SPEAKER: Hai Yang Chair Professor

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering，

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

TIME/DATE: 2025.4.22  10:30

CLASSROOM: A308

ABSTRACT: 

The rapid advancement of the low-altitude economy (LAE) and urban air mobility (UAM) is reshaping urban development, logistics, and transportation systems. This presentation examines the opportunities, challenges, and policy frameworks driving the future of LAE, integrating cutting-edge research with practical applications.

First, I will introduce the LAE concept, emphasizing its vast potential in global markets, with a special focus on developments in Mainland China and Hong Kong. The discussion will outline key UAM principles and analyze the technical challenges that must be addressed to enable scalable LAE expansion.

Next, I will present our research contributions, including the design and optimization of UAV services for urban inspection, monitoring, and delivery. These case studies demonstrate how UAV technology can enhance operational efficiency and support smart city initiatives.

Finally, I will share insights from the Strategic Public Policy Research Funding (SPPRF) Project, which explores development strategies for an advanced air mobility (AAM) network in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area. While interest in AAM is growing, a cohesive policy framework for the region remains underdeveloped. Our research addresses this critical gap by systematically evaluating existing approaches and introducing survey-based insights combined with simulation-driven strategies to establish a robust methodology for accelerating AAM development.

By bridging research, industry applications, and policy development, this presentation offers actionable insights for stakeholders navigating the evolving LAE landscape.

GUEST BIO:

Prof. Hai Yang is a Chair Professor at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where he is recognized as a leading expert in transportation research. His work has been published in top-tier international journals, including Transportation Research, Transportation Science, and Operations Research, earning him a high ranking in both publications and citations within the transportation field. Throughout his career, Prof. Yang has received numerous prestigious awards, such as the 2020 Frank M. Masters Transportation Engineering Award and the 2021 Francis C. Turner Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers. In addition, he was honored with the National Natural Science Award by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China in 2011. Prof. Yang was appointed as a Chang Jiang Chair Professor by the Ministry of Education of China and served as the Editor-in-Chief of Transportation Research (TR) Part B: Methodological from 2013 to 2018, a highly regarded journal in transportation studies. Currently, he is a member of the Distinguished Editorial Board for TR Part B and the Scientific Council for TR Part C: Emerging Technologies, and he also serves as an Advisory Editor for Transportation Science.