Erika Rosella Marinelli

Ms. Erika Rosella Marinelli


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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10 October 2025 in Drones
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LCLudovica Maria Campagna
Ludovica Maria Campagna
FCFrancesco Carlucci
Francesco Carlucci
FFFrancesco Fiorito
Francesco Fiorito
EMErika Rosella Marinelli
Erika Rosella Marinelli
Michele OttomanelliMichele Ottomanelli
Michele Ottomanelli
Mario MarinelliMario Marinelli
Mario Marinelli
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) has the potential to revolutionize urban transportation, largely with the deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones. After an initial stage focused on technology requirements, research is now shifting toward investigating operational requirements, which are unavoidably affected by urban characteristics. This study aims to explore the implementation of UAM services within urban environments by mapping the current scientific landscape from a city-focused perspective. Following a systematic search procedure, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on studies published between 2010 and 2024, examining over 350 articles that address UAM and urban-related topics. Trends in publication volume and scientific impact were analysed, along with influential manuscripts, collaborations, and leading countries in the field. Through a keyword co-occurrence analysis, five main research themes were identified: air traffic management, risk assessment, environmental factors (wind and noise), and vertiport location. These themes were further explored through a scoping review to assess current research and emerging directions. The findings highlight that urban characteristics are not just operational constraints but also fundamental elements that shape UAM strategies, influencing UAV path planning, safety, environmental constraints, and infrastructure design. Future research directions include the development of urban digital twins, comprehensive urban spatial databases, and multi-objective optimization frameworks to support the effective implementation of UAM into cities.