"Understanding Weather Information in Building Canyons"... National Pukyong National University Develops Safe Operation Technology for 'Air Taxi'

KRW 16.4 Billion Selected for the ‘K-UAM Safety Operation System Project’

National Pukyong University (President Jang Young-su) has been selected as a research institution for the Korea Meteorological Administration and Korea Meteorological Industry Technology Institute's "Korean Urban Air Mobility (K-UAM) Safety Operation System Core Technology Development Project."

With this project selection, Professor Kim Jae-jin (Department of Environmental Atmospheric Science) at National Pukyong University will lead the development of meteorological observation and prediction-based technologies to support urban air mobility operations from this month until December 2026. The total project budget is 16.4 billion KRW.

UAM, known as "air taxi," is a system that operates urban-type aircraft for transporting people or cargo and is gaining attention as a next-generation transportation mode of the future.

The operating altitude of urban aircraft is approximately 300 to 600 meters, where atmospheric flow is heavily influenced by terrain such as high-rise buildings, mountains, and rivers, causing frequent atmospheric turbulence. Therefore, meteorological information at this altitude is essential for the safe operation of aircraft.

Currently, it is difficult to obtain sufficient observational data with existing meteorological observation networks, and there is a lack of technology to analyze real-time meteorological conditions. Additionally, technology development is needed to produce urban aviation meteorological prediction information necessary for UAM flight planning.

Accordingly, Professor Kim Jae-jin's team at National Pukyong University plans to develop new technologies for UAM commercialization through specialized meteorological observations producing real-time meteorological condition information and meteorological prediction-based technologies. Professors Son Rak-hoon, Choi Won-sik, Moon Woo-seok, and Shin Ji-hoon from the same department will participate in the research.

The main focus is to develop technology for producing three-dimensional high-resolution meteorological condition and prediction information through real-time optimal meteorological observations centered on vertiports, which are UAM takeoff and landing facilities, and flight routes.

With the development of meteorological observation and prediction-based technologies to support UAM operations through this project, it is expected to not only commercialize Korean-style UAM but also increase the potential for business development and entry into overseas markets, creating various related derivative businesses.

Research team of the National Pukyong National University’s ‘Korean Urban Air Mobility (K-UAM) Safety Operation System Core Technology Development Project.’ (From left: Professors Son Rak-hoon, Choi Won-sik, Kim Jae-jin, Moon Woo-seok, Shin Ji-hoon)