Project Overview
The demand for air transport is projected to grow further, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. In the future, we anticipate regular traffic by various novel forms of operations, such as spaceplanes.
At the same time, we are facing challenges to aviation sustainability, including management of climate change impacts, shortage of air traffic controllers and pilots, and geopolitical risks surrounding Japan. It is not easy to answer how we can strengthen Japan’s supply chain, including air transport, while ensuring aviation safety. We must consider adding the new dimension of “transportation” to the relatively underdeveloped study field of supply chain analysis, not only to fortify economic security but also to revitalize local and regional communities.
This project focuses on three main objectives:
1. Designing the future of aerospace transportation and airport operations
2. Designing an air transport network to strengthen Japan’s supply chain
3. Contributing to the renewal of the air transport system in the Asia-Pacific region
Basis and Background of the Fund
In this project, interdisciplinary and international research and development will be carried out, requiring long-term fieldwork, such as on-site data collection and experiments. This necessitates funding for travel expenses (transportation and accommodation) as well as the purchase of experimental equipment.
The field of aerospace mobility is managed by a newly established laboratory, launched in April 2023. However, the research environment is still in the process of being fully equipped, and further resources are needed to support full-scale research activities. Among those, we are looking to increase the provision scale of aviation traffic data and simulation experiment facilities.
How your donations will be used
Your generous donations will be used for the following purposes:
・Supporting research aimed at ensuring safe air travel and stable logistics for citizens in Japan and across the Asia region.
・Contributing to the aerospace and logistics industries, as well as the revitalization of local and regional communities.
・Promoting interdisciplinary research at the University of Tokyo, contributing to academic advancement and the development of highly skilled professionals.
Request for Support
This project contributes to aviation safety not only in Japan but also across Asia. Research on how to integrate air traffic control with the future in which spaceplanes routinely travel through airports is globally unprecedented.
Furthermore, study methodology for aviation supply chain that considers geopolitical risks, such as the logistic security of the semiconductor industry and other emergency situations, will necessarily be novel. This endeavour opens up opportunities for interdisciplinary research, including collaboration with traditionally distant study fields such as international political economy.
By actively involving students from the University of Tokyo in this project, we will also cultivate highly skilled professionals who can work internationally and across disciplines.
The project aims to continue until meaningful results are achieved for the aforementioned three objectives. Your support is essential for the continuous development of this research and the delivery of practical outcomes to the world.
We sincerely appreciate your generosity and support.
Project Leader
Eri ITOH
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology
Professor
Aerospace Mobility Laboratory (webpage)
