Category «Research»

Modular containerization of parcel networks: simulation-based impact assessment

The parcel industry has undergone significant changes in recent years, primarily driven by the surge of e-commerce and new technologies. The Physical Internet (PI) provides initiatives to optimize parcel flow and jointly address the industry’s economic, operational, social, and environmental sustainability issues. Encapsulating parcels in modular PI containers is a promising method to enhance efficiency …

Assessing the inequalities in access to online delivery services

A 2021 paper discusses the importance of incorporating online home delivery services (OHDS) into accessibility and marginalization. The authors propose a method to quantify access to OHDS and assess levels of inequalities in access to OHDS using data from OHDS providers in the pharmaceutical and food sectors and transport operators delivering parcels. The Västra Götaland Region on …

WCTR 2023: future research themes in city logistics

During WCTR23, a panel led by Michael Browne discussed future research themes in city logistics with the audience. City logistics research has grown dramatically in recent years (from a small base). There are many more conferences and journal papers, and more researchers are now involved in this field. This panel session will identify the actions …

Research: analysis of stakeholder roles in balancing freight transport in the city logistics ecosystem

Sustainability objectives determine the current guidelines for urban freight transport. Therefore, local authorities face the challenge of making urban freight transport sustainable. To do so, it is necessary to involve the various stakeholder groups of the city logistics ecosystem in ongoing sustainability efforts. This problem formed the basis for the formulated objective of a recent …

Research challenges in circular urban supply chains

Implementing circular urban supply chains is a significant economic transformation that can only work if coordination decisions are solved between the actors involved. What are the research challenges in circular urban supply chains? Creating regional ecosystems On the one hand, this requires the implementation of efficient urban collection technologies, where waste collection companies collaborate with manufacturers, …

A robust Euro 7 will substantially improve air quality in Europe

New research by lobby group Transport and Environment debunks carmakers’ claims that Euro 7 standards won’t significantly improve the quality. The truck industry organization ACEA says: ‘Significant progress has been made in the EU on reducing air pollution from vehicles, under the current Euro 6/VI standards. Euro 7 is unlikely to make much more of …

Digital twin applications in urban logistics: an overview

Urban traffic attributed to commercial and industrial transportation largely affects living standards in cities due to external factors like pollution and congestion. To counter this, smart cities deploy technologies such as digital twins (DT)s to achieve sustainability. Research suggests that DTs can be beneficial in optimizing the physical systems they are linked with. The concept …

Handbook about urban and periurban logistics real estate

The Logistics City Chair team published the digital version of the handbook n°3 of the “Welcome to Logistics City” series dedicated to urban and periurban logistics real estate.  The development of logistics real estate adapted to professionals and respectful of the requirements of cities has gradually emerged as an adequate response. It allows for mobility optimization and the accelerated decarbonization …