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System-of-Systems Considerations in the Notional Development of a Metropolitan Aerial Transportation SystemThere are substantial future challenges related to sustaining and improving efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly transportation options for urban regions. Over the past several decades there has been a worldwide trend towards increasing urbanization of society. Accompanying this urbanization are increasing surface transportation infrastructure costs and, despite public infrastructure investments, increasing surface transportation "gridlock." In addition to this global urbanization trend, there has been a substantial increase in concern regarding energy sustainability, fossil fuel emissions, and the potential implications of global climate change. A recently completed study investigated the feasibility of an aviation solution for future urban transportation (refs. 1, 2). Such an aerial transportation system could ideally address some of the above noted concerns related to urbanization, transportation gridlock, and fossil fuel emissions (ref. 3). A metro/regional aerial transportation system could also provide enhanced transportation flexibility to accommodate extraordinary events such as surface (rail/road) transportation network disruptions and emergency/disaster relief responses.
Document ID
20170010185
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Alonso, Juan J.
(Stanford Univ. Stanford, CA, United States)
Arneson, Heather M.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Melton, John E.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Vegh, Michael
(Stanford Univ. Stanford, CA, United States)
Walker, Cedric
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Young, Larry A.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
October 18, 2017
Publication Date
September 1, 2017
Subject Category
Statistics And Probability
Technology Utilization And Surface Transportation
Air Transportation And Safety
Aircraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
NASA/TM-2017-218356
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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