Region Jämtland Härjedalen (RJH), together with Östersund Municipality and Green Flyway, explored and evaluated the integration of drones into health and emergency logistics operations within controlled airspace. The objective of the project was to build stakeholder understanding, support operational decision-making, and communicate the positive societal impact of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) solutions, particularly in rural and remote healthcare contexts.
Successful Collaboration for the Mobility of the Future
The project was led by Per Byenfeldt, Airport Manager (RJH), in close cooperation with Aero EDIH and experts from LFV department of Research and Innovation (the Swedish Air Navigation Service Provider), specialising in simulation and stakeholder engagement. The team consisted of specialists in regulatory frameworks, high-fidelity scenario simulation, visualisation, and communication of new mobility technologies in the public sector.
During the project period, which ran from the second quarter of 2024 to the second quarter of 2025, extensive stakeholder interviews were conducted, simulation environments were developed, and visual communication materials were produced. In addition, several knowledge-building workshops were held, bringing together key actors from both the healthcare and emergency preparedness sectors. The project’s phased approach ensured deep stakeholder engagement and high-quality deliverables.
Addressing Regional Challenges
The project tackled Region Jämtland Härjedalen’s geographic and demographic challenges through innovative solutions aimed at improving access to healthcare and emergency services. Drone-based logistics and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) proved to be powerful tools in this effort.
Early in the project, a kickoff meeting was held in Östersund, with LFV Research and Innovation, Green Flyway and other stakeholders in attendance. During the meeting, realistic scenarios for medical drone logistics were identified. These scenarios were then simulated in detail using advanced visual tools, enabling thorough feasibility assessments, identification of regulatory challenges, and the building of public trust.
From Simulation to Operation
“By using the UTM City-simulator and it’s simple interface, it is a quick process to get workshop participants into the topic of the day. Not only challenges but also possibilities in the local context can be elaborated on. When it comes to the process of transferring promising applications with UAS into the daily production in the business of Swedish regions and municipalities, it is important to take it in steps and identify short term goals and the ambition in a wider time frame. Through simulations we can paint the picture of both perspectives. The location in Östersund and the region as a whole has a variation of condition. The location of Östersud airport is interesting on the island of Frösön, the topography among other things and last but not least the people engaged makes this an interesting living lab where UAS-services can be developed and put into reality. The simulations show how and where to start this journey and how it is possible do further refine over time and what challenges during the road that need to be taken care of.
The fact that the Region and city of Östersund is engaged in close collaboration result in several synergies. This part of Sweden is rural with smaller settlements spread over a vast area. Applications with UAS for them is often not just to improve an already existing service, it is about to be able to serve their inhabitants at all at many times. Distance is the most challenging factor, it generates in high cost for transportation of smaller goods and much time spent on transporting it on ground. Some use cases are not feasible by todays solutions but they could be by drone to a larger portion of society by drone. The region has already identified some existing infrastructure that could be used and to start in uncontrolled airspace over sparsly populated areas. Through the simultaitons the group elaborated on how this could be developed in the future, enabling efficient logistics to the whole region, mainly from the city of Östersund and how this could be possible in the future with an integrated system enabling efficient and safe integration with ATM (Air Traffic Management)”, says Gustaf Fylkner, Human Factors Specialist within SoU, FoI – Research, Innovation and Digitalisation.
From Idea to Concrete Results
The project began with mapping potential use cases for drone logistics in healthcare and public services. The scenarios developed were prepared for simulation, with a focus on route modelling, regulatory considerations, and effective communication.
To raise awareness and foster stakeholder confidence, visual materials were created — including 3D animations and interactive maps based on UTMCity and UTM Explore (Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management). These tools enabled participants to engage with and understand the drone scenarios in an accessible way.
In parallel, workshops and media planning sessions were held with stakeholders from Region Jämtland Härjedalen to align perspectives across healthcare, emergency preparedness, and airspace management. The results of the simulations were also used for internal training and capacity-building.
”The UTM CITY simulator has been developed since 2016 in many project, initially for studies on human-AI-interaction, especially for interaction with Digital Assistants. We are also using the simulator to study other topics now, such as exploring new services or new oprational concepts for urban air mobility. To make this more broadly available, the simulator is also part of the AirMobility testbed and WASP WARA PS arena.”, says Jonas Lundberg, Professor in Human Centered Design, Department of Science and Technology, Media and Information Technology at Linköping University.
Example of Flight Routes
Route: Krokom-Funäsdalen
Altitudes:
Start: 295 m
Maximum: 820 m / Minimum: 295 m
Landing: 595 m
Difference: 545 m
Distance:
138.5 km
Flight time:
Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes at 100 km/h.
Flying a direct route would only reduce the total distance by about 8 km, but this would require crossing two mountains over 1000 m in height, with a valley at 560 m in between.
Advantages:
Minimal residential areas to consider at take-off and landing; mostly wilderness throughout the route.
Disadvantages:
Significant altitude variation, even though the highest mountains are avoided. The route crosses nature reserves and reindeer herding areas. It also affects the western part of the control zone at Östersund Airport.
Route Description:
- Departure from Krokom Health Centre (HC), heading east across grass-covered ground
- South-westward over Lake Storsjön, within the western part of the CTR (Control Zone)
- Passes east of Mount Hundshögen
- Crosses the western bay of Lake Flåsjön
- With a few small course adjustments, a much smoother topography is achieved by following the valleys
- Passes just northwest of Upper Särvsjön
- Through the valley southeast of Anåfjället
- South of Ljusnedal
- Along Lake Funädalssjön
- At the mouth of the Livsäterån river
- Final approach to the health centre from the southwest, between built-up areas
Route: Krokom-Föllinge
Altitudes:
Take-off: 295 m
Maximum: 450 m / Minimum: 280 m
Landing: 340 m
Difference:
170 m
Distance: 40.8 km
Flight time:
Approximately 24 minutes at 100 km/h
Advantages:
Minimal detours; the route runs relatively close to Road 339 for its entire length, which is beneficial when identifying suitable alternative landing sites along the way.
Disadvantages:
Relatively large altitude variation – around 170 m along the route.
Route Description:
- Take-off from Krokom Health Centre (HC), heading east across grassy terrain
- North-east along the Indalsälven river up to the Hissmofors power station
- North-west to pass west of Aspås (residential area and elevation)
- Then directly north to Föllinge and the junction of Road 339/Trefaldighetsvägen to avoid housing and a preschool
- Westward over the Föllinge Svets AB facility
- Final approach to Föllinge Health Centre (HV) from the north-east/north
Project Outcomes
The project led to increased understanding among key stakeholders, stronger decision-making support, and clear examples of the positive societal impact of UAM — particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas. The final simulation packages enabled a clear visualisation of drone operations, considering both controlled and uncontrolled airspace for healthcare and public service logistics. healthcare and public service logistics.
The collaboration was strengthened throughout the project, laying the groundwork for future trials, regulatory adaptation, and regional capacity development. The initiative clearly demonstrated how advanced simulation and active stakeholder engagement can reduce the risks of introducing new technologies in the public sector and pave the way for tomorrow’s sustainable transport solutions.
Aero EDIH’s Contribution
The contribution from Aero EDIH enabled the gathering of several important stakeholders in a productive activity, catalyzing the growing engagement in the region. Also gathering the most important results to transfer them to other initiatives in Sweden, contributing to a harmonized approach which is important in the development of unmanned aviation as it scale up. Building knowledge among regional and municipal is key, strengthening the respective understanding and connection between the aviation industry and regions/municipalities ensures a solid ground in this topic.
