Project U-AGREE develops risk models for unmanned aircraft operations, linking hazards to severity and probability, and explores how U-space services and digital twins mitigate these risks.
  • DatesSeptember 2024 to October 2027
  • SponsorProject U-AGREE was funded by SESAR 2020 programme under European ATM innovation.
  • FundedTotal project cost €1,018,053.75. EU contribution €953,553.75.
  • PartnersThe consortium is led by Universitat Politècnica de València and consists of CRIDA, Collins Aerospace, ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥, DLR, ENAIRE, ENGAGE, Eurocontrol, EuroUSC, and INECO.

Impact of our research

Our research underpins compliance with European airspace safety regulations by enabling robust risk assessment for unmanned aircraft operations. Using advanced digital tools and high-fidelity simulations, U-AGREE streamlines approval processes for specific category operations, reducing delays and supporting innovation. The project also defines safety and performance requirements for UAS, U-space services, and supporting CNS systems, ensuring harmonised standards across Europe. By delivering comprehensive air risk models aligned with regulatory frameworks, ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥’s contribution helps create a safer, more efficient environment for integrating drones into urban and rural airspace—driving progress in sustainable air mobility well beyond academia.

Why was the research commissioned?

The increasing use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in very low-level (VLL) airspace, particularly in urban areas, presents new challenges for safety, security, privacy and environmental protection. Existing frameworks, such as the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) adopted by EASA, provide a qualitative approach but lack the precision needed for complex, high-density operations. U-AGREE was commissioned to develop and validate improved air and ground risk models through simulation, offering a more accurate link between UAS operations and their multidimensional impacts. ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ contributes by delivering high-fidelity simulations to validate these models and quantify the effectiveness of U-space services.

Why ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥?

³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ brings proven expertise in digital twin technology and U-space service development, established through previous Future Flight and SESAR projects. Our research has delivered comprehensive air and ground risk models, including contributions to Future Flight HADO project, SESAR JU’s AMU-LED project and publications such as A Risk Assessment Method for Mid-Air Collisions in Urban Air Mobility Operations. This strong foundation enables us to quantify operational risks using high-fidelity simulations integrated with basic and advanced U-space services. By combining academic rigour with practical innovation, ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ provides critical insights that strengthen U-AGREE’s approach to safe and efficient integration of unmanned aircraft into European airspace.

Our facilities

DARTeC is a £65m investment that was completed in 2021. The centre focuses on the integration of drones into civilian airspace; increasing the efficiency of airports through technological advances; creating a safe, secure shared airspace through secure data communication infrastructures; increasing the reliability and availability of aircraft through self-sensing, self-aware technologies. Within the DARTeC premises our Boeing 737 ground demonstrator can be used for technology demonstrations.

ATM/UTM Laboratory is part of DARTeC, where digital twin of UK airspace is available. It integrates real-time ADS-B, remote ID, weather, terrain, and building data to model comprehensive air and ground risk, with traffic simulators for co-simulation.

Further information