A Systematic Framework for Risk-Aware UAV Cargo Corridor Design

Abstract

The large-scale deployment of UAV-based cargo delivery in urban environments is constrained by safety concerns, limited airspace availability, and complex regulatory requirements. While prior research has explored airspace structuring and risk-based routing independently, an integrated and operationally viable framework for UAV corridor planning remains lacking. This paper proposes a comprehensive, risk-aware framework for the design of fixed UAV cargo corridors in highly constrained airspace environments. The framework integrates regulatory compliance, spatial feasibility, and operational efficiency within a unified corridor-level planning methodology. UAV corridors are modelled as graph-based networks aligned with linear infrastructure and natural corridors, while considering varying ground risk. The framework is evaluated through multiple experimental case studies within the Dutch airspace. Results demonstrate that fixed UAV corridors can be feasibly designed under existing regulatory constraints, achieving substantial reductions in third-party risk with limited efficiency loss.