future implement through the potential offered by UAM. Such deployment will require them to undertake appropriate strategic planning of urban mobility with the support of European and national regulators, through the deployment of multi-level policies and governance in order to enhance the services offered and the quality of life of citizens.