On January 23, 2025, the Port of Valencia became the setting for a demonstration event of U-space systems with drones, organized within the framework of the European U-ELCOME project.
The validation tests were organized by the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) with the collaboration of the Valencia Port Authority and the participation of Customs Surveillance, the Valencia Local Police, the Valencia Fire Department, and drone sector companies such as UAV Works and PrimeCor Systems. The event was attended by the Regional Secretary for Universities of the Valencian Community, Ms. Esther Gómez, and the Director of the Valencia Port Authority (APV), Mr. Enrique Belda, along with representatives from other national entities, including ENAIRE—coordinator of the U-ELCOME project at the national level—the Valenciaport Foundation, Port Police, companies such as APM Terminals and Valencia Terminal Europa, and the CMT Research Institute associated with UPV. The latter conducted various noise measurement tests on drones, contributing to ongoing UPV research efforts aimed at integrating these aircraft into airspace operations.
The European U-ELCOME project aims to foster the scalable integration of U-space U1-U2 services across Europe, incorporating drones into airspace through a series of tests and demonstrations in 15 locations across Spain, Italy, and France. In Valencia, this initiative has highlighted the potential of these technologies to enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability in drone operations.
During the tests, drones carried out various simultaneous operations, including anchorage zone surveillance, topographic surveys, emergency logistics, and support for law enforcement and emergency services. All these operations were managed through the U-space ecosystem via USSPs (U-space Service Providers) from ENAIRE, DALIAH (associated with the Instituto Tecnológico de Galicia), and DronAS (DroneLab from the Autonomous University of Barcelona), alongside the national CISP (“Common Information Service Provider”) managed by ENAIRE. The simulation replicated an emergency situation within the port environment, activating the appropriate response protocols and centralizing operations in an Advanced Command Post (PMA).
The event was successfully conducted, demonstrating the ability of USSPs and the CISP to manage UAS operations centralized in a PMA within a complex environment and emergency scenario.
Looking ahead, an Open Day will be held on February 27 in Benidorm, where various civil operations will be integrated into an urban environment. This event will test new capabilities of USSPs and the CISP, as well as the integration of high-capacity drone models designed for more complex operational scenarios.
