The workshop brought together various cities from the POLIS and the UIC2 Community for two days of exchange, collaboration, and strategic discussion. The focus of the workshop was on the integration of various data sources relevant to UAV operations in the city's extensive Digital Twin.  Sessions included city use cases, EU project insights, and practical scenario-based workshops designed to explore planning tools and decision-making processes. Overall, the aim of the event was to foster knowledge sharing and highlight practical approaches to Urban Air Mobility (UAM) across Europe.

Day 1: Impact assessment and multi-level governance for Innovative Air Mobility (IAM)

On Day 1, the POLIS UAM Taskforce organised a session focused on impact assessment and multi-level governance for Innovative Air Mobility (IAM). Participants explored criteria for evaluating the impact of IAM in urban and regional contexts, and discussed the governance challenges involved in its development and integration across different administrative levels.

Also on Day 1, the Digital Twin session included a guided visit to the City of Helsinki’s CAVE (Computer Assisted Virtual Environment) Room. The session featured presentations on the role of digital twins and data models in Urban Air Mobility (UAM) planning, along with discussions on how to transform digital twins from purely visual tools into instruments for operational decision-making.

Day 2: Planning in practice 

Day 2 began with a session on scenario-based planning, which introduced the CITYAM Collaborative GIS Tool designed for urban and traffic planners. During a group exercise, participants used the tool to test planning scenarios, assign scores, and discuss trade-offs, gaining hands-on experience in collaborative decision-making.

This was followed by a session on noise and environmental considerations, which delved into regulatory gaps, environmental impact assessments, and public perception of drone noise. The discussions highlighted the importance of clear regulatory frameworks, better data sharing, and planning approaches that are sensitive to local context.

Another Day 2 session addressed U-space implementation and governance. The conversation centred on institutional roles, funding challenges, and the need to balance centralised and decentralised models in the deployment of U-space services.

The final session of the event presented the UIC2 Co-created Document, developed by the UIC2 Community. This document outlines the roles and responsibilities of local authorities in drone services and logistics operations, marking a significant step forward in supporting cities to shape the future of urban air mobility.

To read the full report, click here.