Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) represents the next frontier in transportation—leveraging innovative aircraft technology to enable the safe, efficient, sustainable movement of people and goods at low altitudes. As this paradigm begins to emerge, Florida is taking proactive steps to understand, plan for, and support its integration into our multimodal transportation system. This 1.5-hour webinar will provide an overview of AAM, including recent policy updates, state-level initiatives, and the latest research supporting local agencies.
Participants will explore how AAM differs from other emerging transportation options such as high-speed rail and rideshare services, and how it complements the national transportation system by providing additional options for long intra-city and intercity travel. We will also discuss the evolving air traffic management landscape and the safety challenges that accompany this new mode of travel, as well as the total mobility concept that could become possible with the emergence of AAM.
Target Audience
This training is ideal for transportation planners, local agency staff, engineers, public works professionals, and anyone involved in emerging mobility solutions or transportation planning.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Understand the fundamentals and goals of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).
- Identify recent policy developments and state-level actions related to AAM in Florida.
Explore how AAM can support local agencies in managing travel patterns and preparing for shifts in transportation systems. - Compare AAM with other modern transportation modes, including rideshare and high-speed rail.
- Discuss key safety considerations and changes in air traffic management required for AAM deployment.
Instructor Bio
Dr. Yu Yu Zhang leads the Smart Urban Mobility Laboratory (SUM-Lab) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and directs the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Research Program at the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida (USF). Her research focuses on developing mathematical programming models, solution algorithms, simulation tools, and machine learning techniques to advance innovative solutions for more efficient, resilient, and sustainable multimodal transportation systems. In recent years, her work has tackled critical challenges related to emerging transportation services and technologies. Dr. Zhang is a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors and a recipient of the 2020 Amazon Research Award—an esteemed recognition supporting groundbreaking research at academic and nonprofit institutions worldwide. She served as Chair of the TRB Airfield and Airspace Performance Committee from 2017 to 2023, Associate Director of a USDOT Tier 1 University Transportation Center from 2016 to 2023, and currently serves as Director of National Institute for Congestion Reduction (NICR), a USDOT National University Transportation Center (2022–2025). Dr. Zhang holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
RECORDING
To earn Professional Development Hours (PDHs) or a Certificate of Completion for each recorded webinar, you must view the entire webinar. After viewing, please fill out the web form at the link below to request your certificate. The Florida LTAP Center will follow-up within 2-3 weeks.
This webinar will award 1.5 PDHs.
Click the links below to view the recorded webinars
Advanced Air Mobility in Florida: Planning for the Next Era of Integrated Multimodal Transportation