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Research: multi-objective approach for optimizing city logistics considering energy efficiency

The urban population increase results in more supply chain operations in these areas, which leads to increased energy consumption and environmental problems. In a new paper, about a multi-objective approach for optimizing city logistics considering energy efficiency the authors describe an optimization model of a multi-echelon collection and distribution system, focusing on downtown areas and …

Road transport responsible for 50 percent of oil consumption worldwide

Road transport is responsible for 50 percent of oil consumption worldwide and increasing. The IEA Key World Energy Statistics (KWES) is an introduction to energy statistics, providing top-level numbers across the energy mix, from supply and demand to prices and research budgets, including outlooks, energy indicators, and definitions.

The Amsterdam (NL) quay walls: should we stop heavy traffic?

In recent years, several quay walls have collapsed in Amsterdam (NL). The state of the quays is so problematic that an orthodox approach is no longer sufficient. Amsterdam has more than 600 kilometers of public quay wall, of which 200 kilometers are in poor condition. Of those 200 kilometers, 50 kilometers is very bad.

UK parcel delivery companies urged to swap large vans for cargo bikes

Parcel delivery companies should consider switching to cargo bike schemes, a new report by the UK Local Government Association (LGA) suggests. The LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales, is calling for couriers to adopt environmentally friendly cargo bikes, which offer a cost-effective and zero-carbon transport option, for last-mile deliveries from local hubs to …

How are consumers using collection points? Evidence from Brussels

Environmental assessments of e-commerce often focus on the last mile. Collection points are considered more beneficial than home delivery but this largely depends on how consumers’ collection trips are organized. Because this information is lacking, our objective is to find out how consumers make use of and travel to collection points by means of a …

Effect of pick-up points and returns on CO2 emissions in parcel deliveries

The growing volume of e-commerce leads to increased traffic nuisance and CO2 emissions from the extra traffic in last-mile parcel delivery networks. One of the promising ideas to alleviate these negative effects of e-commerce is the use of pick-up points, which may be used as the delivery address of the goods instead of the consumers’ …

Shaping urban freight systems via a participatory approach to inform policy-making

In the upcoming era of new technologies, a transport system is expected to be ‘more sustainable,’ ‘safer,’ and ‘more efficient.’ However, to what extent is this true? Based on the results of a series of stakeholder engagement workshops, a paper by Paddeu Daniela and Paulus Teguh Aditjandra explores the vision of different stakeholders about urban freight of the future.

LEAD – Low-Emission Adaptive last mile logistics through digital twins

The LEAD project will create Digital Twins of urban freight networks in six cities in TEN-T urban Nodes, namely Madrid (Spain), The Hague (the Netherlands), Budapest (Hungary), Lyon (France), Oslo (Norway), and Porto (Portugal). These will test and represent different innovative solutions for city logistics to address the requirements of the on-demand economy while aligning competing interests …

Designing a construction logistics control tower for city development

Construction logistics account for 35% of urban freight traffic and emissions in cities. With the growth in construction projects and the plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, better coordination of construction logistics for city development is necessary. TUDelft student Tom Tesselaar wrote his thesis about designing a construction logistics control tower for city development.

Characterizing urban last-mile distribution strategies in e-commerce markets

E-retailers and other companies participating in the e-commerce supply chain are developing a variety of strategies for last-mile e-commerce distribution in urban areas. These strategies must account for a number of elements of local context which can be particularly challenging in emerging markets. Urban last-mile distribution strategies that are specifically tailored to these markets are …