Drones to Cities – Great Aid if Planned Ahead

The rise of Urban Air Mobility is no longer a distant prospect but a current, pressing topic for European municipalities. In recent years, drones have been a repetative news topic but mostly from a military perspective. In reality however, urban air mobility has much more potential and cities should explore the possibilities and limitations now, when they still can guide the industry’s growth and impact on the use cases. 

From life-saving medical transport to infrastructure inspections and public safety, drones offer a green, smart alternative to traditional logistics. However, the rapid scaling of drone operations requires more than just technical readiness or clear national regulations; it demands a robust local-level strategy. The CITYAM project, funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region, addressed the topic by equipping cities with the tools to manage their skies. By treating the lower airspace as a new layer of urban planning, the project ensured that cities have tools and knowledge to make sure drone services benefit the interests of both cities and their citizens.

Unified Solutions for a Shared European Sky 

The strength of CITYAM lies in its collaborative and transnational approach, involving six diverse partner cities: Helsinki (Finland), Stockholm (Sweden), Hamburg (Germany), Gdansk (Poland), Riga (Latvia), and Tartu (Estonia). These cities are not merely observers but active “living labs” testing real-world solutions and tools. 

Key outputs of the project include a geospatial tool for landing site planning, a “Public Acceptance Toolkit” to gauge citizen sentiment, and a comprehensive Roadmap for UAM integration from a policy perspective.

Tool for changing the cityscape

A cornerstone of the CITYAM project is the development of a pioneering geospatial tool designed to support city planners in identifying and prioritising drone landing sites. Developed collaboratively by the National Land Survey of Finland and Aalto University, this web-based Collaborative GIS (CGIS) platform allows multiple stakeholders – including city authorities, drone operators, and civil aviation bodies – to work together on a shared map. 

By using weighted multi-criteria analysis, the tool generates “Traffic Light Maps” that visually highlight the most suitable areas for vertiports or smaller landing pads based on factors like population density, noise sensitivity, and proximity to sensitive areas such as schools or hospitals. The tool was rigorously piloted through workshops in all six cities of the project, ensuring it meets the practical needs of urban planners. This tool allows cities to better manage land-use and do long-term financial planning for future aerial infrastructure.

Real-World Testing: From Medical Logistics to Public Safety

The CITYAM project piloted seven use cases for drones. In Helsinki, pilots focused on critical healthcare deliveries, testing drone delivery of medical supplies and water rescue equipment as well as measuring GNSS interference. Stockholm explored innovative “Drone-in-a-box” solutions for urban management, including geese herding in public parks which proved to be really effective. In Hamburg, the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) utilised drones for polder control and infrastructure management. Meanwhile, Gdansk and Tartu tested public safety use cases, such as monitoring traffic near schools and using drones for public warning systems. 

While pilots demonstrated the efficiency of drone services in and for municipalities, they also highlighted technical hurdles like GPS interference and the complex regulatory requirements for flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) in busy urban airspaces. Also, tendering processes for drone services are not yet familiar to most cities.

Citizen Insights: High Support for the Common Good

Extensive citizen surveys around the Baltic Sea got answers from over 8 000 residents across the partner cities. Especially in Gdansk citizens answered actively, with more than 1 200 people sharing their insights in 2025. The results across cities revealed a clear mandate for urban air mobility: drones are especially welcomed when they serve a public purpose. In cities like Helsinki, Stockholm, and Hamburg, over 80% of residents find drones “very acceptable” for emergency response, search and rescue, and infrastructure inspection. In Gdansk, social acceptance remains highest for environmental monitoring and medical deliveries. 

However, the data also shows that “commercial delivery” and “passenger transport” remain the least popular public use cases. While residents are generally curious and positive, significant concerns persist regarding privacy, noise, and safety. Some qualitative surveys held later in 2025, also showed that more negative associations with drones were increasing, with respondents mentioning fear, anxiety, war, and criminal misuse. The surveys underscore that transparency and early communication are vital.

The Urgency for Cities to Act Now 

While international aviation bodies focus on high-level regulations and industry players develop the hardware and increasingly also services, the responsibility of local integration falls on the cities themselves. There is an urgent need for local authorities to take action now to prevent a “wild west” of unregulated drone traffic. By establishing clear policies for landing sites, flight paths, and multimodal transport connections today, cities can ensure that UAM is introduced responsibly. Waiting is not an option; the Baltic Sea Region is currently positioning itself as a global frontrunner, proving that with the right planning, drones can become a seamless, sustainable, and accepted part of the modern city landscape.

About CITYAM: CITYAM was a EU funded project with a 13-partner strong consortium led by Forum Virium Helsinki Running from 2023 to 2025, the project focused on landing site management, public acceptance, and the scaling of drone operations across the Baltic Sea Region.

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