[ { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3161165561", "doi": "10.1016/j.trc.2021.103172", "title": "The Multi-visit Traveling Salesman Problem with Multi-Drones", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-05-19", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zhihao Luo", "Mark Poon", "Zhenzhen Zhang", "Zhong Liu", "Andrew E. B. Lim" ], "first_author": "Zhihao Luo", "venue": "Transportation Research Part C Emerging Technologies", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Travelling salesman problem", "Payload (computing)", "Computer science", "Mathematical optimization", "Network packet", "Mathematics", "Algorithm", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 190, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2021.103172" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400646181", "doi": "10.1109/iv55156.2024.10588509", "title": "Operational Cost Optimization of Delivery Fleets Consisting of Mobile Robots and Electric Trucks", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-06-02", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hyunjin Ahn", "Huihai Wang", "Ji Hwan Park", "Xingyu Zhou", "Junfeng Jiao", "Junmin Wang" ], "first_author": "Hyunjin Ahn", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Rising demand for last-mile deliveries in the logistics sector has prompted the adoption of Autonomous Delivery Robots (ADRs) and electric trucks (eTrucks) for their efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This paper proposes an optimization model for an integrated eTruck-and-ADR system. The model employs a range of information sources to optimize vehicle routing and robot allocation, emphasizing energy efficiency and operating cost. This includes incorporating Geographic Information System (GIS) to estimate customer demand based on demographics and utilizing a battery aging/degradation model to account for hardware depreciation. A metaheuristic Genetic Algorithm is employed to solve optimal vehicle routing and customer node clustering. In a simulated case study conducted with real GIS and geographic data, the proposed model demonstrates efficacy in determining the optimal number of ADRs for specific census tracts, with a cost breakdown highlighting the dominance of human labor costs.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Mobile robot", "Computer science", "Robot", "Transport engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/iv55156.2024.10588509" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2920639560", "doi": "10.1016/j.cie.2019.03.001", "title": "Application of a variable neighborhood search algorithm to a fleet size and mix vehicle routing problem with electric modular vehicles", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-03-02", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Dhekra Rezgui", "Jouhaina Chaouachi Siala", "Wassila Aggoune‐Mtalaa", "Hend Bouziri" ], "first_author": "Dhekra Rezgui", "venue": "Computers & Industrial Engineering", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Vehicle routing problem", "Benchmark (surveying)", "Modular design", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Last mile (transportation)", "Variable (mathematics)", "Electric vehicle", "Operations research", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 90, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2019.03.001" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4389054627", "doi": "10.1080/03081060.2023.2287138", "title": "Estimating potential adoption rate of electric vehicles in urban logistics", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-11-26", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Şükrü İmre", "Dilay Çelebi", "Umut Asan" ], "first_author": "Şükrü İmre", "venue": "Transportation Planning and Technology", "publisher": "Taylor & Francis", "abstract": "This research presents an analytical analysis of the factors related to the preference for using electric vehicles, aimed at estimating their potential adoption in urban freight transport. We employed choice modeling to assess the trade-offs among various attributes associated with Electric Freight Vehicles (EFVs) and predicted the probabilities of EFV adoption within urban freight fleets. This estimation is based on an industry survey and real delivery data from a retail firm. Our findings indicate that electric vehicles could be utilized in approximately 32% of the deliveries for the case company. This, in turn, corresponds to a notable 26% reduction in CO2 emissions resulting from delivery operations. Furthermore, our model enabled us to expand the scope of our analysis to the city level, using Istanbul as a specific example. Our illustration demonstrates that, under the current circumstances, electric vehicles have the potential to account for roughly 25% of all deliveries in Istanbul.", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Scope (computer science)", "Transport engineering", "Preference", "Survey data collection", "Business", "Survey methodology", "Engineering", "Computer science", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1080/03081060.2023.2287138" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4249297375", "doi": "10.1177/0361198105194100111", "title": "Travel Characteristics of Urban Freight Vehicles and Their Effects on Emission Factors", "year": 2005, "publication_date": "2005-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Annie Protopapas", "Arun Kumar Chatterjee", "Terry L. Miller", "Jerry D. Everett" ], "first_author": "Annie Protopapas", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "This study collected local commercial vehicle data in Knox County, Tennessee, from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and two companies engaged in package pickup and delivery (PUD). Another urban commercial vehicle data set with a wider spectrum of freight companies was obtained from North Carolina for comparative analysis. The two data sets were analyzed to develop two sets of values for input parameters for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's MOBILE6 model. Statistical tests permitted four aggregated vehicle usage classes to be formed. Two runs of MOBILE6 modeled the two commercial vehicle data sets in their entirety. Four additional runs modeled each vehicle usage class individually through the use of average speed and starts per day specific to the driving pattern of each class. Differences between the values of input parameters and emission factors based on data collected by this study and those based on the default values of MOBILE6 are discussed. Commercial vehicles examined by this study indicated higher annual mileage accumulation rates than the default values. Also their vehicle miles traveled and engine start distributions by hour of day varied considerably from the default values, occurring primarily between the two daily peak traffic periods (morning and evening). The study found higher volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxide emission factors than in default runs for USPS vehicles, whose driving pattern resulted in lower-than-default average speed. Higher VOC and CO emission factors were found for gasoline and diesel package PUD vehicles due to lower-than-default average speeds and higher-than-default starts per day.", "keywords": [ "Gasoline", "Environmental science", "Transport engineering", "Diesel fuel", "Vehicle miles of travel", "Nitrogen oxide", "Emission inventory", "Evening", "Statistics", "Automotive engineering", "Air quality index", "Meteorology" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198105194100111" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4206070399", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2021.12.016", "title": "Liveability and freight transport in urban areas: the example of the Calabria Region for City Logistics", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Maria Rosaria Trecozzi", "Giuseppe Iiritano", "Giovanna Petrungaro" ], "first_author": "Maria Rosaria Trecozzi", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The freight transport in urban areas is a central theme in the studies of the last 20 years due to the increase of expenditure that influences the freight demand and the number of vehicles for their distribution. Notwithstanding its negative impact on city sustainability and liveability is usually overlooked by policy-makers. The Calabria Region has created a virtuous way for the freight distribution in urban areas, as part of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) by means of the dedicated measure 2.5 City Logistics. This measure indicates how to make freight distribution more efficient by specific interventions. The aim is to increase liveability and to obtain convergence of different interests of the actors involved, as citizens, public sector, retailers, and couriers, oriented to UN and EU targets and according to the RTP. This paper presents the experience of the Calabria Region related to City Logistics, as a prototypal process from planning, to programming and executing. This process includes a technical-administrative path developed with specific training activities involving all stakeholders realizing an integrated approach between different administrations with different roles in urban logistics projects. The process aims to create special urban areas where freight vehicles traffic is controlled through regulatory, management and infrastructural interventions, as time windows, upgrading fleets with environmentally vehicles, ICT/ITS, Urban Distribution Centers, Nearby Delivery Areas. The traffic control and management support the measures for COVID 19 emergency to ensure social distancing.", "keywords": [ "Business", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Sustainability", "Process (computing)", "Plan (archaeology)", "Environmental planning", "Geography", "Engineering", "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 10, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352146521009169/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4404036906", "doi": "10.1109/itecasia-pacific63159.2024.10738631", "title": "Optimization of collaborative delivery routes for electric trucks and drones with integrated recharging strategies", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-10-10", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Shu Wang", "Yixuan Cheng", "Tian Min Guan", "Liming Ma", "Yi Han" ], "first_author": "Shu Wang", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "With the rapid expansion of global e-commerce, the logistics industry faces increasing demand for last-mile delivery solutions, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions such as the integration of Electric Trucks (ETs) and drones to improve the delivery operational efficiency and reduce the environmental impact. This paper presents a novel routing model to optimize the delivery routes by considering the collaboration of ETs and drones. In response to the problem of limited driving range due to battery capacity constraints in large-scale delivery scenarios, our approach considers the battery limitations of both ETs and drones, allowing ETs to make multiple trips and recharge at designated charging stations, while drones can be recharged by returning to corresponding ETs during the deliveries. Finally, a practical case study based on real-word logistics scenario in Las Vegas is conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed model, demonstrating significant cost savings and increased delivery efficiency when ETs and drones are allowed to recharge during the delivery process, providing a robust solution for sustainable and efficient large-scale logistics distribution", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Drone", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Aeronautics", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/itecasia-pacific63159.2024.10738631" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4408734715", "doi": "10.1016/j.cie.2025.111061", "title": "Drone-assisted delivery optimization: Balancing time and cost with multiple truck routes for efficient service", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-03-22", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Shalabh Singh" ], "first_author": "Shalabh Singh", "venue": "Computers & Industrial Engineering", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Drone", "Service (business)", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Engineering", "Transport engineering", "Operations management", "Business", "Automotive engineering", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2025.111061" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400248531", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-61797-3_38", "title": "Green Logistics System: Cargo Bikes as an Alternative to Light Trucks", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Natalya Shramenko", "Christoph Hupfer", "Vladyslav Shramenko", "Piotr Trojanowski" ], "first_author": "Natalya Shramenko", "venue": "Lecture notes in mechanical engineering", "publisher": "Springer Nature", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Operations management", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-61797-3_38" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3092311198", "doi": "10.5604/01.3001.0014.4237", "title": "Mixed applied survey methodology for planning/enforcement of urban logistics delivery bays– An application to the Moroccan context", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-09-30", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Imane Moufad", "Fouad Jawab" ], "first_author": "Imane Moufad", "venue": "Archives of Transport", "publisher": "Index Copernicus International S.A.", "abstract": "Roads and parking areas represent a place of conflict between freight vehicles and other urban activities, especially on mixed residential and commercial streets. This conflict results in traffic congestion, illegal parking, pollution and road safety problems. The challenge is to allocate public space between the right operating activities, parking activities, public transport and so on. To address that, urban logistics delivery bays, also known as loading/unloading (L/U) zones, have become a real solution to facilitate the delivery and pick-up operations of urban freight vehicles, ensure accessibility for delivery drivers, reduce congestion and improve road safety. Therefore, this paper reports on planning and enforcement of urban delivery bays needs. It is part of the urban freight transport (UFT) surveys. This involves consolidating with new contribution the development, implementation and statistical analysis of a survey in order to quantify the need of delivery areas. Compared to the existing literature, this paper presents a mixed applied methodology which is divided into two parts : “Exploratory survey” and “Establishment-vehicle observation” survey. These two surveys techniques were conducted to offer an overview of the freight vehicle delivery and pick-up frequency according to the daytime and weekdays and the operations related to the loading/unloading activities. This makes it possible to estimate the delivery bays requirement in the study area. The findings from a methodological and practical angle are illustrated through a real case study in a commercial street in Morocco. The findings suggest that 60% of deliveries are made between 8:00 A.M and 12 A.M, and the movements generated by each establishment are 257 movements. For this, the study zone requires the development of three loading/unloading (L/U) bays. The main contribution is to propose an approach that urban authorities can use to estimate urban delivery areas efficiently and thus allow simple replication of the proposed framework in other cities.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Context (archaeology)", "Traffic congestion", "Enforcement", "Business", "Public transport", "Exploratory research", "Urban area", "Environmental planning", "Computer science", "Environmental science", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 10, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0014.4237" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4416208847", "doi": "10.1080/17538947.2025.2577293", "title": "Managing urban freight electrification: spatial insights into battery electric truck delivery demand", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-11-14", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jihao Deng", "Quan Yuan", "Baoze Liu", "Xiaohong Chen" ], "first_author": "Jihao Deng", "venue": "International Journal of Digital Earth", "publisher": "Taylor & Francis", "abstract": "The operational effectiveness of battery electric trucks (BETs) – a promising solution for mitigating the environmental impacts of urban freight—hinges on their spatiotemporal delivery patterns. Leveraging high-resolution GPS trajectory data from 2,652 BETs operating in Shanghai, this study employs spatial econometric models to examine how urban built environment factors shape BET delivery demand. Results reveal significant temporal variations, with delivery demands peaking during mid-day hours and being closely associated with specific land-use categories such as postal services, retail, and restaurants. Charging station density notably influences BET activities exclusively at mid-day, reflecting operational adjustments to battery limitations. BETs actively avoid congested central urban areas during peak times, highlighting the need for tailored urban freight management strategies, such as establishing dedicated zero-emission logistics zones and optimized charging infrastructure placement. This research advances the methodological understanding of electric freight demand modeling and provides actionable insights for policymakers aiming to enhance urban logistics efficiency and sustainability.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "City logistics", "Battery (electricity)", "Global Positioning System", "Battery capacity", "Urban area", "Traffic management" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17538947.2025.2577293?needAccess=true" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400157684", "doi": "10.1142/s0217595924400165", "title": "Collaborative Routing Optimization for Heterogeneous Trucks–Drones Under Urban Regional Restrictions", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-06-29", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jiaojiao Gao", "Xiuping Guo" ], "first_author": "Jiaojiao Gao", "venue": "Asia Pacific Journal of Operational Research", "publisher": "World Scientific", "abstract": "Collaborative truck–drone delivery is a crucial model of drone involvement in urban logistics, addressing drone limitations in load capacity and endurance. However, regional constraints, including damage, blockades, pollution, and epidemics, pose routing challenges for trucks and drones. This study integrates regional restrictions into the heterogeneous truck–drone routing problem, presenting a mixed-integer programming model for cost minimization. To tackle complexity, we introduce an enhanced gray wolf optimization algorithm (EGWO), which improves the initial solution through partition scanning and a heuristic insertion algorithm. EGWO effectiveness is confirmed through enhancements in the standard test library. On average, the heterogeneous truck–drone model achieves a 28.31% cost reduction compared to the single-type truck delivery model. Moreover, deep insights into the impacts of multi-type trucks, the number of no-fly zones and the number of restricted traffic zones on the performance of the heterogeneous truck–drone system are discussed.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Drone", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Business", "Computer network", "Engineering", "Biology", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1142/s0217595924400165" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2575283702", "doi": "10.1109/dynamics.2016.7819107", "title": "Management of urban freight transport system: State and prospects", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-11-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sergey Voytenkov", "E. Е. Vitvitskiy" ], "first_author": "Sergey Voytenkov", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Safety, efficiency and controllability of the regional and municipal transport systems are main key points of developing the motor transport systems. An urgent task is to raise the efficiency of functioning and managing the urban freight transport system, which is the objective of this study. The previously developed methodology has been improved based of the principles of coordination, a system approach, the scheduling theory techniques that allows creating freight operational plans requiring fewer trucks implementation in a plurality of consignors and consignees. In conclusion the expediency of improving the management structure of the urban freight transport system was substantiated by creating a unified municipal dispatch service. The results of experimental studies on applying improved techniques indicate enhancing physical indicators (total kilometrage, exploitation vehicle-hours) of trucks operation up to 30%, lowering operating costs up to 20% compared to the previously proposed solutions.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Transport system", "Controllability", "Key (lock)", "Computer science", "Road transport", "Operational costs", "Task (project management)", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/dynamics.2016.7819107" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2304820843", "doi": null, "title": "Decreasing Congestion by Optimizing the Number, Location, and Usage of Loading/Unloading Bays for Urban Freight", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "André Romano Alho", "João de Abreu e Silva", "Jorge Pinho de Sousa", "Edgar E. Blanco" ], "first_author": "André Romano Alho", "venue": "Transportation Research Board 95th Annual MeetingTransportation Research Board", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The role of urban freight in fulfilling society’s consumption needs is often overshadowed by externality-causing parking practices (e.g., double parking associated with traffic delays). Loading/unloading bays are in general viewed as an effective way to avoid double/in-lane parking of freight vehicles but enforcement of usage is crucial to assure availability. With this work the authors aim at assessing the potential of improving mobility and reducing environmental impacts of urban logistics through the spatial configuration (number, location, size) and correct usage enforcement of bays. Freight parking demand models were created from an establishment-based freight survey and a parking observation exercise. A case study (with one square kilometre) was defined in the city of Lisbon, Portugal, predominantly based on the output of land-use analyses. The authors assessed candidate locations for new bays and developed a variable to weight store demand. Optimal locations for a fixed total number of bays were explored using an iterative implementation of the “maximize capacitated coverage” algorithm. Alternative bay systems were selected to be compared with the current configuration. Freight parking operations were explored using a microsimulation framework that allows comparing bay systems performance with a set of indicators (e.g., average delay, total fuel consumption). Enforcement for non-freight vehicles parking in bays was represented by reductions in demand. The results show that freight traffic causes a disproportionate amount of externalities and the current bay configuration is clearly worse than the proposed solutions. Non-freight vehicles parking in bays might have a greater impact when occurring in specific locations rather than due to changes in total demand.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Externality", "Enforcement", "Fuel efficiency", "Traffic congestion", "Consumption (sociology)", "Vehicle miles of travel", "Work (physics)", "Truck", "Environmental economics", "Business", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/1392389" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4387914459", "doi": "10.1109/codit58514.2023.10284110", "title": "Automatic Control of Drones' Missions in a Hybrid Truck-Drone Delivery System", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-07-03", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Silvia Proia", "Graziana Cavone", "Giulia Tresca", "Raffaele Carli", "Mariagrazia Dotoli" ], "first_author": "Silvia Proia", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Last-mile delivery is one of the most discussed problems of the last decade due to the growing importance of e-commerce and the development of Industry 4.0. In particular, this problem regards the delivery of parcels from the warehouse to the final customers. In order to bring efficiency and innovation, in this paper a hybrid delivery architecture is considered, which takes advantage of the combined use of a drone and a truck to perform a sequence of pick-ups and deliveries, and the problem of optimal control of the drones' missions is addressed. The reference scenario is the smart city where the drone of the hybrid delivery architecture is in charge of three different pick-up and delivery missions: truck to point (i.e., pick-up from the truck and delivery to the customer), point to point (i.e., delivery to a customer and pick-up from the subsequent customer), and point to truck (i.e., reentry from a customer to the truck). From the control point of view, the drone is optimally guided in all the operating modes, i.e., ascent and descent from/to truck mode, free flight mode with/without payload, and descent for pick-up/delivery mode, by a receding horizon linear quadratic regulator (LQR), which is able to manage the drone in the dynamic landing on a movable vehicle and to allow the changing in real time of the landing point on the truck. Simulation results of the truck-drone delivery architecture are presented and discussed in detail, proving the effectiveness of the proposed method.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Payload (computing)", "Controller (irrigation)", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Point (geometry)", "Automotive engineering", "Computer security", "Network packet" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/codit58514.2023.10284110" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4220781808", "doi": "10.4038/jsalt.v2i1.41", "title": "Factors Influencing Electrification of Urban Freight Vehicles: A Case Study of Three Indian Cities - Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Surat", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-03-30", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "H. M. Shivanand Swamy", "S. Sinha", "Keval Modi", "Dominic Bryan S. San Jose Ed.D.", "D. Sanghvi", "N. Chippa", "Y. Khurana" ], "first_author": "H. M. Shivanand Swamy", "venue": "Journal of South Asian Logistics and Transport", "publisher": null, "abstract": "India’s high levels of transport-related air pollution endanger public health. The transition to electric mobility will address this challenge while also reducing the country’s dependence on oil imports. The Government of India has offered incentives to electric vehicle manufacturers and purchasers that promote faster adoption of electric vehicles. The states have framed electric vehicle policies offering additional fiscal and non-fiscal incentives supporting this objective, but the adoption rate of electric vehicles in India is far below expectations. This paper aims to understand the factors that influence the electrification of urban freight vehicles. It does so with reference to urban freight movements linked to textile markets in Ahmedabad and Surat, and the fruit and vegetable market in Delhi. By studying these, it attempts to assess the impact of key policy and market conditions on the adoption of electric vehicles. Based on stakeholder perceptions, it further tries to identify the enablers and barriers to the electrification of urban freight vehicles.", "keywords": [ "Electrification", "Incentive", "Business", "Government (linguistics)", "Electric vehicle", "Transport engineering", "Economic growth", "Electricity", "Engineering", "Economics", "Market economy" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4038/jsalt.v2i1.41" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4283168604", "doi": "10.1016/j.tre.2022.102783", "title": "A cost-based comparative analysis of different last-mile strategies for e-commerce delivery", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-06-20", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Anmol Pahwa", "Miguel Jaller" ], "first_author": "Anmol Pahwa", "venue": "Transportation Research Part E Logistics and Transportation Review", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Last mile (transportation)", "Work (physics)", "Business", "Consolidation (business)", "Market share", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Demand patterns", "Fleet management", "Transport engineering", "Environmental economics", "Mile" ], "cited_by_count": 92, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2022.102783" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W182362495", "doi": "10.1016/b978-008044799-5/50109-1", "title": "Benefits from Changes in Scale in Sustainable City Logistics", "year": 2006, "publication_date": "2006-01-01", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Joan C. Rijsenbrij" ], "first_author": "Joan C. Rijsenbrij", "venue": "Elsevier eBooks", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Scale (ratio)", "Business", "Geography", "Cartography" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-008044799-5/50109-1" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2581556616", "doi": "10.1109/hpcc-smartcity-dss.2016.0184", "title": "Determining Urban Freight Facility Locations Using Post-Evaluation Deliberation", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-12-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lindawati Lindawati", "Robert de Souza" ], "first_author": "Lindawati Lindawati", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Rapid urban population growth in urban areas poses interesting challenges for freight transportation to balance economic activities and environment sustainability. To improve urban freight transportation, stakeholders explore alternatives by searching for carefully located freight facilities for storage, sorting and consolidation to reduce the number of freight vehicles used. We propose a tool to support the decision makers to choose suitable location for these facilities by re-examining a set of alternative solutions via post-evaluation deliberation using Genetic Algorithm (GA). Using this tool, we are able to provide good alternative solutions with the flexibility to tighten or loosen certain resources/constraints for a case study to determine urban consolidation center for urban retail clusters.", "keywords": [ "Deliberation", "Consolidation (business)", "Sustainability", "Transport engineering", "Sorting", "Flexibility (engineering)", "Population", "Traffic management", "Computer science", "Business", "Operations research", "Environmental economics" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/hpcc-smartcity-dss.2016.0184" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2011200853", "doi": "10.2495/ut150241", "title": "A freight urban distribution center design with micro-simulation support for city logistics", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-04-30", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Domenico Gattuso", "Gian Carla Cassone", "C. Lanciano", "V. Placido", "M. Praticò" ], "first_author": "Domenico Gattuso", "venue": "WIT transactions on the built environment", "publisher": "WIT Press", "abstract": "The performance of a freight interchange warehouse can be improved and/or enhanced through the analysis, study and optimization of active processes for the treatment/handling of goods.This paper proposes a discrete event microsimulation model as a tool useful to design a freight interchange warehouse and, particularly, to manage the exchange of freights between heavy lorries, coming from extra-urban regions, and small electric vans used for urban distribution.In particular, the paper focuses on dimensioning the warehouse structure and handling means in order to optimize the operational activities in relation to inbound freight flows (vehicles from extra-regional areas) and outbound freight flows (urban distribution service).The micro-simulation model allowed ex-ante and ex-post evaluations proving to be a useful decision support tool in planning.", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Logistics center", "Transport engineering", "Center (category theory)", "Distribution center", "Traffic management", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Computer science", "Business", "Engineering", "Operations research", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://www.witpress.com/Secure/elibrary/papers/UT15/UT15024FU1.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W371885266", "doi": null, "title": "Recent advances in city logistics : proceedings of the 4th International Conference on City Logistics (Langkawi, Malaysia, 12-14 July, 2005)", "year": 2006, "publication_date": "2006-01-01", "type": "book", "language": "en", "authors": [ "栄一 谷口", "Russell George Thompson" ], "first_author": "栄一 谷口", "venue": "Elsevier eBooks", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Preface. Data collection for modeling, evaluating and benchmarking city logistics schemes. (E. Taniguchi, R. G. Thompson and T. Yamada). Intermodal transport and city logistics policies. (T. Nemoto, M. Browne, J. Visser and J. Castro). Application of a tour-based model to simulate freight distribution in a large urbanized area. (F. Russo and A. Carteni). Mars - A Programming language for solving vehicle routing problems. (A. Galic, T. Caric and H. Gold). An experimental study on the performance of probabilistic vehicle routing and scheduling with ITS. (N. Ando and E. Taniguchi). Modelling the effects of city logistics schemes. (T. Yamada and E .Taniguchi). Demand models for city logistics: a state of the art and a proposed integrated system. (F. Russo and A. Comi). Planning on-street loading-unloading spaces considering the behaviour of pickup-delivery vehicles and parking enforcement. (N. Aiura and E. Taniguchi). The influence of transportation network reliability on city logistics. (R. Raicu, S. Raicu and M. Popa). Keeping of delivery time windows by considering actual and expected traffic situations in transport planning. (D. Wild and C. Glucker). The future of city logistics: estimating the feasibility of home delivery in urban areas. (J. Visser and K. Hassall). Introducing high productivity vehicles into Australia: Two case studies with different regulatory mechanisms. (K. Hassall). Modelling multimodal freight transport: Impacts of network improvement in urban areas on inter-regional freight transport. (B.F. Russ, T. Yamada, J. Castro and T. Ito). Evaluation of logistics performance for freight mode choice at an intermodal terminal. (P. Kunadhamraks and S. Hanaoka). Evaluation of a freight auction in an urban transport network. (P. Jonkman, E. Taniguchi and T. Yamada). Evaluating toll measures on urban expressway considering the behaviour of several stakeholders associated with urban freight transport. (E. Taniguchi and D. Tamagawa). Securing the logistics of the shopping mall. (K. Button, R. Stough and M. Thibault). Night-time delivery restrictions: a review. (M. Browne, J. Allen, S. Anderson and A. Woodburn). Cost structure of highway construction and maintenance: How should we levy taxes on freight vehicles?. (Y. Misui and T. Nemoto). Effectiveness and feasibility of innovative freight strategies for the U.S. urban areas.(K. Kawamura and Y. Lu). A methodology for evaluating urban freight projects. (R.G. Thompson and K. Hassall). Analysis of the effects of a cooperative delivery system in Bangkok. (A. G. Qureshi and S. Hanaoka). A study on the performance of probe vehicle data. (K. Yamane, E. Taniguchi, T. Fushiki and K. Kimita). Benefits from changes in scale in sustainable city logistics. (J. C. Rijsenbrij). Fighting the windmills: Survey results on urban freight policies between Spain and the Netherlands. (J.H.R. van Duin and J. Munuzuri). Efforts to make distribution and transportation more efficient through cooperation among Japanese companies. (K. Hayashi, H. Ono and Y. Yano). New concepts and organisations for the last mile: French experiments and their results. (D. Patier). Bases for a policy for the development of logistics platforms in the Metropolitan Zone of Mexico City. (A. Lozano, J.P. Antun, C. Santos, R. Alarcon, F. Granados and R. Hernandez).Transportation demand management: experiments in Akihabara 2004. (H. Ishida, E. Taniguchi, T. Hyodo, A. Sasaki, H. Ando, K. Ikeda). Pilot demonstration of a web-based load zone reservation system. (J. Munuzuri, J. Larraneta, J.N. Ibanez and G. Montero).City logistics in China: An overview. (W. Qiu, F. Yang and D. Yang). The integration of urban goods transport and delivery in the development of municipal mobility plans in the Walloon region: Towards a comprehensive and cross-sectional approach. (W. Debauche, D. Laffineuse, D. Borsu and A. N'diaye). B2C E-commerce: impact on transport in urban areas. (K. Esser and J. Kurt). A framework to scope logistics initiatives. (J.W. Joubert and H.W. Ittmann). Retailers distribution and local time window policies. (H. Quak and R. de Koster). Using daytime population for dangerous goods vehicle route planning. (K. H. Lau). A conceptual framework for solving the multiple depot probabilistic vehicle routing problem with time window (MDPVRPTW). (S. Samanta and M. K. Jha). A genetic algorithms-based decision support system for transportation infrastructure management in urban areas. (M.K. Jha, K. Kepaptsoglou, M. Karlaftis and J. Abdullah). Off-peak freight deliveries to new york city:challenges and policy measures. (J. Holguin-Veras, J.M. Polimeni and B. Cruz).", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Multimodal transport", "Traffic management", "Operations research", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Computer science", "Passenger transport", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Engineering", "Operations management" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BA84878077" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3012355865", "doi": "10.3390/su12062180", "title": "A Multi-commodity Network Flow Model for Sustainable Performance Evaluation in City Logistics: Application to the Distribution of Multi-tenant Buildings in Tokyo", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-03-11", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Rémy Dupas", "Eiichi Taniguchi", "Jean‐Christophe Deschamps", "Ali Gul Qureshi" ], "first_author": "Rémy Dupas", "venue": "Sustainability", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "The distribution of goods in crowded city centers is a major challenge. In this paper, we propose a methodology for evaluating the performance of a parcel distribution network in city logistics. This methodology encompasses the main entities of a two-tier distribution system made up of carriers, huge shopping centers (multi-tenant buildings) and intermediate depots (urban consolidation centers), as well as the parcel flows between them. This methodology aims to optimize the transport flows (distance traveled) of a given distribution network while also quantifying the impact in terms of sustainable development by measuring gas emissions. Two different states of the network with different connectivity degrees are evaluated and compared: the current state of the network as well as its future state. The transport network modeling is based on a network flow, which is expressed in linear programming and implemented with an optimization solver. The validation of this methodology is based on the parcel distribution of the Multi-tenant Buildings of the city of Tokyo. The findings are that the network with greater connectivity between the entities brings significant traveled distance reduction as well as a reduction of emissions of CO2. Another finding is that the grouping of the parcels (i.e., pooling) brings a reduction of the distance traveled compared to the transport organization without grouping and contributes to a reduction in the number of trucks.", "keywords": [ "Solver", "Flow network", "Truck", "Street network", "Transport engineering", "Pooling", "Computer science", "Transport network", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Network planning and design", "Reduction (mathematics)", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 16, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/6/2180/pdf?version=1584023270" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2015016022", "doi": "10.2495/ut150231", "title": "An ex-ante evaluation of last-mile freight distribution services for city logistics", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-04-30", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lionel Amodeo", "D. Lamari", "Giuseppe Musolino", "V. Placido", "Antonio Polimeni", "M. Praticò", "Antonino Vitetta" ], "first_author": "Lionel Amodeo", "venue": "WIT transactions on the built environment", "publisher": "WIT Press", "abstract": "The paper deals with methodologies to support an ex-ante assessment of the impacts generated by the introduction of city logistics measures on last-mile freight distribution services.Some models and algorithms are applied and compared to solve the vehicle routing problem for freight deliveries in the town of Reggio Calabria with the introduction of an urban distribution centre and of green freight vehicles.Heuristic routing algorithms are compared in terms of sequence of clients (retailers) visited subject to some constraints given by the presence of UDC and the limited autonomy and capacity of freight vehicles.", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Traffic management", "Vehicle routing problem", "Transport engineering", "Last mile (transportation)", "Heuristic", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Ex-ante", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Mile" ], "cited_by_count": 9, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://www.witpress.com/Secure/elibrary/papers/UT15/UT15023FU1.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2796596851", "doi": "10.1016/j.endm.2018.03.013", "title": "A Randomized Variable Neighborhood Descent Heuristic to Solve the Flying Sidekick Traveling Salesman Problem", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-04-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Júlia Cária de Freitas", "Puca Huachi Vaz Penna" ], "first_author": "Júlia Cária de Freitas", "venue": "Electronic Notes in Discrete Mathematics", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Travelling salesman problem", "Descent (aeronautics)", "Heuristic", "Benchmark (surveying)", "Payload (computing)", "Solver", "Computer science", "Mathematical optimization", "2-opt", "Variable neighborhood search", "Variable (mathematics)" ], "cited_by_count": 78, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1571065318300593>." }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3174320929", "doi": "10.37394/23201.2021.20.13", "title": "A Multicriteria, Bat Algorithm Approach for Computing the Range Limited Routing Problem for Electric Trucks", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-06-28", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Julian Scott Yeomans" ], "first_author": "Julian Scott Yeomans", "venue": "WSEAS Transactions on Circuits and Systems archive", "publisher": null, "abstract": "As a result of increasing urban intensification, civic planners have devoted additional resources to more sustainability-focused logistics planning. Electric vehicles have proved to be both a lower cost alternative and more environmentally friendly than the more ubiquitous internal combustion engine vehicles. However, the predominant decision-making approaches employed by businesses and municipalities are not necessarily computationally conducive for the optimization and evaluation of urban transportation systems involving electric vehicles. An innovative modelling and planning approach is proposed to enable urban planners to more readily evaluate the contribution of electric vehicles in city logistics and to support the decision-making process. Specifically, this paper provides a multicriteria modelling-to-generate-alternatives (MGA) decision-support procedure that employs the Bat Algorithm (BA) metaheuristic for generating sets of alternatives for electric vehicle planning in urban transshipment problems. The efficacy of this multicriteria, BA-driven MGA approach for creating planning alternatives is demonstrated on an urban transshipment problem involving electric trucks.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Computer science", "Transshipment (information security)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Process (computing)", "Range (aeronautics)", "Metaheuristic", "Sustainability", "Analytic hierarchy process", "Operations research", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Transport engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.37394/23201.2021.20.13" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1121188578", "doi": null, "title": "Urban freight distribution: council warehouses & freight by rail", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-10-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Aleksander Sładkowski", "Rui Miguel Dantas", "Cristian Micu", "Giritharan Sekar", "Alfredo ARENA", "Vatsal Singhania" ], "first_author": "Aleksander Sładkowski", "venue": "DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Rail is the one of the highly underused form of freight transportation in the European Union. Majority of the freightage are distributed by trucks and HGVs. With new regulations and socio-environmental concerns urban logistics is facing a new challenge which can be tackled using innovative transport mechanisms and streamline operations. This article sheds light on a system which integrates freight distribution via metro lines in the closest vicinity of the customer, use of council warehouses and further innovative transport mechanisms for final delivery. This system uses existing infrastructure effectively without impacting its surroundings and triggers the reduction of polluting carriers. This system offers the option of immediate implementation which will enable EU to compete with a global freight distribution market.", "keywords": [ "Warehouse", "Transport engineering", "Distribution (mathematics)", "City logistics", "Traffic management", "Business", "Engineering", "Marketing", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doaj.org/article/586d54a712a24c3eae2d65bf26786b0c" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4389230935", "doi": "10.1109/iavvc57316.2023.10328131", "title": "Remaining Driving Range Estimation of Medium-Duty Electric Trucks During Delivery", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-10-16", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hyunjin Ahn", "Xingyu Zhou", "Heran Shen", "Yung-Chi Kung", "Junmin Wang" ], "first_author": "Hyunjin Ahn", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Fleet electrification has attracted substantial interest in the trucking industry, particularly in last-mile delivery fleets. However, the limited driving range of electric trucks (eTrucks) remains a significant challenge in this endeavor. Accurate estimation of the remaining driving range (RDR) during delivery can not only assist route planning but also help alleviate the range anxiety of drivers. This paper presents an RDR estimation algorithm that consists of offline historical data processing and online range estimation for medium-duty electric trucks in delivery scenarios. Leveraging real driving data, a traffic phase classification Markov chain and a driver behavior model are developed to forecast future driver maneuvers and vehicle velocities. The RDR is calculated by considering the energy consumption of upcoming road segments and the projected final state of charge (SOC). Extensive evaluations under various scenarios demonstrate the algorithm's effectiveness, with an estimation error of less than 4 km and a 52.1% reduction in error compared to the widely used SOC-based method. The results demonstrate the algorithm's potential to enhance RDR estimation in delivery operations, offering opportunities for improved efficiency and management of electric trucking fleets.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Driving range", "Range (aeronautics)", "Electrification", "Computer science", "Automotive engineering", "Estimation", "Markov chain", "Transport engineering", "Electric vehicle", "Real-time computing", "Simulation" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/iavvc57316.2023.10328131" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4281701107", "doi": "10.1016/j.eswa.2022.117647", "title": "An adaptive large neighborhood search heuristic for the flying sidekick traveling salesman problem with multiple drops", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-05-30", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Setyo Tri Windras Mara", "Achmad Pratama Rifai", "Bertha Maya Sopha" ], "first_author": "Setyo Tri Windras Mara", "venue": "Expert Systems with Applications", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Travelling salesman problem", "Computer science", "Drone", "Vehicle routing problem", "Heuristic", "Context (archaeology)", "Mathematical optimization", "Local search (optimization)", "Operations research", "Truck", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 75, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2022.117647" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2172062442", "doi": "10.5539/ijbm.v8n13p137", "title": "A New Prioritizing-Stacking Heuristic Algorithm for the Inner-City Truck Loading Problem", "year": 2013, "publication_date": "2013-06-19", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Safwan Altarazi" ], "first_author": "Safwan Altarazi", "venue": "International Journal of Business and Management", "publisher": "Canadian Center of Science and Education", "abstract": "Efficiently solving the truck loading problem (TLP) is crucial for achieving urban logistics objectives. Manyheuristics, mainly based on wall-building and layer-building concepts, are presented in literature to solve thisNP-hard problem. The current research presents a two-step novel prioritization-stacking heuristic algorithm forsolving the TLP. The new algorithm primarily aims to improve the truck space utilization and reduce inventorycosts at origin and destination points. In particular, the current work considers developing countries conditionsin which demand is uncertain, cost minimization is prioritized over customer service, and routing optimization iscomplicated by a lot of traffic jams. The performance of the proposed heuristic is evaluated by applying it to areal-life case study from the Jordanian market. Additionally, the stacking part of the proposed heuristic isbenchmarked with a literature data sample. Both implementations have proved the validity of the suggestedheuristic algorithm.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Heuristic", "Computer science", "Vehicle routing problem", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Minification", "Stacking", "Mathematical optimization", "Implementation", "Prioritization", "Heuristics", "Algorithm" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijbm/article/download/26129/16984" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3182067109", "doi": "10.1016/j.ejor.2021.07.008", "title": "The min-cost parallel drone scheduling vehicle routing problem", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-07-10", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Minh Anh Nguyen", "Giang Thi-Huong Dang", "Minh Hoàng Hà", "Minh-Trien Pham" ], "first_author": "Minh Anh Nguyen", "venue": "European Journal of Operational Research", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Travelling salesman problem", "Computer science", "Vehicle routing problem", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Mathematical optimization", "Truck", "Job shop scheduling", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Heuristic", "Integer programming", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 157, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2021.07.008" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4412698163", "doi": "10.3390/app15158337", "title": "Intelligent Functional Clustering and Spatial Interactions of Urban Freight System: A Data-Driven Framework for Decoding Heavy-Duty Truck Behavioral Heterogeneity", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-07-26", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ruixu Pan", "Quan Yuan", "Chen Liu", "Jiaming Cao", "Xingyu Liang" ], "first_author": "Ruixu Pan", "venue": "Applied Sciences", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "The rapid development of the logistics industry has underscored the urgent need for efficient and sustainable urban freight systems. As a core component of freight systems, heavy-duty trucks (HDT) have been researched regarding surface-level descriptive statistics of their heterogeneities, such as trip volume, frequency, etc., but there is a lack of in-depth analyses of the spatial interaction between freight travel and freight functional clustering, which restricts a systematic understanding of freight systems. Against this backdrop, this study develops a data-driven framework to analyze HDT behavioral heterogeneity and its spatial interactions with a freight functional zone in Shanghai. Leveraging the high-frequency trajectory data of nearly 160,000 HDTs across seven types, we construct a set of regional indicators and employ hierarchical clustering, dividing the city into six freight functional zones. Combined with the HDTs’ application scenarios, functional characteristics, and trip distributions, we further analyze the spatial interaction between the HDTs and clustered zones. The results show that HDT travel patterns are not merely responses to freight demand but complex reflections of urban industrial structures, infrastructure networks, and policy environments. By embedding vehicle behaviors within their spatial and functional contexts, this study reveals a layered freight system in which each HDT type plays a distinct role in supporting economic activities. This research provides a new perspective for deeply understanding the formation mechanisms of HDT trip distributions and offers critical evidence for promoting targeted freight management strategies.", "keywords": [ "Heavy duty", "Truck", "Cluster analysis", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Data mining", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3390/app15158337" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W625446406", "doi": null, "title": "Urban Freight Survey Sampling: Challenges and Strategies", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Takanori Sakai", "Kazuya Kawamura", "Tetsuro Hyodo" ], "first_author": "Takanori Sakai", "venue": "Transportation Research Board 94th Annual MeetingTransportation Research Board", "publisher": null, "abstract": "In this paper, the authors analyze data from a large-scale survey, the 2003 Tokyo Metropolitan Freight Survey (TMFS), to examine some of the sampling issues associated with urban freight surveys. The TMFS data indicate that the variables commonly obtained from freight surveys, such as tons shipped and truck trips generated at a facility level, have highly skewed population distributions, making it difficult to obtain accurate estimates when the sample size is modest. Using bootstrap method, the authors compared the performances of stratified sampling against simple random sampling. The analysis indicates that, under the ideal condition, stratified sampling with Neyman allocation can improve the accuracies of the estimates. However, two-phase sampling, which is often used in practice to obtain the information that is necessary to implement the Neyman allocation, tends to produce poor results. The findings presented in this study underscore the importance of sample size in freight surveys and the efforts to capture mega shippers in freight surveys.", "keywords": [ "Stratified sampling", "Sampling (signal processing)", "Metropolitan area", "Sample (material)", "Sampling design", "Simple random sample", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Population", "Survey data collection", "Statistics", "Survey sampling" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/1338798" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2506047658", "doi": "10.1201/b17715-8", "title": "Urban Planning with City Logistics", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-10-29", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Eiichi Taniguchi", "Russell G. Thompson" ], "first_author": "Eiichi Taniguchi", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "While the profession of urban planning became institutionalized with the widespread of regulation of land use in the early 20th century, the practice of city planning is as old as cities themselves. Meanwhile, transport of freight has been a constant challenge for most major cities in the world, most of which owe their origins to the geographical advantages provided by access to waterways. Ironically, it can be argued that transport of freight was a more visible issue in city planning before the electrication and automobilization of cities. Until the early part of the 20th century, transportation planners paid a great deal of attention to the need to deliver 4.1 Introduction 41 4.2 Understanding Modern Supply Chains 44 4.3 Urban Planning for Freight 47 4.3.1 Planning Process 48 4.3.2 Managing Truck-Related Congestion 49 4.4 Summary 52 References 53 coal to both residential and industrial buildings in cities for heating. Also, before the segregation of land uses, transporting raw material and manufactured products within and outside of urban areas, which had to rely heavily on rail, was a serious concern. As such, some of the plans included innovative and ambitious strategies to efciently move freight in cities. For example, the Plan for Chicago, often referred to as the “Burnham Plan” (Burnham and Bennett, 1909), called for the maximum utilization of the 60-mile system of tunnels under the city of Chicago to move freight within the core area of the city (DiJohn and Allen, 2009). Furthermore, Burnham and Bennett (1909) proposed that deliveries to the downtown areas be restricted to the nighttime (from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.) to reduce congestion (DiJohn and Allen, 2009).", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Environmental planning", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Geography", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1201/b17715-8" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4387172049", "doi": "10.46354/i3m.2023.emss.025", "title": "Mixed trucks and robots delivery approach: a simulation study", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [], "first_author": null, "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Among the objects of scientific research in the field of logistics, one of the most important factors is the new technologies needed to simplify and speed up delivery systems compared to human labor. This paper proposes and test a last mile delivery strategy that combines trucks and robots. The city is divided in a set of zones and each zone is a hub where the trucks arrive to serve the final destinations belonging to the zone. Hence, the last mile delivery is performed in the narrow roads of the city by robots. The problem is formalized as an optimization problem that maximizes the number of deliveries per day. A case study implemented in the old town of Bari (Italy) is studied and the obtained solutions are analyzed considering different speeds of the robots and are simulated in PTV Vissim simulation software.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Computer science", "Robot", "Human–computer interaction", "Simulation", "Engineering", "Artificial intelligence", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.46354/i3m.2023.emss.025" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2245644352", "doi": null, "title": "A hybrid microsimulation model of urban freight travel demand", "year": 2010, "publication_date": "2010-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Rick Donnelly", "M R Wigan", "Russell George Thompson" ], "first_author": "Rick Donnelly", "venue": "Research Output (Edinburgh Napier University)", "publisher": "Edinburgh Napier University", "abstract": "The distribution of freight within large urban areas is a highly complex process involving a vast multitude of interactions between an equally large number of agents. Shippers, carriers, intermediaries, warehousers, consumers (businesses as well as households), and the government all dynamically exchange goods and information in order for this system to work. Planners and policy-makers have long sought to understand and predict these interactions and their impact on the urban transportation system. They have perhaps naturally turned to modeling the interactions, most often using sketch planning techniques or adapting the sequential modeling approach used for person travel modeling. Not surprisingly, such simplifications have not fared well, as they fail to capture some of the key dynamics of urban freight. In particular, they miss the high prevalence of trip chaining and the widespread use of distribution centers in the supply chains that generate freight movements. As these and other patterns have come to define urban freight existing models have been seen as increasingly deficient (Taylor & Button 1999, Hunt & Steffan 2007). Our dissatisfaction with the status quo in freight modeling inspired the idea for an agent-based modeling approach capable of representing these complex interactions, their diversity, and their inherent variability. The chance to do so presented itself in Oregon, and the initial framework was originally developed as part of their Transportation and Land Use Model Integration Program (TLUMIP) almost a decade ago. The goal was to translate economic flows between firms, as well as firms and households, into freight flows by mode of transport. While the approach chosen was well founded in theory and current thinking, the data required to comprehensively estimate such a model were unavailable. Each known source of data only provided a narrow glimpse of the overall freight picture, and a means for fusing them into a holistic dataset suitable for model estimation seemed forlorn. Thus, it was decided to use a microsimulation approach that separately modeled each of the important decisions that characterize the demand for freight transport. The initial model was known simply as CT. Another model in the TLUMIP suite estimated economic growth and allocated it to production, exchange, and consumption between firms and households. Many of these flows were mapped to commodities that were modeled in CT, which translated them into discrete daily shipments carried by specific vehicles. The shipments, which includes attributes such as departure and dwell times as well as origin and destination, were organized into truck tours. The stops on each tour were optimized using the well-known traveling salesman problem and then assigned to the network. The land use and regional economic component has since evolved into the PECAS modeling framework, which is being deployed both in Oregon (replacing its predecessor in the TLUMIP framework) as well as in other cities and states.", "keywords": [ "Microsimulation", "Traffic management", "Process (computing)", "Order (exchange)", "Transport engineering", "Trip distribution", "Supply chain", "Agent-based model", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Multimodal transport", "Mode choice", "Work (physics)" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://napier-surface.worktribe.com/212235/1/017AHybrid.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4416074900", "doi": "10.3390/drones9110782", "title": "Resilient Last-Mile Logistics in Smart Cities Through Multi-Visit and Time-Dependent Drone–Truck Collaboration", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-11-10", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Qinxin Xiao", "Jiaojiao Gao" ], "first_author": "Qinxin Xiao", "venue": "Drones", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Urban logistics in smart cities are increasingly challenged by congestion, sustainability pressures, and the growing demand for resilient delivery systems. To address these challenges, this study introduces the Multi-Visit Time-Dependent Truck–Drone Routing Problem with simultaneous Pickup and Delivery (MTTRP-PD), a novel framework that integrates three realistic features: (i) drones serving multiple customers per sortie, (ii) time-dependent truck speeds reflecting dynamic traffic conditions, and (iii) synchronized pickup and delivery between trucks and drones. By incorporating these elements, the proposed model provides a more realistic and comprehensive representation of urban air-ground collaborative logistics in the last mile. An optimization framework and an efficient solution approach are developed and validated through computational experiments. The results demonstrate that enabling multi-visit sortie and simultaneous pickup–delivery operations can significantly reduce logistics costs compared with conventional single-visit or delivery-only strategies. Sensitivity analyses further reveal the critical influence of dynamic traffic conditions on fleet configuration and operational decision making. The findings offer actionable insights for logistics operators and policymakers, illustrating how coordinated UAV–truck collaboration can enhance efficiency, resilience, and environmental sustainability in next-generation urban logistics systems.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Sustainability", "Drone", "City logistics", "Supply chain", "Vehicle routing problem", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Humanitarian Logistics" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/9/11/782/pdf?version=1762786573" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2771762332", "doi": "10.2495/sc170151", "title": "A NEW LOOK IN DESIGNING SUSTAINABLE CITY LOGISTICS ROAD PRICING SCHEMES", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-09-18", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Armando Cartenì" ], "first_author": "Armando Cartenì", "venue": "WIT transactions on ecology and the environment", "publisher": "WIT Press", "abstract": "The congestion caused by freight vehicles within city logistics has become a serious problem for the cities round the world.Furthermore, the pollutant impacts of these vehicles are very high also at urban scale.Many cities are trying to propose planning strategies aimed at reducing these external impact of freight transport through sustainable transport policies.The idea of introducing a toll for rationalize the use of the road infrastructures by freight vehicles in city logistics is one of the most common Transportation Demand Management policies.The development of ITS technologies today allow to design these pricing schemes in several ways connecting the price to individual trips either on the congestion level as well as to the freight vehicle consumption\\emission characteristics or the size and the loading factor.The road-pricing is a well-established practice all round the world.One of the main limits of the available case studies is that they don't take into account the impacts on the acceptance and on equity among the freight carriers.The aim of the study is to propose a new look in designing a sustainable city logistics road pricing schemes based on transport-related \"acceptance and equity\" measures useful for enlarge both the acceptance of this policy among the carriers and the equity produced in term of transport costs supported by the freight companies competing in the market.The origin-destination net perceived utility s(V) is the variable proposed as an acceptance and equity measure.The idea was to consider the dispersion of s(V) as a measure of equity and the change in s(V) deriving from a road-pricing scheme as an inverse measure of acceptance (the smaller the change the larger is the acceptance of the policy among freight carriers).Furthermore, an application to a toy network was performed to test the benefit and the applicability of the proposed measure at reducing external and internal impacts deriving from a city logistics policy.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "City logistics", "Environmental economics", "Business", "Engineering", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://www.witpress.com/Secure/elibrary/papers/SC17/SC17015FU1.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W565609602", "doi": null, "title": "Large Traffic Generators: Opportunities for City Logistics Initiatives", "year": 2013, "publication_date": "2013-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Miguel Jaller", "Xiaokun Wang", "José Holguín‐Veras" ], "first_author": "Miguel Jaller", "venue": "Transportation Research Board 92nd Annual MeetingTransportation Research Board", "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper develops procedures to identify and quantify the role played by large traffic generators as contributors of traffic in large urban areas. Although, ports, container terminals, and other industrial sites are usually associated with large generations of truck trips, they only represent a small proportion of the total trips produced and attracted in large metropolitan areas. This paper analyzes the importance of other facilities such as ordinary businesses or buildings that individually or collectively generate a large proportion of truck traffic. The paper introduces two effective and complementary procedures to identify these generators using the models estimated by the authors.", "keywords": [ "TRIPS architecture", "Metropolitan area", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Container (type theory)", "Trip generation", "Business", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/1241353" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1073972851", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.2639672", "title": "Optimization Approaches for the Traveling Salesman Problem with Drone", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Niels A.H. Agatz", "Paul Bouman", "Marie Evans Schmidt" ], "first_author": "Niels A.H. Agatz", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Travelling salesman problem", "Drone", "2-opt", "Bottleneck traveling salesman problem", "Computer science", "Lin–Kernighan heuristic", "Traveling purchaser problem", "Combinatorial optimization", "Mathematical optimization", "Mathematics", "Biology", "Algorithm" ], "cited_by_count": 105, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2639672" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2905209551", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-030-02305-8_48", "title": "Economic Cost of Urban Freight GHG Mitigation", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-12-11", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Christophe Rizet", "Tu-Thi Hoai-Thu" ], "first_author": "Christophe Rizet", "venue": "Advances in intelligent systems and computing", "publisher": "Springer Nature", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Greenhouse gas", "Truck", "Payload (computing)", "Transport engineering", "Haulage", "Traffic management", "Business", "Christian ministry", "Cost–benefit analysis", "Economic cost", "Environmental economics", "Environmental science" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02305-8_48" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2024324343", "doi": "10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.03.140", "title": "How to Consolidate Urban Flows of Goods Without Setting up an Urban Consolidation Centre?", "year": 2012, "publication_date": "2012-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sara Verlinde", "Cathy Macharis", "Frank Witlox" ], "first_author": "Sara Verlinde", "venue": "Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Urban consolidation centres (UCC's) are a popular measure in city logistics. They are usually introduced by local governments in order to reduce the number of motorized freight vehicles entering their cities. Practice has shown, however, that most of these UCC's are granted only a short lifespan because of their strong reliance on government subsidies. Still, striving to make the best possible use of truckload capacities is important when aiming to reduce the number of urban freight vehicles on the streets. Hence, a search for alternative consolidation strategies is necessary. The goal of this paper is threefold. First of all, it goes more deeply into the causes of the current lack of urban consolidation. Secondly, the existing literature and research on city logistics was explored for previous findings on urban consolidation. At last, a framework for classification of urban consolidation measures and initiatives was developed based on a survey of already adopted alternatives.", "keywords": [ "Consolidation (business)", "City logistics", "Subsidy", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Economics", "Engineering", "Finance", "Market economy" ], "cited_by_count": 113, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042812006076/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400921595", "doi": "10.1177/03611981241243076", "title": "Flying Sidekick Traveling Salesman Problem in Truck–Drone Team Logistics with Energy Issues", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-07-23", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Beste Aksit", "Gökçe Özden", "İnci Sarıçiçek" ], "first_author": "Beste Aksit", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "Last-mile delivery has become increasingly important in recent years because of changes in customer needs. In this study, single-truck–multi-drone team logistics is considered. A mixed integer mathematical model is developed for the flying sidekick traveling salesman problem, a single-truck–multi-drone problem by considering technical and energy issues. Two different objective functions are used in the model. The first objective function is to minimize the sum of arrival times. Minimizing the sum of arrival times for customers also minimizes the distance traveled by the vehicles and, accordingly, the cost. The second objective function is to minimize total tardiness. A dataset is generated to test the proposed model. Trade-offs between the results for the two objective functions are analyzed. The technical requirements of the drone, energy limits, and fleet size are considered in the proposed mathematical model. The effects of the flight ranges of the drones are investigated with respect to the energy constraint. It has been observed that changes in the number of customers and drones affect the results of the objective functions. The total arrival time and tardiness decreased with increasing number of drones. Thus, the number of deliveries by truck decreases for customers. In addition, the advantages of this hybrid approach have been proven by comparing situations where only land vehicles are used with truck–drone team logistics.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Travelling salesman problem", "Truck", "Tardiness", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Function (biology)", "Mathematical optimization", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981241243076" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4391989784", "doi": "10.1299/jamdsm.2024jamdsm0021", "title": "Drone scheduling for parcel delivery with an access grade to stops on a fixed truck route", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Kotaro YAMADA", "Yoshiyuki Karuno", "Riki Kataoka", "Sota SAWADA" ], "first_author": "Kotaro YAMADA", "venue": "Journal of Advanced Mechanical Design Systems and Manufacturing", "publisher": "Japan Society Mechanical Engineers", "abstract": "In this paper, we consider a parcel delivery scheduling problem of minimizing the total duration for a truck-drone distribution system to serve a given set of customers. The single carrier truck plays the role of a mobile depot of multiple identical drones, and the drones with unit capacity perform the last-mile delivery from the carrier truck to each customer. An ordered set of truck stops for launching/retrieving drones is also given, and it constitutes a fixed route of the carrier truck. For the last-mile delivery of a drone to a customer, the launching stop and the retrieving stop of the drone must be the same. We newly introduce an integral parameter of access grade to an underlying parcel delivery model in order to obtain a flight time bound for each customer. By the flight time bound as a threshold, the given set of truck stops is partitioned into two disjoint subsets, namely sets of nearer stops and of farther stops. The carrier truck is required to choose a stop from the set of nearer stops for launching a drone to each customer. The access grade of nearer stops yields a generalized parcel delivery model, since it involves the case with a sufficiently large bound on the flight time as the underlying parcel delivery model with no access restriction to truck stops. In this paper, we first review an integer programming (IP) formulation of the underlying parcel delivery model, and then we modify it into the generalized version with the access grade of nearer stops. We also conduct numerical experiments to demonstrate the solution quality of the generalized version by utilizing an IP solver, and report the results.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Last mile (transportation)", "Disjoint sets", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Computer science", "Delivery Performance", "Set (abstract data type)", "Integer programming", "Transport engineering", "Operations research", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jamdsm/18/2/18_2024jamdsm0021/_pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2989787672", "doi": null, "title": "Characteristics of Logistics Facilities Allocation, Size and Truck Generation by Tokyo Metropolitan Area Urban Freight Survey", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-09-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Al Hanz Seiji Basa Lidasan", "Shusaku Umeda", "Tetsuro Hyodo" ], "first_author": "Al Hanz Seiji Basa Lidasan", "venue": "DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Logistics facilities should be considered in transportation plans and city plans because they generate/attract huge volumes of truck traffic. We utilized the 5th Tokyo Metropolitan Area Urban Freight Survey (TMAUFS) conducted in 2013 to analyze the relationship among land-use pattern, transportation demand, and transportation networks. This paper focuses on the questionnaire-survey to establishments and truck probe survey combined with the 1-km2 mesh land-use data of the Japanese Statistics Bureau. Data from the TMAUFS are aggregated following a description of logistics facility allocation patterns. Transition patterns of logistics facilities including factories are analyzed through a comparison of the 4th (2003) and 5th (2013) TMAUFS. Specifically, we clarify the relationship between highway-construction and location of new logistics facilities. Truck-trip-generation models are examined by fitting conventional regression models and the Tobit model for a better fit. Finally, we summarize the required future policy measures forecasted by the developed models for transportation infrastructure systems.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Truck", "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Geography", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doaj.org/article/af85d55191c34bd78e13e952017cb036" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2084252543", "doi": "10.1049/cp.2014.0953", "title": "The future of sustainable urban freight distribution: a Delphi study of the drivers and barriers of electric vehicles in London", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "M. Ablola", "Eoin Plant", "C. Lee" ], "first_author": "M. Ablola", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The use of electric delivery vehicles in urban applications is a viable solution proposed by government and academic research to enable the logistics industry to achieve the carbon emissions reduction targets set in the UK for 2050. This paper examines the multi-dimensional drivers and challenges of the use of electric freight vehicles as a primary means for the decarbonisation of urban freight transport. A theoretical framework closely linked to disruptive innovation is established to demonstrate relationships and is empirically examined through a mixed research approach of observation and a two round Delphi survey analysis. The findings suggest that (i) electric vehicle use is driven by urgency to improve city logistics, (ii) prevention of adoption is primarily cost and vehicle performance, (iii) there were notable differences in expert stakeholder perceptions of motivators and barriers. Implication included the prioritisation of targets for policy and practice to resolve.", "keywords": [ "Delphi method", "Business", "Government (linguistics)", "Stakeholder", "Environmental economics", "City logistics", "Stakeholder engagement", "Delphi", "Sustainable transport", "Transport engineering", "Greenhouse gas", "Industrial organization" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://napier-surface.worktribe.com/2294219/1/The%20future%20of%20sustainable%20urban%20freight%20distribution%20%E2%80%93%20a%20Delphi%20study%20of%20the%20drivers%20and%20barriers%20of%20electric%20vehicles%20in%20London" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2530896189", "doi": null, "title": "Urban Freight in Australia: Societal Costs and Action Plans", "year": 2005, "publication_date": "2005-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Leorey Marquez", "Nariida Smith", "Elizabeth Eugenio" ], "first_author": "Leorey Marquez", "venue": "Australasian journal of regional studies", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The effective and efficient movement of freight is critical to Australia's economy and must be assured in the face of changing local and global conditions. However, the tensions between facilitating economic activity and the impacts on traffic and the environment are heightened due to the intensely competing demands evident in urban areas. These conditions give rise to many issues which local authorities are starting to address within their traffic management plans. This paper reports on societal costs and other direct costs of urban road freight in Australia. This paper reviews recent Australian and international data on the costs of increasing traffic from trucks, vans and service vehicles within urban communities. It also presents examples of actions and policies that local government is implementing to protect their communities and the urban environment.", "keywords": [ "Project commissioning", "Truck", "Government (linguistics)", "Business", "Publishing", "Service (business)", "Local government", "Transport engineering", "Action (physics)", "Environmental planning", "Public administration", "Political science" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/INFORMIT.058104272187222" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4214516345", "doi": "10.4102/jtscm.v16i0.629", "title": "Urban freight characteristics and externalities – A comparative study of Gothenburg (Sweden) and Delhi (India)", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-02-25", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Saubhagya Dixit", "K. Ramachandra Rao", "Geetam Tiwari", "Sönke von Wieding" ], "first_author": "Saubhagya Dixit", "venue": "Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management", "publisher": "AOSIS", "abstract": "Background: The urban freight transportation (UFT) system is an essential facilitator for the smooth functioning of city logistics. It also contributes significantly to transportation-related issues, such as vehicular congestion, pollution, accidents, infrastructure damage and other related problems.Objectives: This study aimed to understand and compare the urban freight traffic characteristics and their impact in two cities: Gothenburg, Sweden and Delhi, India, having high socio-economic differences. The findings of this study will be helpful for practitioners and policymakers in the development and successful implementation of UFT management policies.Method: Using the cordon count (traffic data), retailers’ interviews (receivers’ data) and freight vehicle drivers’ interviews, UFT characteristics such as sector-specific contribution, trip characteristics, vehicular characteristics and negative impacts in terms of external cost to society are evaluated. This study also discusses the prediction of attracted trips in the study zone using freight trip attraction (models.Results: About 75% of the trips in Gothenburg and 92% of the trips in Delhi are made by light commercial and other small-sized vehicles. Gothenburg has formally organised sectors involved in freight vehicle movement; however, Delhi has informally organised sectors.Conclusion: The results revealed substantial differences in characteristics of freight trip operations in both the cities, compared with few similarities. Measures taken considering the specific local attributes of freight traffic and stakeholders’ requirement may lead to a sustainable transportation system in cities.", "keywords": [ "TRIPS architecture", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Externality", "Traffic congestion", "Facilitator", "Economic growth", "Engineering", "Economics", "Political science" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://jtscm.co.za/index.php/jtscm/article/download/629/1188" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2490418198", "doi": "10.1201/b17715-13", "title": "Intelligent Transport Systems in City Logistics", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-10-29", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Eiichi Taniguchi", "Russell G. Thompson" ], "first_author": "Eiichi Taniguchi", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) plays an important role in promoting city logistics for efcient and environmentally friendly urban freight transport systems (Taniguchi et al., 2001). It is no exaggeration to say that the goals of city logistics, which are mobility, sustainability, and livability, 9.1 Introduction 135 9.2 Function of ITS 137 9.3 Applications in City Logistics 140 9.3.1 Modeling City Logistics Using Historical or Real-Time Travel Time Data 140 9.3.2 Matching Systems between Shippers’ Orders and Unutilized Capacity on Trucks via the Internet 142 9.3.3 Parking Information and Booking Systems 143 9.3.4 Joint Delivery Systems 143 9.4 Future Perspectives 145 9.4.1 Platform of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) 145 9.4.2 Co-modality 146 References 147 cannot be achieved without ITS. There are two reasons for this. One reason is that ITS considerably helps in monitoring the behavior of several of the stakeholders involved in urban freight transport systems, including shippers, freight carriers, administrators, and residents. ITS assists in identifying improved solutions and implementing policy measures relating to urban freight transport issues. Shippers worry about their logistics costs, freight carriers concentrate on providing reliable goods delivery services in urban areas to meet the requests of shippers including time windows. Residents worry about air pollution, noise, vibration, and visual intrusion by pickup-delivery trucks movements and parking when loading/ unloading goods. Administrators in municipalities aim to promote economic development as well as to reduce negative environmental impacts. ITS and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have the capability of solving these complicated and difcult problems. The other reason is that the efciency of urban freight transport seems to be contradictory to environmental friendliness, but ITS and ICT can solve this contradiction. A good example can be seen in the optimization of Vehicle Routing and scheduling Problems (VRP) based on ITS as well as joint delivery systems using ITS. ITS is very powerful for collecting precise data on the variation of travel times on road networks and these data can be used to establish probabilistic VRP models and solutions that incorporate the uncertainty of travel times.", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Business", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1201/b17715-13" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4308485581", "doi": "10.1016/j.tranpol.2022.10.016", "title": "Capacity reduction on urban main roads: How truck drivers adapted, and what effects and consequences they experienced", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-11-03", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Elise Caspersen", "Tale Ørving", "Aud Tennøy" ], "first_author": "Elise Caspersen", "venue": "Transport Policy", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Urban freight transport is an important issue in sustainable mobility discussions. It constitutes a significant proportion of urban traffic, and expected negative impacts for urban freight transport can be arguments against implementing restrictive measures targeting passenger traffic. The scarcity of empirical studies might lead to over- or underestimation of consequences for urban freight transport. This might slow shifts towards more sustainable mobility or cause unintended negative consequences. A long-planned 14-month capacity reduction in a main road tunnel in Oslo, Norway, causing significantly increased congestion, offered an excellent opportunity to study urban freight transport adaptations, effects and consequences. With truck drivers and logistics professionals as key informants, the study amplifies voices not often heard in research. Truck drivers adapted by avoiding the tunnel during rush hours only to a limited degree, and less than general traffic did. They reported limited flexibility, as routes and trip timing are strongly defined by customer contracts. The wider consequences for drivers were more stress and less predictable workdays. The findings might improve understandings of how truck drivers can and do adapt, and what consequences they experience. This will help authorities and freight companies plan for changes in urban transport systems aimed at sustainable mobility.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Unintended consequences", "Business", "Scarcity", "Traffic congestion", "Flexibility (engineering)", "Sustainable transport", "Vehicle miles of travel", "Sustainability", "Engineering", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967070X22003018/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4409871242", "doi": "10.1007/s12351-025-00900-w", "title": "An exact approach for the charging station location selection problem in urban freight transport", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-04-28", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Paraskevi Dimitriou", "Amalia I. Nikolopoulou", "Konstantinos Gkiotsalitis" ], "first_author": "Paraskevi Dimitriou", "venue": "Operational Research", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": "Abstract The necessity to reduce emissions in the transport sector has led to the advancement of electromobility. Nowadays, electromobility is developing rapidly in the urban freight transport sector. This helps to reduce the environmental footprint of transport, given the large portion of emissions that originate from the freight transport sector. However, the use of EV fleets for freight transport has some limitations, such as autonomy, charging delays, and lack of charging infrastructure. In this study, focus is given on the problem of finding the optimal locations for charging stations of electric transport vehicles for freight transport, within an urban network. The installation of charging stations is a major issue, as it is necessary to identify the optimal locations of installation points in order to improve the delivery of products and reduce the empty vehicle kilometers driven for charging purposes. This study formulates the charging station location selection problem aiming at minimizing the empty kilometers driven to reach the charging stations, taking into consideration the destinations of truck deliveries. The developed model is an Integer Linear Program that can be effectively solved to global optimality for realistic problem instances. Further, sensitivity analysis is employed to identify specific factors with significant impact on the location decision of charging stations. Computational experiments are performed on modified benchmark problem instances, that demonstrate the scalability of the proposed modeling approach and the sensitivity of the model to the changes of different factors.", "keywords": [ "Computational intelligence", "Selection (genetic algorithm)", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Transport engineering", "Artificial intelligence", "Mathematics", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12351-025-00900-w.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3092075604", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-030-60884-2_22", "title": "A Genetic Algorithm Approach for a Truck and Trailer Routing Problem in a Loading/Unloading Bays Application", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ana Bricia Galindo-Muro", "Jaime Mora‐Vargas", "Miguel Gastón Cedillo‐Campos", "Fabiola Regis-Hernández" ], "first_author": "Ana Bricia Galindo-Muro", "venue": "Lecture notes in computer science", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Trailer", "Computer science", "Genetic algorithm", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Integer programming", "Transport engineering", "Operations research", "Mathematical optimization", "Computer network", "Algorithm" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60884-2_22" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4392634094", "doi": "10.1007/s00291-024-00754-2", "title": "Optimizing combined tours: The truck-and-cargo-bike case", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-03-10", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Philine Schiewe", "Moritz Stinzendörfer" ], "first_author": "Philine Schiewe", "venue": "OR Spectrum", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": "Abstract In this paper, we introduce a last-mile delivery concept that is well suited for urban areas. By jointly optimizing the tour of a truck and a cargo bike, we ensure that each vehicle is used optimally. Here, we assume that the bike is restocked by meeting up with the truck so that no dedicated mini-hubs have to be constructed. We model different objective functions and analyze the different variants in comparison to the traveling salesperson problem as well as the capacitated vehicle routing problem. In an experimental evaluation, we compare MIP formulations for different problem variants and assess several heuristic approaches to solve large-scale instances. These results show that we can outperform the truck-only delivery in terms of completion time while reducing the distance driven by the truck.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Computer science", "Vehicle routing problem", "Heuristic", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Scale (ratio)", "City logistics", "Operations research", "Transport engineering", "Mathematical optimization", "Automotive engineering", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00291-024-00754-2" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4391692401", "doi": "10.1287/serv.2023.0005", "title": "Jam in the Tunnel: On Urban Freight Tunnels, Their Operational Scheduling, and Unused Transport Capacity", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-02-09", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Nils Boysen", "Dirk Briskorn", "Johannes Rupp", "Stefan Schwerdfeger" ], "first_author": "Nils Boysen", "venue": "Service Science", "publisher": "Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences", "abstract": "Underground passageways for the transport of goods and people have fascinated mankind throughout the centuries. Recent initiatives in different parts of the world aim at rekindling the freight tunnel concept for urban logistics. According to this concept, freight is lifted into a tunnel, moved via electrically powered vehicles, rail cars, or maglev shuttles toward inner-city microhubs, and finally delivered with environmentally friendly vehicles to urban recipients. The main justification for this concept to outweigh the huge tunnel boring cost is a substantial reduction of road-based urban freight traffic. To warn about unfulfilled expectations, however, we show that the combination of time-critical goods, small inner-city hubs with restricted storage capacity, and the wrong booking procedure can hinder a loading of tunnel vehicles to capacity. To do so, we consider a polynomially solvable scheduling problem where due date-restricted shipments are to be assigned to tunnel vehicles and delivered to a given set of microhubs with limited storage capacity. Scarce hub capacities, tight due dates, and the wrong booking policy may not only lead to unused tunnel capacity but also to shipments that cannot be feasibly transported through the tunnel. If they are handed over to trucks as a fallback option, we show that a Braess-like paradox can occur: The time-critical, small-lot transports of the leftover shipments can produce even more surface traffic than trucking all shipments right from the start without the tunnel. Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/serv.2023.0005 .", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Business", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Operations management", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1287/serv.2023.0005" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1534640351", "doi": "10.1002/9781119081418.ch25", "title": "Impacts of Urban Logistics on Traffic Flow Dynamics", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-01-09", "type": "other", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Nicolas Chiabaut", "Jean‐Michel Sigaud", "Guillaume Marquès", "Jesús González-Feliu" ], "first_author": "Nicolas Chiabaut", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Even if urban logistic has been extensively investigated in the literature, its effects on traffic flow dynamic remain unknown. This paper aims to assess the impact of pickup-delivery trucks on traffic conditions. Among city freight collaborative solutions, dedicated delivery/pickup areas may be implemented by city administrators. These public areas have to be shared by independent carriers. Currently used, it is today difficult to anticipate their impact on the traffic flow. To this end, we resort to a theoretical but realistic urban arterial where deliveries can be completed in double-park or in dedicated area. Both solutions are investigated using a microscopic traffic simulator. Comparisons can be carried out using an aggregated and parsimonious indicator: the macroscopic fundamental diagram. It turns out that capacity and delays are less reduced when delivery areas are used.", "keywords": [ "Traffic flow (computer networking)", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Pickup", "Computer science", "Flow (mathematics)", "Diagram", "Simulation", "Operations research", "Engineering", "Computer security", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119081418.ch25" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1889766421", "doi": null, "title": "An Evaluation Methodology for Urban Freight Policy Measures with Effects of E Commerce", "year": 2004, "publication_date": "2004-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Eiichi Taniguchi", "Kentaro Hata" ], "first_author": "Eiichi Taniguchi", "venue": "10th World Conference on Transport ResearchWorld Conference on Transport Research SocietyIstanbul Technical University", "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper presented a methodology of modeling to evaluate effects of policy measures by a city authority and countermeasures by freight carriers on urban freight transport with effects of e-commerce. Models were applied to a test road network in conditions that 10% of consumers use e-commerce for shopping. Results showed that the policy measures of implementing large truck ban or road pricing may increase total costs of trucks by retail shop delivery companies and home delivery companies. However, some countermeasures including co-operative freight transport systems, pickup points and consolidated time windows are effective not only to reduce total costs but also decrease travel times as well as CO2 and NOx emissions of trucks. Therefore, it is possible to establish efficient and environmentally friendly freight transport systems in urban areas, for cases that truck traffic is increased due to introducing B2C e-commerce.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Transport policy", "Commercial vehicle", "City logistics", "Traffic management", "Environmental economics", "Engineering", "Economics", "Public transport" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/843681" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2518017164", "doi": "10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2016.08.009", "title": "Impacts of logistics sprawl on the urban environment and logistics: Taxonomy and review of literature", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-08-24", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Khalid Aljohani", "Russell George Thompson" ], "first_author": "Khalid Aljohani", "venue": "Journal of Transport Geography", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Urban sprawl", "City logistics", "Metropolitan area", "Truck", "Relocation", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Environmental planning", "Traffic management", "Regional science", "Geography", "Urban planning" ], "cited_by_count": 228, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2016.08.009" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2329266124", "doi": "10.12720/jtle.1.2.111-115", "title": "Society's Perception to the Presence of Urban Distribution Trucks", "year": 2013, "publication_date": "2013-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lynn Alan Dexheimer", "Ana Margarita Larrañaga", "Luis Antonio Lindau" ], "first_author": "Lynn Alan Dexheimer", "venue": "Journal of Traffic and Logistics Engineering", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Its undeniable that the urban freight transport interferes on the quality of urban life. At the same time benefiting from availability and variety of necessary products for their subsistence, the population suffers with a large number of problems generated while trucks are carrying out deliveries. This study aims to identify, through qualitative research, the perception of society regarding the presence of delivery trucks in four urban neighborhood of Porto Alegre city: Floresta, Cristo Redentor, Humaita and downtown. It was observed during the interviews that people only see the trucks when they feel negatively affected by them. The largest amount of problems expressed by respondents occurs when trucks are parked performing the loading and unloading. The interruptions in traffic flow to maneuvers, interruptions in the pedestrians flow on the sidewalk due to goods loading and unloading and contribution to congestion problems presented the highest manifestations. ", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Perception", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Transport engineering", "Geography", "Engineering", "Psychology", "Mathematics", "Aerospace engineering", "Mathematical analysis" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.12720/jtle.1.2.111-115" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4297626474", "doi": "10.1061/9780784484265.244", "title": "Exploring the Impacts of the Built Environment on Urban Freight Generation: A Case Study of Light Freight Vehicles in Shanghai", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-09-08", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Rong Zhang", "Yahui Yao" ], "first_author": "Rong Zhang", "venue": "CICTP 2022", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban freight transportation plays a vital role in meeting the cargo needs of citizens’ lives and business operations. Using establishment factors to analyze urban freight generation does not effectively aid the government in developing urban freight management policies to guarantee economic growth and reduce negative externalities of urban freight. This paper explores the impact of the built environment factor on urban freight generation by creating regression models using goods transported by light freight vehicles in the central city of Shanghai. The models are constructed separately for all traffic analysis zones and the three types of traffic analysis zones after classification. The results show that the models for the classified three types of traffic analysis zones have higher accuracy and that land areas of different uses can be combined with population and employment to jointly predict the size of freight generation for residential life, commercial activities, and production activities.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Computer science", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784484265.244" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W135787038", "doi": null, "title": "The role and treatment of light goods vehicles in urban freight transport", "year": 2004, "publication_date": "2004-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Michael J. Browne", "Julian Allen", "Stephen T. Anderson" ], "first_author": "Michael J. Browne", "venue": "WestminsterResearch (University of Westminster)", "publisher": "University of Westminster", "abstract": "This paper examines the importance of light goods vehicles (LGVs – i.e. commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tons gross vehicle weight) in urban areas. The paper discusses the issues that have contributed to the increase in the numbers and total activity levels of these vehicles in the UK. The differences in the policy treatment of the vehicles in comparison with heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are considered. The paper shows that the LGV fleet has grown by 20% over the past decade and that LGV vehicle kilometers have increased by 38% since 1990. Much of this growth in LGV use has taken place in urban areas. Insight into the activities for which LGVs are used is provided by a summary of results from a recently-published UK government survey of privately-owned LGVs, together with the authors’ research in two sectors in which LGVs are extensively used: parcels operations and telecommunications servicing. The paper raises important questions that need to be considered by city planners in relation to policies concerning LGVs .", "keywords": [ "Government (linguistics)", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/93145/the-role-and-treatment-of-light-goods-vehicles-in-urban-freight-transport" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3139052814", "doi": "10.1016/j.trip.2021.100339", "title": "Moving towards “mobile warehouse”: Last-mile logistics during COVID-19 and beyond", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-03-14", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "S. Srivatsa Srinivas", "Rahul Ratnakar Marathe" ], "first_author": "S. Srivatsa Srinivas", "venue": "Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Supply chains in general and last-mile logistics in particular, have been disrupted due to COVID-19. Though several innovative last-mile logistics solutions have been proposed in the past, they possess certain limitations, especially during COVID-19 motivating the need for an alternative last-mile logistics solution. We present a review of literature related to last-mile logistics and supply chain disruptions to identify the limitations of existing last-mile delivery practices during COVID-19. Using a stylized analytical model, we then propose that \"mobile warehouse\" can be an effective solution to last-mile logistics issues faced during COVID-19 and beyond under certain conditions. A mobile warehouse is a truck dedicated to a particular geographical location and carries the inventory of various products based on the estimated demand requirements for these products in that geographical location. We provide the condition under which the B2C e-commerce providers find it profitable to adopt a truck as a mobile warehouse to sell high demand items quickly.", "keywords": [ "Mile", "Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)", "Warehouse", "Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)", "Business", "Geography", "Medicine", "Marketing", "Geodesy", "Internal medicine" ], "cited_by_count": 94, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198221000464/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4389827607", "doi": "10.1016/j.retrec.2023.101391", "title": "Transitioning e-commerce: Perceived pathways for the Norwegian urban freight sector", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-12-16", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Kristin Ystmark Bjerkan", "Sahar Babri" ], "first_author": "Kristin Ystmark Bjerkan", "venue": "Research in Transportation Economics", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "E-commerce is becoming an increasingly visible feature of modern society that places increasing strain on transport systems. Research has hitherto paid substantial attention to ways in which e-commerce might modify personal travel behaviour but has been less attentive to the ramifications of e-commerce for urban freight. Although contemporary conditions of urban freight are increasingly scrutinised by scholars in several disciplines, this study peeks into the future of urban freight from the scholarly perspective of sustainability transitions. Specifically, we investigate what expectations Norwegian freight providers hold for the transition pathways of their own sector. We find that the Norwegian urban freight sector expects technological shifts to be most prominent, pointing to the replacement of vans and lorries with low-emission models. Conversely, although deemed important enough, the urban freight sector orients less towards behavioural shifts that enhance efficiencies within and across freight providers. To ensure more transformative effects in the transition pathways of urban freight, we thus advise decision-makers in urban planning to establish inclusive approaches to policy making that enhance the legitimacy of technological and behavioural shifts in urban freight alike.", "keywords": [ "Norwegian", "Business", "Sustainability", "Transformative learning", "Sharing economy", "Legitimacy", "Marketing", "Political science", "Sociology" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2023.101391" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1536869117", "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.1211.3950", "title": "Urban Freight Transportation Planning: A Dynamic Stackelberg Game-Theoretic Approach", "year": 2012, "publication_date": "2012-11-16", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bo Zhang", "Tao Yao", "Terry L. Friesz", "Hongcheng Liu" ], "first_author": "Bo Zhang", "venue": "arXiv (Cornell University)", "publisher": "Cornell University", "abstract": "In this paper we propose a dynamic Stackelberg game-theoretic model for urban freight transportation planning which is able to characterize the interaction between freight and personal transportation in an urban area. The problem is formulated as a bi-level dynamic mathematical program with equilibrium constraints (MPEC) which belongs to a class of computationally challenging problems. The lower level is dynamic user equilibrium (DUE) with inhomogeneous traffic that characterizes traffic system optimum (SO) freight transportation planning problem which aims at minimizing the total cost to a truck company. A mathematical program with complementarity constraints (MPCC) reformulation is derived and a projected gradient algorithm is designed to solve this computationally challenging problem. Numerical experiments are conducted to show that when planning freight transportation the background traffic is nonnegligible, even though the amount of trucks compared to other vehicles traveling on the same network is relatively small. What's more, in our proposed bi-level model for urban freight transportation planning, we find a dynamic case of a Braess-like Paradox which can provide managerial insights to a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) in increasing social welfare by restricting freight movement.", "keywords": [ "Stackelberg competition", "Truck", "Transportation planning", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Complementarity (molecular biology)", "Metropolitan area", "Operations research", "Mathematical optimization", "Traffic management", "Transportation theory", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/1211.3950" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2588430270", "doi": "10.1080/15568318.2017.1294717", "title": "An ex ante evaluation of mobile depots in cities: A sustainability perspective", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-02-17", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Niklas Arvidsson", "Ala Pazirandeh Arvidsson" ], "first_author": "Niklas Arvidsson", "venue": "International Journal of Sustainable Transportation", "publisher": "Taylor & Francis", "abstract": "Today, a large share of cost, congestion, and emission in cities is attributed to light goods vehicles like carrier vans distributing to the last mile. The aim of many policy agendas is to reach cleaner cities with less disturbance from the distribution vehicles. Several suggestions have been put forward and tested in research and practice, such as access restrictions, multimodal transport, and use of cleaner vehicles. In this paper, we develop a case for a more sustainable freight distribution within cities using an ex ante case study. The idea of the mobile depot is built on the iteration between historical transitions within cities and contemporary developments in urban freight distribution, and then analyzed ex ante both quantitatively in calculations and qualitatively in two stakeholder workshops. The idea is integrated and multimodal, based on a mobile depot (e.g., a bus, truck, barge, or tram) that circles the city and connects to low emission last mile delivery options such as LEVs (Light Electrical Vehicles) or cargo bikes. We found that such a system can be environmentally and socially better for the city context, while maintaining economic viability above a certain utilization rate of the mobile depot for the transport operators.", "keywords": [ "Multimodal transport", "Truck", "Last mile (transportation)", "Context (archaeology)", "Transport engineering", "Sustainability", "Sustainable transport", "Stakeholder", "Distribution (mathematics)", "BARGE", "Environmental economics", "Ex-ante" ], "cited_by_count": 73, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1080/15568318.2017.1294717" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1584800183", "doi": null, "title": "Management of Competing Demands on Urban Freight Corridors", "year": 2005, "publication_date": "2005-12-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Euan Ramsay", "Jonathan M. Bunker" ], "first_author": "Euan Ramsay", "venue": "QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology)", "publisher": "Queensland University of Technology", "abstract": "Abstract: This paper compares the performance under various scenarios of an urban traffic corridor section subjected to a range of vehicle types. A micro-simulation-based model of the corridor was developed from first principles to stochastically assign characteristics and headways for each vehicle and then to track each vehicle as it moved along the corridor. Kinematic behaviour of the different vehicle types (ranging from passenger cars through to B-doubles) were obtained from GPS data collected during a series of chase car surveys on an urban arterial freight route in suburban Brisbane. The car-following and lane-selection algorithms used by the model are outlined in the paper. In order to account for the variability between runs, multiple simulation runs were typically conducted using different random number seeds. Corridor performance was reported in terms of intersection capacity and delays as well as travel speeds and stop rates for each vehicle type. The performance of the corridor was found to be sensitive to traffic control measures including the speed limit and traffic signal controller settings such as cycle time and progression design speed. A range of freight policy scenarios were examined, including the effects of increasing freight volumes, freight vehicle mode choice, and vehicle type-specific lane restrictions. Some policies having the potential to improve corridor traffic performance and freight efficiency were able to be identified.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Intersection (aeronautics)", "Speed limit", "Range (aeronautics)", "Microsimulation", "Truck", "Track (disk drive)", "Engineering", "Computer science", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://eprints.qut.edu.au/10672/1/10672.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3042054787", "doi": "10.33042/2522-1809-2020-3-156-2-7", "title": "EFFECTIVENESS OF DELIVERY TRANSPORTATION PROCESS WHILE USING ELECTRIC FREIGHT VEHICLE", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-07-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mariia Olkhova", "Dmytro Roslavtsev", "A. Mykhalenko" ], "first_author": "Mariia Olkhova", "venue": "Municipal economy of cities", "publisher": "O.M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv", "abstract": "The paper is devoted to determining the efficiency of the transport process for the delivery of confectionery products within the city. Comparing electric and diesel type of freight vehicles it was made conclusions about the advantages of choosing a mode of freight transport in Kharkiv. Keywords: city logistics, electric freight vehicle, route, transportation.", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Traffic management", "Transport engineering", "Process (computing)", "Automotive engineering", "Mode (computer interface)", "Diesel fuel", "Electric vehicle", "Business", "Computer science", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://khg.kname.edu.ua/index.php/khg/article/download/5590/5509" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2047737587", "doi": "10.1504/ijlsm.2015.067257", "title": "Investigating the impact of access-timing-sizing regulations on urban logistics", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mohammad Fozlul Haque Bhuiyan", "Anjali Awasthi", "Chun Wang" ], "first_author": "Mohammad Fozlul Haque Bhuiyan", "venue": "International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management", "publisher": "Inderscience Publishers", "abstract": "Freight regulations (e.g., vehicle timing, sizing and access restrictions) play a vital role in controlling congestion and developing effective urban logistics systems. Their importance is becoming even more relevant in modern times due to enormous growth in the number of freight vehicle movements in urban areas. In this paper, we target the problem of assessing the impact of access-timing-sizing regulations on goods movement in urban areas. A three-step approach is proposed. The first step involves conducting urban network traffic simulation to generate scenario data for the freight restriction policies. VISSIM, a microscopic traffic simulation software is used to perform this step. In the second step, we apply design of experiments (DOE) to analyse the simulated traffic data for testing the effectiveness of the access-timing-sizing policies. In the third step, an optimisation approach using desirability function is performed to determine the exact level of regulatory policies for the city. An application of the proposed approach for City of Montreal is provided. The strength of the proposed approach is its strong practical applicability. It is also one of the few quantitative approaches available in current literature for assessing the impact of freight regulatory policies in urban areas.", "keywords": [ "Sizing", "VisSim", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Operations research", "Traffic congestion", "Risk analysis (engineering)", "Business", "Microsimulation", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1504/ijlsm.2015.067257" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3091825226", "doi": "10.1016/j.simpat.2020.102207", "title": "Assessing the reproducibility of freight vehicle flows using tour and trip-based models for shipment-to-vehicle flow conversion", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-10-07", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "André Romano Alho", "Takanori Sakai", "Ming Hong Chua", "Max Raven", "Yusuke Hara", "Moshe E Ben-Akiva" ], "first_author": "André Romano Alho", "venue": "Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Heuristic", "Microsimulation", "Focus (optics)", "Engineering", "Operations research", "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.simpat.2020.102207" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4412040072", "doi": "10.1061/jtepbs.teeng-8741", "title": "Optimization Study on the Hybrid Scheduling of Truck–Drone Delivery System", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-07-04", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zaifang Zhang", "Yang Li", "Jun He", "Jiayi Chen", "Haibo Hong" ], "first_author": "Zaifang Zhang", "venue": "Journal of Transportation Engineering Part A Systems", "publisher": "American Society of Civil Engineers", "abstract": "The exigency to curtail last-mile delivery expenses is an intricate issue within the logistics industry. Owing to their flexibility, portability, and low cost, drones have great potential in the application of logistics and distribution. Drones also have short cruising ranges and small load capacity. To overcome their shortcomings, a hybrid delivery model of truck-carried drones is proposed to achieve logistics distribution. This paper comprehensively addresses pertinent constraints, including drone load capacity, flight distance, and time window, and formulates a mathematical model aimed at minimizing transportation costs. The model determines the optimal allocation between trucks and drones, the optimal path sequence for trucks to travel, and the optimal launch of drones on the truck path and recovery points. Simultaneously, we developed an improved equilibrium optimizer simulated annealing (IEOSA) algorithm to address the issue, employing both Solomon standard calculation instances and real distribution scenarios from Shanghai, China, for simulation analysis. Experimental findings demonstrate that IEOSA exhibits superior efficiency and solution quality in tackling hybrid distribution problems. Furthermore, the truck–drone hybrid distribution model proves to be more efficient in completing distribution tasks compared to relying solely on truck distribution.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Computer science", "Aeronautics", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Operations management", "Biology" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1061/jtepbs.teeng-8741" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2203847151", "doi": "10.2174/9781681080253115010007", "title": "Sustainable City Logistics Practices for Goods and Waste", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-03-25", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [], "first_author": null, "venue": "BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBLISHERS eBooks", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Academics and practitioners in Europe and elsewhere have attempted to pinpoint the key role of the urban freight transport and identify potential sustainable solutions within the trend of increasing cities’ size. In this framework, this chapter reviews the City Logistics(CL) models that have been applied in big major European cities, regarding both goods and waste management. The increasing awareness of the sustainability imperatives from researchers, supply chain managers, policy makers and the society at large has drawn particular attention to effective management of waste, not only regarding the recycling or recovering process but also the transportation systems designed for the return flows. The purpose of this study is to help understand the management of goods and waste in big cities and the choice among alternative integrated intermodal transport solutions, particularly with use of rail freight in place of trucks domination. In this respect, the results of the application of an alternative model applied for the transport of waste in a suburb of the Metropolitan Athens, Greece are presented and in addition a taxonomy of the reviewed CL models in big cities is conducted. It highlights the need for further concerted research efforts in this field, within integrated supply chain approach, for revealing and evaluating future research possibilities for new sustainable practices.", "keywords": [ "Business", "City logistics", "Sustainable city", "Waste management", "Commerce", "Engineering", "Civil engineering", "Transport engineering", "Urban planning" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2174/9781681080253115010007" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2114332233", "doi": "10.11175/easts.6.3135", "title": "MODELLING THE IMPACTS OF TRANSPORT POLICIES TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM URBAN FREIGHT TRANSPORT IN SYDNEY", "year": 2005, "publication_date": "2005-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Michael A.P. Taylor", "Rocco Zito", "Nariida Smith", "Glen M. D'Este" ], "first_author": "Michael A.P. Taylor", "venue": "Journal of the Eastern Asia Society for transportation studies/Journal of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies", "publisher": "Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies", "abstract": "Freight transport in urban areas has few opportunities for modal shift away from road. What policy options might there be to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from road freight vehicles? A combined travel demand, traffic network and emissions model was established to test the impacts of the generic policy initiatives 'best practice' truck fleet fuel efficiency, general reductions in peak period traffic congestion, improved traffic management, provision of real-time traffic information, infrastructure improvements, changes to industrial land use distribution, and improved vehicle load factors. Sydney was used as a case study. Whilst most policy options showed some potential for improved emissions outcomes, the best option was to reduce vehicle load factors. Policies aimed at changing the distribution of industrial land use provided mixed results, suggesting the need for complementary measures. The model is also able to analyse emissions from private vehicles.", "keywords": [ "Greenhouse gas", "Modal shift", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Traffic congestion", "Business", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Land use", "Fuel efficiency", "Environmental economics", "Environmental science" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/130000087834" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4282833220", "doi": "10.1177/03611981221093620", "title": "Using Large-Scale Drone Data to Monitor and Assess the Behavior of Freight Vehicles on Urban Level", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-06-14", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Allister Loder", "Thomas G. Otte", "Klaus Bogenberger" ], "first_author": "Allister Loder", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "Compared with public transport operations, urban freight traffic and its associated delivery operations seem to be frequently overlooked in urban traffic management and traffic flow theory. One explanation for this is certainly the lack of available data, as the competitive freight transport market is fragmented and several actors are unwilling to collect or share tactical and operational data. In this study, we use the unique pNEUMA drone data set from Athens, Greece, to shed light on urban freight operations. We discuss macroscopic traffic indicators in a multimodal context. As the vehicle stopping behavior can adversely influence traffic flow, we reveal the stopping behavior of the different modes represented in the data set using clustering techniques. We find that urban freight vehicles’ stopping frequency lies between the stopping frequencies of cars and buses. We reveal the distribution of stopping times for loading and unloading stops in Athens to have a mean of around 380 seconds. Clustering all loading and unloading stops further reveals three groups of loading and unloading stops that could be labeled by incorporating knowledge and expertise about local particularities. The limited flight time of drones, owing to their battery capacities, did not allow reconstruction of longer vehicle routes, such as an entire vehicle tour within the network. However, this could be addressed in future research by realizing continuous large-scale monitoring routines. The revealed vehicle behavior parameters can be used in traffic models to generate further insights into the impacts of urban freight transport to inform public sector decision makers.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Context (archaeology)", "Transport engineering", "Cluster analysis", "Traffic flow (computer networking)", "Scale (ratio)", "Public transport", "Set (abstract data type)", "Computer science", "Traffic management", "Flow network", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 5, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981221093620" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4413008552", "doi": "10.3390/math13152533", "title": "Inbound Truck Scheduling for Workload Balancing in Cross-Docking Terminals", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-08-06", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Younghoo Noh", "S.W. Lee", "Jeongyoon Hong", "Jeongeum Kim", "Sung Won Cho" ], "first_author": "Younghoo Noh", "venue": "Mathematics", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "The rapid growth of e-commerce and advances in information and communication technologies have placed increasing pressure on last-mile delivery companies to enhance operational productivity. As investments in logistics infrastructure require long-term planning, maximizing the efficiency of existing terminal operations has become a critical priority. This study proposes a mathematical model for inbound truck scheduling that simultaneously minimizes truck waiting times and balances workload across temporary inventory storage located at outbound chutes in cross-docking terminals. The model incorporates a dynamic rescheduling strategy that updates the assignment of inbound trucks in real time, based on the latest terminal conditions. Numerical experiments, based on real operational data, demonstrate that the proposed approach significantly outperforms conventional strategies such as First-In First-Out (FIFO) and Random assignment in terms of both load balancing and truck turnaround efficiency. In particular, the proposed model improves workload balance by approximately 10% and 12% compared to the FIFO and Random strategies, respectively, and it reduces average truck waiting time by 17% and 18%, thereby contributing to more efficient workflow and alleviating bottlenecks. The findings highlight the practical potential of the proposed strategy for improving the responsiveness and efficiency of parcel distribution centers operating under fixed infrastructure constraints. Future research may extend the proposed approach by incorporating realistic operational factors, such as cargo heterogeneity, uncertain arrivals, and terminal shutdowns due to limited chute storage.", "keywords": [ "Workload", "Truck", "Docking (animal)", "Computer science", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Engineering", "Operating system", "Automotive engineering", "Operations management" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/13/15/2533/pdf?version=1754490225" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3034526822", "doi": null, "title": "Toward a certification of night delivery in urban freight transport.", "year": 2011, "publication_date": "2011-08-21", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Eric Devin" ], "first_author": "Eric Devin", "venue": "Proceedings of the 23rd IIR International Congress of Refrigeration: Prague, Czech Republic, August 21-26, 2011. Overarching theme: Refrigeration for Sustainable Development.", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Among the possible solutions to limit traffic jams in large cities, the generalization of night delivery offers several advantages: this solution allows an access to city centers for larger vehicles when the traffic flow is limited - it reduces the time of delivery and consequently the presence of trucks in towns. It also imply an immediate cut of total energy consumption and CO2 emissions of transport operations, The consequence could be a significant decrease of environmental impact of urban freight transport, including an improvement of air quality. If this project were adopted in large cities another consequence may be an improvement of safety and security due to the restriction of truck traffic during the day. The feasibility of this measure obviously requires an assessment of noise level generated by the activities of night delivery. Refrigerated transport equipments are among the noisiest due to the refrigeration devices. This has led manufacturers of temperature-controlled vehicles to developed new equipment with a maximum noise level of 60 dB(A). This new development was particularly pushed and promoted by the market itself and the certification of equipment though the Piek program. The aim of the PIEK program is to reduce noise levels in the evening and night, of supply traffic, loading and unloading activities in residential areas. These experiences also underline that the silent equipments are not sufficient to guarantee silent delivery and this paper proposes an original complementary approach for certification of low noise delivery service.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Certification", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://iifiir.org/fr/fridoc/28009" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4313549106", "doi": "10.1109/scisisis55246.2022.10002027", "title": "Drone Scheduling for Parcel Delivery with a Given Truck Route and Setup Times", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-11-29", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Riki Kataoka", "Yoshiyuki Karuno", "Hitoshi Iima" ], "first_author": "Riki Kataoka", "venue": "2022 Joint 12th International Conference on Soft Computing and Intelligent Systems and 23rd International Symposium on Advanced Intelligent Systems (SCIS&ISIS)", "publisher": null, "abstract": "We consider a parcel delivery scheduling problem for a truck-drone distribution system. The single carrier truck plays the role of a mobile depot, and traverses in one direction a given route with some points to stop for launching/retrieving drones. The multiple identical drones are dispatched for the last-mile delivery of a parcel from the carrier truck to each of customers. In this paper, we introduce two kinds of setup times at truck stops on given routes to the underlying model, and propose a genetic search based heuristic algorithm with a modified version of a well-known list scheduling procedure, called LPT (Longest Processing Time first) rule. We also conduct numerical experiments to demonstrate the performance of the proposed heuristic, and report the results.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Computer science", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Heuristic", "Job shop scheduling", "Real-time computing", "Simulation", "Computer network", "Mathematical optimization", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/scisisis55246.2022.10002027" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3153789146", "doi": "10.48295/et.2020.79.8", "title": "Sharing of trips before electrification of fleet: a costeffective solution for reducing the environmental impact of urban freight transport in developing countries", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-09-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bhavesh Dhonde" ], "first_author": "Bhavesh Dhonde", "venue": "European Transport/Trasporti Europei", "publisher": "University of Trieste", "abstract": "Various research efforts are undertaken to reduce the ill-effects of urban freight transport on the city’s environment. Replacing conventional freight vehicles with electric commercial vehicles (ECVs) is considered as the most effective solution; however, this transition is facing several technological and infrastructural challenges. In developing countries, where cities are already struggling to manage with their present infrastructure, they would find it even more difficult. This paper highlights the opportunity for sharing of in-use freight vehicles as an immediate solution to reduce vehicular emissions. Case study of Surat city, India is taken to assess the use of small-sized commercial vehicles for urban freight transport. A detailed study has been carried out to determine the extent of under-utilized or unutilized capacities of these vehicles. Reductions in emissions due to the sharing of trips are estimated. Propositions are made to strategize and develop policies that promote sharing of urban freight trips.", "keywords": [ "TRIPS architecture", "Electrification", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Developing country", "Traffic management", "Environmental planning", "Economic growth", "Engineering", "Environmental science", "Electricity", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 7, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.48295/et.2020.79.8" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2970681898", "doi": "10.1061/9780784482575.033", "title": "Towards a Smart Urban Freight Plan", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-08-28", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Maggie Chuoyan Dong", "Varanesh Singh", "Diniece Peters", "Charles K Ukegbu", "Rosanna Collars", "Joseph Dack", "Lian Duan" ], "first_author": "Maggie Chuoyan Dong", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Technological advancements in the transportation industry are changing the way planners envision, plan, and manage transportation systems. In the domain of urban freight planning, recently available real-time vehicle data and new analytical tools have opened up new opportunities for planners to enhance understanding and embrace a smarter and more rigorous policy-making process. In late 2016, the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) started a SMART Truck Management Plan as a key initiative to address the challenges of freight management and achieve the freight goals identified in NYCDOT’s 2016 Strategic Plan. A notable feature of the plan is its keen commitment to the use of new data and tools throughout the development process. This paper provides a detailed description of this data-driven planning process. Specifically, it presents how planners leveraged truck activity data to (1) measure truck movement efficiency, (2) explore the environmental factors behind off-route driving behavior, and (3) identify and prioritize projects and strategies. Through these practices, the paper seeks to initiate a conversation on how today’s cities can capitalize on new data and models to expand the capacity of their freight management systems and adopt a more robust, informed, and integrated planning process.", "keywords": [ "Plan (archaeology)", "Process (computing)", "Truck", "Transportation planning", "Strategic planning", "Key (lock)", "Process management", "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Computer science", "Business", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784482575.033" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400923112", "doi": "10.1177/03611981241245676", "title": "Car or Cargo Bike? Determinants for the Use of a Small Vehicle Type in Urban Logistics: A Stated Preference Survey Among Commercial Transport Operators", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-07-23", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Johannes Gruber", "Martin Plener", "Lara Damer", "Ilka Dubernet" ], "first_author": "Johannes Gruber", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "To address the adverse effects of urban freight, downshifting to smaller vehicles, such as cargo bikes, has been indicated as a viable solution. Existing literature on freight mode choice rarely considers vehicles smaller than truck size. We aimed to fill this research gap by quantifying how vehicular, operational, trip-based, contextual, and individual determinants influenced the decision between cargo bikes and cars in urban logistics. To that end, a stated preference survey was conducted among 537 German organizations after they had been familiarized with cargo bikes through a 3-month vehicle trial period. Participants then took part in a survey in which they had to choose between the modes cargo bike, car, or neither of these two alternatives. The survey data were analyzed using a mixed logit model with 4,833 observations. The model estimations demonstrated that the values and signs of parameters were in accordance with both our expectations and the literature. The results indicated that cargo bikes were an attractive alternative to cars for delivery and service trips of short duration in fair weather. The probability of choosing a cargo bike over a car could be further increased by improving bike infrastructure or imposing parking limitations. The preference for cargo bike could be observed for respondents in dense urban centers and low-density parts of the country alike. Around 3 out of 10 respondents decided to buy their own cargo bike after the study, demonstrating the effectiveness of low-threshold testing programs in changing habits toward more sustainable mobility solutions.", "keywords": [ "Preference", "Transport engineering", "City logistics", "Business", "Marketing", "Engineering", "Economics", "Microeconomics" ], "cited_by_count": 9, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981241245676" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2048086266", "doi": "10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.07.220", "title": "Sustainable Analysis Architecture and Optimization of Urban Freight under Congestion", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-07-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Xiaoxia Wang", "Zhong Liu", "Yue Shang" ], "first_author": "Xiaoxia Wang", "venue": "Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The most metropolitan areas in the world are facing escalating motorization and mobility demands. As a result, due to the inherently complexity of urban goods movement (UGM) problems, an efficient UGM has become a critical issue. This paper presents a literature review on history and challenge of UGM, summarizes the architecture of UGM including trucks operation constraints and infrastructure layout, and points out optimization objectives for popular regulation policy choices of UGM, including social cost balance, such as emission, safety and congestion, and trade-off between efficiency, effectiveness and equity, finally concludes small trucks as a better choice for UGM by numerical analysis.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Truck", "Equity (law)", "Traffic congestion", "Transport engineering", "Architecture", "Balance (ability)", "Business", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Economics", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042814041391/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2081575054", "doi": "10.1109/icsmc.2010.5642330", "title": "Decentralized urban freight management through market based mechanisms", "year": 2010, "publication_date": "2010-10-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mohammad Fozlul Haque Bhuiyan", "Anjali Awasthi", "C. Wang", "W. Zhiguo" ], "first_author": "Mohammad Fozlul Haque Bhuiyan", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Freight trucks provide an essential service to industrialized societies by transporting foods, raw materials and finished goods over land, typically to and from manufacturing plants, retail and distribution centers. It constitutes a major enabling factor for most economic and social activities taking place in urban areas. Although freight transportation is a major source of good distribution in the city yet most of the big cities don't have adequate techniques to deal with the resulting congestion and traffic management problem. Some cities do not allow freight trucks to enter the city during the day times causing substantial social and economical losses whereas some cities with no limit on freight trucks during day times cause huge congestion on city streets due to lack of proper management approaches. This paper proposes an iterative bidding framework for better traffic management and socioeconomic benefit while dealing with the decentralized urban freight management problem. It has several advantages for freight transport access management in cities that require implementing periodic access limits on certain city highway entrances. The uniqueness of the proposed approach is that it integrates the exploration of freight truck's access deadline flexibility and support city's entrance access limit restriction decisions within an iterative bidding framework, which has the potential to coordinate the behaviors of self-interested parties in decentralized supply chain environments.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Bidding", "Traffic management", "Transport engineering", "Flexibility (engineering)", "Traffic congestion", "Business", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Economics", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/icsmc.2010.5642330" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4313384036", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.4310727", "title": "Structure and Evolution of Urban Heavy Truck Mobility Networks", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yitao Yang", "Bin Jia", "Erjian Liu", "Xiao-Yong Yan", "Michiel de Bok", "Lóránt Antal Tavasszy", "Ziyou Gao" ], "first_author": "Yitao Yang", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Economic geography", "Geography", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4310727" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4392015111", "doi": "10.1145/3649224", "title": "UAV-Based Delivery Systems: A Systematic Review, Current Trends, and Research Challenges", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-02-21", "type": "review", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Francesco Betti Sorbelli" ], "first_author": "Francesco Betti Sorbelli", "venue": "ACM Journal on Autonomous Transportation Systems", "publisher": "Association for Computing Machinery", "abstract": "The rising popularity of drones significantly impacts package delivery services, offering both unique opportunities and challenges. This survey explores the diverse applications of drones for last-mile deliveries, highlighting their capacity to access remote areas and create new business prospects. Use cases, ranging from critical medical deliveries to addressing COVID-19 pandemic needs, underscore the transformative potential of drone technology. While recognizing drones’ eco-friendly attributes in eliminating harmful gas emissions, the survey addresses battery constraints, necessitating an investigation into physical energy models to extend flight autonomy. This becomes crucial for operational capabilities, especially in adverse weather conditions. A reliable communication infrastructure is crucial for the success of drone operations in package delivery, especially during unexpected events, as seamless connectivity plays a key role in facilitating efficient control and monitoring between ground stations and drones. This enables dynamic rerouting, enhancing overall delivery reliability. The survey explores innovative approaches, including collaborations with other vehicles like trucks, trains, and buses, optimizing the last-mile delivery process. Despite the transformative potential, concerns about privacy, security, safety, and risk management in drone delivery are acknowledged. The work also emphasizes responsible and ethical implementation, considering diverse concerns associated with widespread adoption. In contrast to existing survey articles focused on specific technical aspects, this comprehensive survey broadens its scope. It covers ethical issues, sustainability aspects, healthcare systems, physics models, innovative approaches, reliable communications, security and safety concerns, and real test-beds in drone-based delivery systems. The survey not only identifies potential applications and tackles technical challenges but also integrates broader considerations. In addition, this work extensively explores the motivations, lessons learned, and future directions in the realm of drone delivery. Analyzing existing literature, it provides valuable insights for researchers, industry professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders keen on understanding the dynamic evolution of drone technology in the package delivery domain.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Risk analysis (engineering)", "Process (computing)", "Computer science", "Computer security", "Engineering", "Business" ], "cited_by_count": 117, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1145/3649224" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7125412391", "doi": "10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2026.104562", "title": "Spatiotemporal analysis of heavy-duty truck activity-trip chains in Harbin, China: A multi-resolution GPS data fusion approach", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-22", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mingyue Li", "Xinghua Li", "Yuntao Guo", "Xinwu Qian", "Haobing Liu", "Lu Teng" ], "first_author": "Mingyue Li", "venue": "Journal of Transport Geography", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Global Positioning System", "Cluster analysis", "Identification (biology)", "Zoning", "Intersection (aeronautics)", "Truck", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Grid", "Matching (statistics)", "Metropolitan area" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2026.104562" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2056295481", "doi": "10.1016/j.cor.2014.06.008", "title": "A survey on two-echelon routing problems", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-06-17", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Rosario Cuda", "Gianfranco Guastaroba", "Maria Grazia Speranza" ], "first_author": "Rosario Cuda", "venue": "Computers & Operations Research", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Computer science", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Operations research", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Consolidation (business)", "Class (philosophy)", "Business", "Engineering", "Mathematics", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 385, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cor.2014.06.008" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2783746361", "doi": "10.3384/lic.diva-144225", "title": "Urban Consolidation Centres : On Relationships between Customer Needs and Services in City Logistics", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-01-16", "type": "book", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Henrik Johansson" ], "first_author": "Henrik Johansson", "venue": "Linköping studies in science and technology. Thesis", "publisher": "Linköping University Electronic Press", "abstract": "Urban Consolidation Centres (UCCs) are often conceived as an enabler to alleviate negative effects associated with distribution of goods in cities, such as traffic congestion and hazardous emissions. UCCs not only have the potential to reduce these effects but also provide alternative distribution solutions by introducing new transhipment points. Despite their potential, UCCs often fail to be self-supporting and are often dependent on subsides, which is not considered to be sustainable in the long run. In response, this thesis takes its point of departure in the two business models elements value propositions and target customers. A business model is often viewed as an enabler to generate revenue and UCCs have the potential to generate revenue by offering services to their customers, and the customers pay for the services. To understand how customers can benefit from UCCs and provide arguments why they should use these, it is important to understand the relationship between customers’ needs and the services UCCs can provide. The purpose of this thesis is to identify and describe the potential relationship between needs of UCC customers and UCC services. The research in the thesis is both explorative and descriptive, where a first step is to identify customer needs, UCC services, and value propositions. The descriptive part is to describe them and it is also the foundation for understanding the relationship between customer needs and UCC services. Through the analysis and discussion, multiple customer needs are identified and described for seven customer groups and the UCC operator; all of which could be considered customers of UCCs. The thesis also adds to the UCC literature with three new identified UCC services: e-commerce with used products, advertisement, and registration in computer system. The outcome of the analysis also provides illustrations of how customer needs can be matched with UCC services. For the most studied customer group, receiver of goods, a total of 29 different matches were identified, which illustrates the possibilities but also the complexity of the relationships. To understand the relationship, three different types of gaps were also identified that have implications for future research. The main contributions to research and the UCC literature in particular are enlargement of the scope of customers and the illustration of the relationships between customer needs and UCC services. The illustrations include contributions such as identifying, mapping and describing the customer needs, UCC services, and value propositions. An important first step is to understand how customer needs and UCC services can be linked, and this thesis provides examples of how this can be achieved. Viewing every stakeholder as a potential customer opens up the opportunity to fulfil their needs and the potential to generate revenue, which in turn could close the gap in the problem of non-self-supporting UCCs. Furthermore, with self-supporting UCCs, the number of freight vehicles can be reduced and this may lead to more attractive cities with less traffic congestion and lower emissions.", "keywords": [ "Consolidation (business)", "Enabling", "Business", "Traffic congestion", "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Hazardous waste", "Engineering", "Waste management", "Finance" ], "cited_by_count": 6, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3384/lic.diva-144225" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3166437316", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-030-71771-1_11", "title": "The Comparative Method of Assessing City Logistics Measure", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-01-01", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mariia Olkhova", "Dmytro Roslavtsev", "Andrii Galkin" ], "first_author": "Mariia Olkhova", "venue": "Lecture notes in networks and systems", "publisher": "Springer International Publishing", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Business", "City logistics", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Population", "Measure (data warehouse)", "Engineering", "Computer science", "Environmental health" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71771-1_11" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2791446441", "doi": "10.1016/j.cor.2018.11.005", "title": "The electric two-echelon vehicle routing problem", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-11-14", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "U. Breunig", "Roberto Baldacci", "Richard F. Hartl", "Thibaut Vidal" ], "first_author": "U. Breunig", "venue": "Computers & Operations Research", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Vehicle routing problem", "Computer science", "Electric vehicle", "Operations research", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Mathematical optimization", "Computer network", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 177, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/1803.03628" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2792689914", "doi": null, "title": "Designing Light Electric Vehicles for urban freight transport", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-10-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Roeland M. M. Hogt", "Susanne Balm", "Jos Warmerdam" ], "first_author": "Roeland M. M. Hogt", "venue": "Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS)", "publisher": "Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences", "abstract": "The number of light commercial vehicles (LCV) in cities is growing, which puts increasing pressure on the liveability of cities. Small electric freight vehicles and cargo bikes can offer a solution, as they take less space, can manoeuvre easily and free from polluting emissions. Within the two-year LEVV-LOGIC project, (2016-2018) the use of light electric freight vehicles (LEFVs) for city logistics is explored. The project combines expertise on logistics, vehicle design, charging infrastructure and business modelling to find the optimal concept. This paper presents guidelines for the design of LEFV based on the standardized rolling container (length 800 mm, width 640 mm, height 1600 mm) and for the charging infrastructure.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Service (business)", "City logistics", "Light rail", "Business", "Space (punctuation)", "Public transport", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://research.hva.nl/en/publications/2facf6e7-1b8b-4eb7-94ed-d6a5a0241554" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4412703315", "doi": "10.1016/j.cie.2025.111405", "title": "Transforming urban freight transportation: Service network design for synergy with passenger transportation in transit systems", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-07-28", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jie Lin", "Fangni Zhang" ], "first_author": "Jie Lin", "venue": "Computers & Industrial Engineering", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Transit (satellite)", "Service (business)", "Passenger transport", "Urban transit", "Business", "Public transport", "Engineering", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2025.111405" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4409713799", "doi": "10.3390/math13071210", "title": "Low-Carbon Transport for Prefabricated Buildings: Optimizing Capacitated Truck–Trailer Routing Problem with Time Windows", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-04-07", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jiajie Zhou", "Qiang Du", "Qian Chen", "Zhongnan Ye", "Libiao Bai", "Yi Li" ], "first_author": "Jiajie Zhou", "venue": "Mathematics", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "The transportation of prefabricated components is challenged by the particularity of large cargo transport and urban road conditions, restrictions on parking, height, and weight. To address these challenges and to promote low-carbon logistics, this paper investigates the transportation of prefabricated components by leveraging separable fleets of trucks and trailers. Focusing on real-world constraints, this paper formulates the capacitated truck and trailer routing problem with time windows (CTTRPTW) incorporating carbon emissions, and designs a dynamic adaptive hybrid algorithm combining simulated annealing with tabu search (DASA-TS) to solve this model. The efficiency and robustness of the methodology are validated through two computational experiments. The results indicate that the DASA-TS consistently demonstrates excellent performance across all evaluations, with significant reductions in both transportation costs and carbon emissions costs for prefabricated components, particularly in large-scale computational instances. This study contributes to promoting the optimization of low-carbon transport for prefabricated components, offering guidance for routing design involving complex and large cargo, and supporting the sustainable development of urban logistics.", "keywords": [ "Trailer", "Truck", "Vehicle routing problem", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/13/7/1210/pdf?version=1744021763" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4399153112", "doi": "10.1016/j.tra.2024.104107", "title": "Aggregate urban truck tour synthesis from public data", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-05-30", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Haggai Davis", "Hector Landes", "Farnoosh Namdarpour", "Yang Hai", "Joseph Y.J. Chow", "Kaan M. A. Özbay" ], "first_author": "Haggai Davis", "venue": "Transportation Research Part A Policy and Practice", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Aggregate (composite)", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Business", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Materials science", "Nanotechnology" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2024.104107" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3184091629", "doi": null, "title": "Route planning of electric freight vehicles by considering internal and environmental conditions", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-08-27", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sina Rastani" ], "first_author": "Sina Rastani", "venue": "Sabanci University", "publisher": "Sabancı Üniversitesi", "abstract": "Electric freight vehicles have strong potential to reduce emissions stemming from logistics operations; however, their limited range still causes critical limitations. Range anxiety is directly related to the total amount of energy consumed during trips. There are several operational factors that affect the energy consumption of electric vehicles and should be considered for accurate route planning. In this thesis, we investigate the effect of ambient temperature, cargo weight, road gradient, and regenerative braking process on the fleet composition, energy consumption, and routing decisions in last-mile delivery operations. First, we consider the influence of ambient temperature on the energy consumption of the vehicle. Cabin heating or cooling may significantly increase the energy discharged from the battery during the trip and reduce the driving range. Additionally, cold temperatures decrease battery efficiency and cause performance losses. We formulate this problem as a mixed-integer linear program and solve the small-size instances using a commercial solver. For the large-size instances we resort to an Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search method. We also provide a case study based on the real data provided by Ekol Logistics in their Adana operations. Then, we propose new preprocessing techniques to reduce the problem size and enhance the computational performance of the solution methods. Furthermore, we develop an algorithm that can be used to identify if a problem instance is infeasible. Our experimental study validates the performance of the proposed preprocessing techniques and feasibility check algorithm. Next, we take into account the effect of cargo weight on the energy consumption and routing decisions. We formulate three alternartive mathematical models and investigate their effectiveness. We also develop a Large Neighborhood Search (LNS) method by using an exact method to repair the partial solution. Finally, we tackle the problem involving cargo weight and road gradient by considering regenerative braking. Considering the road gradient, a loaded vehicle going uphill will consume significantly more energy. On the other hand, when it travels downhill it can recharge its battery through recuperation. For this problem, we introduce a new dataset generated using the benchmark data form the literature. We adapt our LNS and perform an extensive computational study using the generated data. Overall, our results show that the route plans made without considering any of these factors may lead to inefficiencies, unforeseen costs, and disruptions in logistics operations", "keywords": [ "Driving range", "Energy consumption", "Range (aeronautics)", "Solver", "Vehicle routing problem", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science", "Automotive engineering", "Fuel efficiency", "Energy (signal processing)", "Electric vehicle", "Mathematical optimization" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://research.sabanciuniv.edu/41193/1/10357055_Rastani_Sina.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4417169013", "doi": "10.1109/jiot.2025.3641887", "title": "A Two-Stage Framework Based on RL for Truck–Drone Collaborative Delivery Problem", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-12-09", "type": "article", "language": null, "authors": [ "Yuanbo Li", "Chengwei Zhang", "Wanting Liu", "Chao Li", "Dou An", "Qi Wang" ], "first_author": "Yuanbo Li", "venue": "IEEE Internet of Things Journal", "publisher": "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers", "abstract": "With the explosive growth of e-commerce, efficient last-mile delivery has emerged as a critical challenge. Truck-drone collaborative delivery has garnered significant attention as a promising solution to this problem. In this work, we formulate the truck-drone collaborative delivery problem as a collaborative optimization problem, aiming to minimize the total completion time for delivering packages to customers by leveraging the complementary strengths of the drone’s speed and the truck’s endurance. We propose a two-stage framework to address this challenge. In the first stage, the Lin-Kernighan Helsgaun (LKH) algorithm is employed to generate a high-quality initial Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) solution, serving as a robust starting point. In the second stage, a Sequence Allocate Policy (SAPPO), based on Proximal Policy Optimization, refines the TSP solution by optimizing the truck-drone collaborative path using a specially designed action space. Extensive experiments conducted on both random dataset and TSPLIB benchmarks demonstrate that our method significantly outperforms existing algorithms regarding delivery time, while exhibiting improved scalability and less training time.", "keywords": [ "Scalability", "Travelling salesman problem", "Path (computing)", "Collaborative software", "Sequence (biology)", "Optimization problem" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/jiot.2025.3641887" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W344417701", "doi": null, "title": "Non-responsiveness of conventional measures of road traffic noise to an urban truck restriction strategy", "year": 2009, "publication_date": "2009-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lex Brown", "Deanna Tomerini", "J. Douglass Carroll", "Norman D. Scott" ], "first_author": "Lex Brown", "venue": "Griffith Research Online", "publisher": null, "abstract": "This study reports the acoustic results of heavy vehicle restrictions on an urban road corridor. It is not the traffic strategy itself that is the focus of this paper, but the insensitivity of conventional measures of road traffic noise to the resultant changes in heavy vehicle flows, and hence to assessing the effectiveness of the heavy vehicle strategies in reducing noise exposure and human response to noise. Community reaction to noise from heavy vehicles is a major constraint in urban freight management and the effects of control strategies must be able to be measured. Heavy vehicle management on an urban corridor in Brisbane, Australia, lead to a measureable reduction in their flows. Noise monitoring, nine sets of measurements over 30 months, showed no change in conventional measures of road traffic noise (LA10 and LAeq). However, the level and incidence of the maxima of pass-by noise events in the traffic stream did show a change. If human reaction to road traffic noise depends only on the conventional measures of noise, there is no issue. If, as the literature suggests, effects such as sleep disturbance depend critically on the number and level of noise events, conventional traffic noise measures provide an unresponsive set of indicators on which to base, and assess, heavy vehicle management strategies.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Noise (video)", "Traffic noise", "Noise control", "Noise pollution", "Transport engineering", "Roadway noise", "Noise reduction", "Environmental science", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://hdl.handle.net/10072/31411" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W602120612", "doi": null, "title": "TRENDS IN URBAN FREIGHT TRANSPORT: SETTING A FRAMEWORK FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE", "year": 1997, "publication_date": "1997-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Michael J. Browne" ], "first_author": "Michael J. Browne", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Statistics for road traffic between 1985 and 1995 are examined and trends identified in the contribution made by lorries, light vans and cars on urban roads and on all roads. Problems experienced by freight traffic in towns are discussed including the competition for road space, peak traffic flows and limitations on loading and unloading such as that imposed by pedestrianisation. Possible future developments that might change the impact of urban goods movement and improve the efficiency of freight operations are urban transhipment and a shift towards home shopping and delivery. It is suggested that freight should be given a higher priority. A number of experiments are suggested including the use of shared lorry-bus lanes. For the covering abstract see IRRD 894325.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Truck", "Traffic management", "City logistics", "Business", "Competition (biology)", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/476251" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4409006173", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-80881-4_1", "title": "Electric Cargo Bikes in Urban Logistics: Scenarios and Their Contribution to Sustainable Mobility", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Natalya Shramenko", "Christoph Hupfer", "Vladyslav Shramenko", "Piotr Trojanowski" ], "first_author": "Natalya Shramenko", "venue": "EAI/Springer Innovations in Communication and Computing", "publisher": "Springer International Publishing", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Business", "Sustainable transport", "Environmental planning", "Environmental science", "Engineering", "Sustainability", "Ecology" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-80881-4_1" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3151244608", "doi": "10.3390/app11083300", "title": "A Geometrical Structure-Based New Approach for City Logistics System Planning with Cargo Bikes and Its Application for the Shopping Malls of Budapest", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-04-07", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Dávid Lajos Sárdi", "Krisztián Bóna" ], "first_author": "Dávid Lajos Sárdi", "venue": "Applied Sciences", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Nowadays, cargo bikes are seeing an ever-greater role in city logistics with an increasing number of deliveries, and it is essential to examine their future role in green and smart cities. In our work, we examine the application of cargo bikes in the city logistics system of the urban concentrated sets of delivery locations, focusing first on shopping malls, with the investigation of the geometrical structure of the logistics network. In the examined concept, the use of cargo bikes will be combined with electric trucks to make possible green deliveries of urban concentrated sets of delivery locations. In this paper, we present the experiences of the existing systems and the related research, the simulation model of the examined new concept with cargo bikes and its results, the graph theory-based geometric model of the examined city logistics system with graph theory-based notation, and the application of the new approach for Budapest. The main output of this research is the geometrical model of the urban concentrated sets of delivery locations and its application. Based on this geometrical model, it will be possible to decide about the suitability of the examined cargo bike-based city logistics concepts for given cities.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "City logistics", "Computer science", "Notation", "Graph theory", "Graph", "Operations research", "Engineering", "Mathematics", "Theoretical computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 8, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/8/3300/pdf?version=1617941030" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3009137785", "doi": null, "title": "An advanced method to provide best route information in city logistics with toll roads", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yiqun Chen", "Loshaka Perera", "Russell George Thompson" ], "first_author": "Yiqun Chen", "venue": "Transport Research Forum", "publisher": null, "abstract": "© 2018 ATRF, Commonwealth of Australia. All rights reserved. There have been rising concerns that freight trucks are diverting off toll roads onto arterial roads, in order to avoid toll charges. This paper presents the development of a freight route model which can advise truck drivers on the optimum route to take between an origin and destination. This model considers various factors when determining optimal travel routes, including truck ownership and type of transportation they provide. Primarily the model compares total costs incurred on a toll route and their non-toll route equivalent, and also considers travel time and travel distance. The model is illustrated using a case study with 10 pre-determined Key Freight Areas in Melbourne covering two tollways, CityLink and East Link. Travel time and distance data is extracted from the Google API platform, based on all the different Origin-Destination pairs formed from the Key Freight Areas. By considering toll charges on the two links, the cost model is evolved from existing literature to consider the impacts of new variables. Results show that route choice is governed by a combination of factors, which traditionally includes vehicle classification. This model introduces a means of predicting the influence of operator type and freight type on route choice. Consideration of ancillary and hire & reward operators show that operator type is a significant factor in determining whether or not a toll route is preferred. The former is more sensitive towards travel costs due to its smaller capacity, whilst the latter is more sensitive towards travel time savings. This consideration allows for a better representation of different road users and their preferences within the freight network.", "keywords": [ "Toll", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Key (lock)", "Toll road", "Computer science", "Electronic toll collection", "Operations research", "Order (exchange)", "Business", "Travel time", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/scholarlywork/1419878-an-advanced-method-to-provide-best-route-information-in-city-logistics-with-toll-roads" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4411096401", "doi": "10.3390/drones9060413", "title": "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Last-Mile Parcel Delivery: A State-of-the-Art Review", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-06-06", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Almodather Mohamed", "Moataz Mohamed" ], "first_author": "Almodather Mohamed", "venue": "Drones", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are being increasingly implemented in parcel delivery applications. The scientific progress in this field is progressing exponentially. However, there is a notable gap in synthesizing recent research progress in UAV applications for last-mile delivery. This review study addresses this gap and conducts an in-depth review of UAV research for last-mile delivery across seven domains: environmental performance, economic impacts, social impacts, policy and regulations, routing and scheduling, charging infrastructure, and energy consumption. The review indicates that UAVs promise to reduce last-mile delivery emissions by 71% and costs by 96.5% compared to truck delivery. Saturated knowledge analysis is conducted across the seven domains to identify potential research gaps. Additionally, this review identifies key knowledge gaps, including variability in environmental and cost data, limitations associated with 2D modelling, and a lack of experimental validation. Future research interventions aimed at advancing UAV adoption in last-mile delivery applications are discussed.", "keywords": [ "Mile", "Last mile (transportation)", "State (computer science)", "Aeronautics", "Drone", "Environmental science", "Marine engineering", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Geography", "Geodesy" ], "cited_by_count": 36, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/9/6/413/pdf?version=1749201995" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4310622132", "doi": "10.4337/9781800373372.00016", "title": "Explaining the growth in light electric vehicles in city logistics", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-11-15", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ron van Duin", "W. Ploos van Amstel", "Hans J. Quak" ], "first_author": "Ron van Duin", "venue": "Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks", "publisher": "Edward Elgar Publishing", "abstract": "The global growth of cities leads to more residents, more businesses and more jobs. As a result, companies, workers, residents and visitors demand more goods and produce more waste. More space for logistics activities in and around cities is at odds to the growing need for accommodation for people living and working in cities. The Light Electric Freight Vehicle (LEFV) can be an innovative solution to deal with these challenges. LEFVs take up less road space, are zero-emission, and are less intrusive than vans in city logistics. This chapter deals with the success and failure factors of the introduction of LEFVs in city logistics and the related future perspectives on LEFVs in city logistics explained by the application of the TIS framework (Technological Innovation System). The chapter ends with a future perspective on LEFVs based on a SWOT-analysis in which the TIS -factors are positioned.", "keywords": [ "SWOT analysis", "City logistics", "Accommodation", "Business", "Space (punctuation)", "Odds", "Transport engineering", "Marketing", "Engineering", "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.elgaronline.com/downloadpdf/book/9781800373372/book-part-9781800373372-16.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3213255077", "doi": "10.1117/12.2613944", "title": "Optimization of drone and truck emergency delivery using artificial bee colony-Clarke-Wright algorithm", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-11-10", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Shuguang Han", "Hang Yang", "Jueliang Hu", "Tianhui Zhang" ], "first_author": "Shuguang Han", "venue": "International Conference on Smart Transportation and City Engineering 2021", "publisher": null, "abstract": "It is very important to provide material support for people in disaster area in order to save lives and reduce losses. With the development of science and technology and the popularization of 5G network, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV, or drone) will be widely used in urban logistics delivery and emergency rescue. Using trucks as a launch platform for drones, and delivering logistics in a coordinated distribution mode of trucks and drones, which is expected to further improve distribution efficiency. A mixed integer programming model with the shortest total delivery time is established. An artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm embedded with improved mileage-saving (the Clarke-Wright or C-W) algorithm is developed to solve this model. The results show that the established model and the proposed algorithm are effective and can provide guidance for the application of drones in emergency rescue.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Computer science", "Artificial bee colony algorithm", "Wright", "Operations research", "Algorithm", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Artificial intelligence", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2613944" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3046191236", "doi": "10.4018/ijsvst.2020070102", "title": "An Innovative Modelling and Decision-Support Approach for Evaluating Urban Transshipment Problems Using Electrical Trucks", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-07-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yavuz Günalay", "Julian Scott Yeomans" ], "first_author": "Yavuz Günalay", "venue": "International Journal of Smart Vehicles and Smart Transportation", "publisher": "IGI Global", "abstract": "As a consequence of urban intensification, logistics planning becomes more important than ever. Electric vehicles have proved to be both environmentally friendly and a lower-cost alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles. However, existing decision methods employed by businesses and municipalities are not universally conducive to the optimization and evaluation of urban transportation systems. An innovative model and planning approach is proposed to enable urban planners to more readily evaluate the contribution of electric vehicles in city logistics and to support the decision-making process. When faced with decision-making situations that involve multiple and inconsistent performance objectives, it is often preferable to consider several quantifiably good alternatives that provide various, very different perspectives. This paper provides a modeling-to-generate-alternatives (MGA) decision-support procedure that uses the firefly algorithm (FA) metaheuristic for generating sets of maximally different alternatives for electric vehicle planning in urban transshipment problems.", "keywords": [ "Transshipment (information security)", "Truck", "Decision support system", "Computer science", "Process (computing)", "Metaheuristic", "Operations research", "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4018/ijsvst.2020070102" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2953266833", "doi": null, "title": "Cargo Cycles in Urban Freight Transport : Obstacles and facilitating factors for utilising cargo cycles in urban freight transport in Stockholm, Sweden", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jan Lasovský" ], "first_author": "Jan Lasovský", "venue": "KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)", "publisher": "KTH Royal Institute of Technology", "abstract": "Cargo cycles can play a considerable role in mitigating the negative impacts of urban freight transport while still ensure that the material needs of the city are fulfilled. Their small size, lower operating costs, smaller carbon footprint, lack of tailpipe emissions, and manoeuvrability in congested areas are considerable advantages over traditional urban freight vehicles. However, the advantages of cargo cycles are not inherent in every urban environment and under all conditions. This problematics is in general insufficiently researched and more context specific knowledge is needed. Thus, this study investigates the obstacles and facilitating factors for utilising cargo cycles in urban freight transport in Stockholm, Sweden. To investigate these context specifications, case study approach was employed and consisted of qualitative content analysis, semi-structured interviews, and observations. This study argues that in Stockholm, contradictory forces affect the utilisation of cargo cycles in urban freight transport. On one hand, the facilitating factors are mostly associated with measures of sustainable urban freight transport and sustainable development in general: reaction to traffic situation; strategic orientation of the city; public-private partnership; and bicycle infrastructure. On the other hand, path dependence of the city connected to traditional urban freight vehicles (vans) symbolises obstacles: the absence of direct planning for cargo cycles; lack of recognition; and inconsistency of bicycle infrastructure.", "keywords": [ "Business", "Traffic management", "Transport engineering", "Air cargo", "City logistics", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-169472" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4398241169", "doi": "10.1177/03611981241246270", "title": "Bi-Objective Battery Electric Truck Dispatching Problem with Backhauls and Time Windows", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-05-23", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Dongbo Peng", "Guoyuan Wu", "Kanok Boriboonsomsin" ], "first_author": "Dongbo Peng", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "The battery electric truck (BET) has emerged as a promising solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in urban logistics, given the current strict environmental regulations. This research explores the formulation and solution of the bi-objective BET dispatching problem with backhauls and time windows, aiming to simultaneously reduce environmental impacts and enhance the efficiency of urban logistics. From the sustainability perspective, one of the objectives is to minimize total energy costs, which include energy consumption and battery replacement expenses. On the other hand, from an economic perspective, the other objective is the minimization of labor costs. To solve this bi-objective BET dispatching problem, we propose an innovative approach, integrating an adaptive large neighborhood search-based metaheuristics algorithm with a multi-objective optimization strategy. This integration enables the exploration of the trade-off between fleet energy expenses and labor costs, optimizing the dispatching decisions for BETs. To validate the proposed dispatching strategy, extensive experiments were conducted using real-world fleet operations data from a logistics fleet in Southern California. The results demonstrated that the proposed approach yields a set of Pareto solutions, showcasing its effectiveness in finding a balance between energy efficiency and labor costs in urban logistics systems. The findings of this research contribute to advancing sustainable urban logistics practices and provide valuable insights for fleet operators in effectively managing BET fleets to reduce environmental impacts while maintaining economic efficiency.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Battery (electricity)", "Automotive engineering", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981241246270" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7154570543", "doi": "10.3390/su18083978", "title": "Strategic Planning for Sustainable Last-Mile Logistics: Balancing Airspace Constraints and Carbon Price Uncertainty in Truck-Drone Delivery", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-04-16", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Chengyou Cui", "J J Li" ], "first_author": "Chengyou Cui", "venue": "Sustainability", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "The accelerated growth of e-commerce has intensified the dual challenges of weak infrastructure and carbon emission pressures in last-mile delivery for rural and mountainous regions. As the World Bank calls for integrating carbon market development into national strategies, Truck-Drone Collaborative Delivery (TDCD) has emerged as a critical sustainable solution. However, existing research often overlooks the strict airspace regulations in sensitive border areas. Therefore, this paper proposes a Vehicle Routing Problem with Drones and Mobile Base Stations (VRPDBS) model that explicitly incorporates airspace constraints and mobile hub deployment. We introduce a quantified “Regional Flyability Factor” (fk) to measure the impact of airspace restrictions on routing decisions and solve the problem using a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm. A case study based on real-world data from the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture reveals that strict airspace compliance imposes an absolute delivery delay of 4–5 h and an operational cost premium of up to 15%, an impact that can be effectively mitigated through a mobile base station mediation strategy. More importantly, multi-scenario sensitivity analysis under carbon price uncertainty indicates that although truck-dominant modes are cost-effective at current low carbon prices, drone-intensive configurations demonstrate superior economic robustness and environmental performance under high carbon price scenarios. This study not only provides a technical framework for green logistics planning in complex airspace but also offers strategic decision support for logistics enterprises to navigate long-term climate policy risks.", "keywords": [ "Robustness (evolution)", "Greenhouse gas", "Robust optimization", "Carbon price", "Decision support system", "Matching (statistics)", "Strategic planning" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/18/8/3978/pdf?version=1776347601" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W242611433", "doi": "10.2495/ut040871", "title": "ROAD PRICING AND URBAN FREIGHT TRANSPORT: PRACTICES AND DEVELOPMENTS FROM THE BESTUFS PROJECT", "year": 2004, "publication_date": "2004-05-07", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Martin Rüesch" ], "first_author": "Martin Rüesch", "venue": "WIT transactions on the built environment", "publisher": "WIT Press", "abstract": "This paper provides an overview on practices and developments related to road pricing in Europe in an urban freight context. It is based on the outcome of the BESTUFS project (Best Urban Freight Solutions, 2000-03), a thematic network project within the 5th Framework Program of the European Commission. The main focus is on practices with implemented pricing schemes in urban areas in Europe, and also on truck pricing. Although most of the implemented schemes in urban areas were designed originally for passenger transport, the contribution will take the viewpoint of the freight transport side. Success and failure factors have been identified, and recommendations for the implementation are made.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Context (archaeology)", "Truck", "Road pricing", "European commission", "Traffic management", "Business", "City logistics", "Best practice", "Commission", "Road transport", "Environmental planning" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.witpress.com/Secure/elibrary/papers/UT04/UT04087FU.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4393009756", "doi": "10.1108/ijpdlm-02-2023-0079", "title": "Operational performance of light electric freight vehicles in the last mile: two Nordic case studies", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-03-20", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Niklas Arvidsson", "Howard Twaddell Weir", "Tale Ørving" ], "first_author": "Niklas Arvidsson", "venue": "International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management", "publisher": "Emerald Publishing Limited", "abstract": "Purpose To assess the introduction and performance of light electric freight vehicles (LEFVs), more specifically cargo cycles in major 3PL organizations in at least two Nordic countries. Design/methodology/approach Case studies. Interviews. Company data on performance before as well as after the introduction. Study of differing business models as well as operational setups. Findings The results from the studied cases show that LEFVs can compete with conventional vans in last mile delivery operations of e-commerce parcels. We account for when this might be the case, during which circumstances and why. Research limitations/implications Inherent limitations of the case study approach, specifically on generalization. Future research to include more public–private partnership and multi-actor approach for scalability. Practical implications Adding to knowledge on the public sector facilitation necessary to succeed with implementation and identifying cases in which LEFVs might offer efficiency gains over more traditional delivery vehicles. Originality/value One novelty is the access to detailed data from before the implementation of new vehicles and the data after the implementation. A fair comparison is made possible by the operational structure, area of delivery, number of customers, customer density, type of packages, and to some extent, the number of packages being quite similar. Additionally, we provide data showing how city hubs can allow cargo cycles to work synergistically with delivery vans. This is valuable information for organizations thinking of trying LEFVs in operations as well as municipalities/local authorities that are interested.", "keywords": [ "Mile", "Last mile (transportation)", "Business", "Operations management", "Transport engineering", "Marketing", "Economics", "Engineering", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJPDLM-02-2023-0079/full/pdf?title=operational-performance-of-light-electric-freight-vehicles-in-the-last-mile-two-nordic-case-studies" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4365563324", "doi": "10.1016/j.aap.2023.107052", "title": "Reexamination of the association between development patterns and truck crashes: A case study in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-04-12", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sanggyun Kang" ], "first_author": "Sanggyun Kang", "venue": "Accident Analysis & Prevention", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Crash", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Intersection (aeronautics)", "Scale (ratio)", "Business", "Geography", "Engineering", "Computer science", "Cartography", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2023.107052" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400654980", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2024.03.013", "title": "What may automation cost? Activity-based costing for autonomous transport in urban logistics", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sandra Tjaden", "Heike Flämig" ], "first_author": "Sandra Tjaden", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "A shift towards driverless vehicles in urban logistics will only happen if the use of the new technologies is economically beneficial. For this reason, this paper discusses the question of what autonomous shipment may cost in urban logistics. Using activity-based costing, the distinction between shipment with conventional trucks and autonomous transport robots is analysed. The calculation shows that the omission of the driver does not necessarily lead to a reduction of process costs. Only by also reducing technology costs, autonomous transport in urban logistics can gain economic benefits.", "keywords": [ "Activity-based costing", "Truck", "Process (computing)", "Transport engineering", "Automation", "Cost reduction", "City logistics", "Business", "Risk analysis (engineering)", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2024.03.013" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7114915406", "doi": "10.1016/j.trd.2025.105163", "title": "Electric heavy-duty truck deployment and urban CO2 emissions: Evidence from Chinese policy-induced transitions", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-12-12", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zhonglin Sheng", "Xiaozhen Fu", "Xu Hao" ], "first_author": "Zhonglin Sheng", "venue": "Transportation Research Part D Transport and Environment", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Subsidy", "Software deployment", "Truck", "Corporate governance", "Scale (ratio)", "Electrification", "Track (disk drive)" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2025.105163" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4413942015", "doi": "10.1016/j.cstp.2025.101600", "title": "Urban freight Electrification: Total cost of ownership comparison of medium-duty BEVs and ICEVs in Thailand", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-09-03", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Pornthep Anussornnitisarn", "Atiphat Sumitpaibul", "Kampanart Silva", "Naraphorn Paoprasert" ], "first_author": "Pornthep Anussornnitisarn", "venue": "Case Studies on Transport Policy", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Electrification", "Business", "Duty", "Agricultural economics", "Natural resource economics", "Environmental science", "Economics", "Electricity", "Engineering", "Political science" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2025.101600" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W832883194", "doi": null, "title": "Light Ideas for Urban Freight", "year": 2007, "publication_date": "2007-11-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Keith Barrow" ], "first_author": "Keith Barrow", "venue": "International railway journal", "publisher": null, "abstract": "A bold plan is being embarked upon by the city of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, that could offer a sustainable and attractive city center road delivery alternative. Because of its narrow streets, Amsterdam's city center has had a chronic access problem for trucks. Hurried deliveries, increased morning rush hour traffic congestion, and increased emissions have resulted from truck deliveries, which are limited to 7:00-11:00 in the morning. Set up for cargo tram operations, the company City Cargo Amsterdam drew up plans to bring the concept of using light-rail vehicles (LRVs) for freight delivery purposes after a local entrepreneur saw the concept being used at Dresden, Germany's Volkswagen plant. A small-scale trial was approved by the Amsterdam city council in November 2006 and implemented in March 2007. Approximately 150 million Euros are being invested in the project's initial phase. Under the plan, freight will be unloaded from trucks, grouped by destination, and then loaded onto cargo trams. After the trams are unloaded at inner city transfer hubs, the freight will then be transferred into E-cars, small electrically-powered road vehicles, for delivery to customers.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Plan (archaeology)", "Traffic congestion", "Euros", "Engineering", "Traffic management", "Commercial vehicle", "Business", "Operations management", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/840416" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7128679853", "doi": "10.1016/bs.atpp.2026.01.001", "title": "Sustainable city logistics", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-01-01", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ron van Duin", "Bram Kin", "Hans J. Quak", "W. Ploos van Amstel", "NR Anand" ], "first_author": "Ron van Duin", "venue": "Advances in transport policy and planning", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Traffic management", "Drone", "Sustainable transport", "Sustainability", "Variety (cybernetics)", "Public transport", "Humanitarian Logistics", "Sustainable city" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.atpp.2026.01.001" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4389941392", "doi": "10.1016/j.cie.2023.109851", "title": "Learning for multiple purposes: A Q-learning enhanced hybrid metaheuristic for parallel drone scheduling traveling salesman problem", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-12-18", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ping Chen", "Qianlong Wang" ], "first_author": "Ping Chen", "venue": "Computers & Industrial Engineering", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Travelling salesman problem", "Metaheuristic", "Computer science", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Mathematical optimization", "Job shop scheduling", "Reinforcement learning", "Heuristic", "Artificial intelligence", "Operations research", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 47, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2023.109851" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3119417857", "doi": "10.7708/ijtte.2019.9(1).10", "title": "URBAN FREIGHT CRASH ANALYSIS USING ORDINAL LOGIT AND ORDINAL PROBIT REGRESSION IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-03-03", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [], "first_author": null, "venue": "International Journal for Traffic and Transport Engineering", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Trucking is vital to the economic advancement of the nation as the majority of goods are transported on truck internally.This topic is critical to the state of Alabama since trucking is the most frequently selected travel mode for all goods shipped through the Port of Mobile and especially those necessary to support the automotive industry, one of the major sectors of the Alabama economy.Therefore, truck crashes have a significant impact on moving goods and delivery schedules vital to maintaining the operation of assembly plants.Truck crashes often cause severe delays and extra time is needed to move larger vehicles from roadways and transfer the carried good to other vehicles.Additionally, truck crashes are often severe due to the fact their increased size and weight tends to cause severe damage when crashes occur with passenger cars, tending to cause more injuries.This study examined urban, at-fault truck crashes where the driver operated using a commercial driver's license.The crashes were obtained from Alabama cities between 2012 and 2016.A statistical analysis of crashes using a logit regression model and a probit regression model was performed and the significant variables that influence truck crashes were determined and analyzed.From the analysis, the variables that most likely increased the severity of urban truck at-fault crashes were fatigue and speed.The analysis demonstrated the ability of the two models to determine influences and the models were in strong agreement of the variables, with distracted driving, driving too fast for conditions and fatigue being the leading issues that increased the severity of crashes.", "keywords": [ "Ordinal regression", "Ordered probit", "Ordinal data", "Logit", "Probit model", "Econometrics", "Statistics", "Ordered logit", "Logistic regression", "Probit", "Crash", "Regression analysis" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.7708/ijtte.2019.9(1).10" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4416757666", "doi": "10.1016/j.cor.2025.107343", "title": "Two-echelon optimization framework for semi-autonomous truck platooning in container drayage", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-11-28", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zhaojie Xue", "Wenxiang Peng", "Jialu Zhang", "Rui Chen" ], "first_author": "Zhaojie Xue", "venue": "Computers & Operations Research", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Container (type theory)", "Truck", "Platoon", "Tabu search", "Component (thermodynamics)", "Resource (disambiguation)", "Public transport", "Integer programming" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cor.2025.107343" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3138388414", "doi": "10.37394/23205.2020.19.7", "title": "An Algorithm for Computing Solutions to the Range Limited Routing Problem Using Electrical Trucks", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-03-20", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yavuz Günalay", "Julian Scott Yeomans" ], "first_author": "Yavuz Günalay", "venue": "WSEAS Transactions on Computers archive", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Increasing urban intensification has caused civic planners to devote additional resources to more appropriate logistics planning. Electric vehicles have proved to be both a lower cost alternative and more environmentally friendly than the more ubiquitous internal combustion engine vehicles. However, prevailing decision-making formulations employed by municipalities and businesses are not necessarily computationally conducive for the evaluation and optimization of urban transportation systems using electric vehicles. An innovative computational approach, the range limited routing problem, is introduced that enables urban planners to more readily evaluate the contributions of electric vehicles to the city logistics decision-making process. While there is no generalized solution technique for solving this new formulation, this paper employs the Firefly Algorithm (FA) metaheuristic to solve the range limited routing problem using electric trucks.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer science", "Vehicle routing problem", "Firefly algorithm", "Range (aeronautics)", "Process (computing)", "Metaheuristic", "Transport engineering", "Mathematical optimization", "Operations research", "Algorithm" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.37394/23205.2020.19.7" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4406934510", "doi": "10.1016/j.tranpol.2025.01.039", "title": "Discovering the origins of freight demand: An empirical investigation of spatial heterogeneity in the generation of heavy-duty truck trips", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-29", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zhiwei Yang", "Han Liu", "Xiaohong Chen", "Jun Zhou", "Quan Yuan" ], "first_author": "Zhiwei Yang", "venue": "Transport Policy", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "TRIPS architecture", "Truck", "Heavy duty", "Transport engineering", "Trip generation", "Business", "Duty", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2025.01.039" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400083685", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-57603-4_17", "title": "Express Package Delivery Optimization Using Walkers, Cargo Tricycles and Delivery Trucks", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Patrick Meredith-Karam", "Jia Hui Jiang", "Sina Bahrami", "Matthew J. Roorda" ], "first_author": "Patrick Meredith-Karam", "venue": "International series in management science/operations research/International series in operations research & management science", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Business", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-57603-4_17" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4415536324", "doi": "10.1016/j.clscn.2025.100276", "title": "A sustainable crowd shipping model using public transport for low-carbon urban logistics", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-10-25", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hisatoshi Naganawa", "Enna Hirata", "Russell George Thompson" ], "first_author": "Hisatoshi Naganawa", "venue": "Cleaner Logistics and Supply Chain", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "• Developed a dynamic programming-based transport mode selection model integrating trucks, private cars, and trains for optimized urban parcel delivery. • Incorporated time constraints, congestion limits, and environmental cost factors , encouraging sustainable transport choices. • Conducted empirical validation using GIS and logistics datasets from Osaka, Japan, ensuring real-world applicability. • Identified that the proposed CCTS model can reduce CO 2 emissions by up to 80% , lower delivery costs, and improve last-mile efficiency. • Demonstrated the feasibility of leveraging public transport and parcel lockers to enhance urban freight resilience and sustainability. This study proposes a novel approach to sustainable urban logistics through a crowdsourced co-modality transportation system (CCTS) integrated with public transport networks. The research introduces a dual-layer multi-modal CCTS framework that optimally combines conventional delivery services with crowd shipping, leveraging existing passenger transport infrastructure to reduce environmental impacts. A dynamic programming model is developed to optimize mode selection, incorporating multiple transport modes in the context of physical internet, congestion constraints, train capacity, and carbon footprint considerations. By employing heuristic search methods for parcel locker placement, the study enhances last-mile delivery efficiency. Using Osaka as a case study, simulation results demonstrate that engaging commuters as delivery agents and integrating smart parcel lockers can significantly reduce urban freight emissions – achieving up to 80% carbon savings in specific scenarios. These findings highlight the potential of public transport-based crowd shipping to enhance delivery efficiency while contributing to cleaner and more sustainable cities.", "keywords": [ "Public transport", "Carbon footprint", "Sustainable transport", "City logistics", "Train", "Context (archaeology)", "Traffic management", "Crowdsourcing", "Traffic congestion" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clscn.2025.100276" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4386955371", "doi": "10.1016/j.cor.2023.106435", "title": "The drone-assisted pickup and delivery problem: An adaptive large neighborhood search metaheuristic", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-09-22", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Timothy Mulumba", "Waleed Najy", "Ali H. Diabat" ], "first_author": "Timothy Mulumba", "venue": "Computers & Operations Research", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Metaheuristic", "Computer science", "Pickup", "Benchmarking", "Operations research", "Integer programming", "Last mile (transportation)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 49, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cor.2023.106435" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2765390154", "doi": null, "title": "Off-peak City Logistics – A Case Study in Stockholm", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Anna Pernestål", "Anastasios Koutoulas", "Jiali Fu", "Romain Rumpler", "Iván Sánchez-Díaz", "Sönke Behrends", "Ragnar Glav", "Fredrik Cederstav", "Märta Brolinsson" ], "first_author": "Anna Pernestål", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Two heavy trucks have been operated in Stockholm city center during night time for e period of one and a half years. New technology has been tested: one the trucks was an electric hybrid with zone ...", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Center (category theory)", "City logistics", "Geography", "Operations management", "Business", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://kth.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2:1105183" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W72718581", "doi": null, "title": "A system of models for the assessment of city logistics policies", "year": 2011, "publication_date": "2011-12-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Agostino Nuzzolo", "Antonio Comi" ], "first_author": "Agostino Nuzzolo", "venue": "Cineca Institutional Research Information System (Tor Vergata University)", "publisher": "University of Rome Tor Vergata", "abstract": "The literature review highlights some limits of current methods and models for the assessment of city logistics policies. In order to overcome these limits, the paper presents a new modeling approach able to point out the exiting relations among decision-makers, choice dimensions and city logistics policies. It is made of two sub-systems approaching problems related to the demand (definition of level and spatial distribution of commodity exchanged within the urban area) and the restocking tour definition. \\nThis modeling system has been specified and calibrated using some surveys carried out in the inner area of Rome where more than 500 truck drivers and about 600 retailers have been interviewed.", "keywords": [ "Commodity", "Order (exchange)", "Truck", "Point (geometry)", "City logistics", "Operations research", "Business", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Environmental economics", "Regional science" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://hdl.handle.net/2108/52338" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1970853446", "doi": "10.2208/jscej.2005.786_21", "title": "TESTS ON CO-OPERATIVE USE OF ELECTRIC VANS FOR CITY LOGISTICS", "year": 2005, "publication_date": "2005-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Shin'ichi Takeuchi", "Eiichi Taniguchi" ], "first_author": "Shin'ichi Takeuchi", "venue": "Doboku Gakkai Ronbunshu", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Car sharing systems for commercial pickup/delivery trucks have great potentials to reduce the number of vehicles in urban areas by establishing efficient urban logistics systems and shifting car commuters using company cars into public transport. This paper presents social effects of car sharing systems using electric vans in Osaka, Japan as well as analyses on the feasibility of real operation for the systems incorporating the total costs incurred in the test project and the willingness to pay of companies who have been interested in the systems.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "City logistics", "Bike sharing", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Public transport", "Willingness to pay", "Test (biology)", "Environmental economics", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jscej/2005/786/2005_786_786_21/_pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4365143765", "doi": "10.4271/2023-01-0599", "title": "Analysis and Redesign of Connection Part in Cargo Truck Chassis for Fatigue Durability Performance", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-04-11", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Furong Xie", "Yunkai Gao", "Yanan Xu", "De Gao", "Ting Pan" ], "first_author": "Furong Xie", "venue": "SAE technical papers on CD-ROM/SAE technical paper series", "publisher": null, "abstract": "With the growing prosperity of the long-distance freight and urban logistics industry, the demand for cargo trucks is gradually increasing. The connecting bracket is the critical connecting part of the truck chassis, which bears the load transmitted by the road excitation and reduces the damage to the frame caused by the load. However, the occurrence of rough road conditions is inevitable in heavy-duty transportation. In this paper, road durability tests and fatigue life analysis are carried out on the original structure to ensure the safety of the vehicle. Based on the known boundary and load constraints, a lightweight and high-performance structure is obtained through size optimization, as the original structure cannot meet the performance requirements. Firstly, the road test was conducted on the truck where the original bracket structure is located. The stress response spectrums under fatigue simulation were obtained by combining the road test load spectrums at the excitation points. Moreover, according to the von Mises yield criterion or Tresca yield criterion, the stress-strain in the multiaxial state is equated to the stress-strain in the uniaxial state and made as the fatigue damage parameter. Then the cumulative damage value was carried out by adopting the fatigue damage accumulation theory based on Miner's rule. Secondly, a new connecting bracket layout is designed and optimized by size optimization with multiple performance constraints. Finally, fatigue life prediction and road durability tests were conducted based on the optimized design. The fatigue analysis and road durability test results show that the optimized bracket has better stiffness, strength, and fatigue performance than the original bracket.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Chassis", "Durability", "Structural engineering", "Bracket", "Engineering", "von Mises yield criterion", "Stress (linguistics)", "Automotive engineering", "Computer science", "Finite element method" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4271/2023-01-0599" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4242199726", "doi": "10.24006/jilt.2011.9.1.115", "title": "Selecting a Location for a City Logistics Facility: A Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation Method", "year": 2011, "publication_date": "2011-06-30", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yan Zhang", "Oh Kyoung Kwon", "Hwa-Joong Kim" ], "first_author": "Yan Zhang", "venue": "Journal of International Logistics and Trade", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The strategic location of city logistics facilities may help to establish more efficient urban logistics systems, reduce social and environmental costs of urban freight transport, and improve urban traffic conditions. In addition, it may allow a number of shippers or freight carriers to jointly operate freight vehicles and terminals or information systems while allowing them to have the capability to provide higher levels of services to their customers. This paper considers the problem of selecting a location for a city logistics facility while considering linguistic factors. This paper identifies the important factors in the selection of a location for a city logistics facility by performing a case study which applies the analytic hierarchy process method on data from Chongqing, China. The optimal location in Chongqing is then determined by using the fuzzy synthetic evaluation method. The results of this paper are expected to help municipal governments select appropriate locations for city logistics facilities and quantify the advantages and disadvantages of alternative locations.", "keywords": [ "Analytic hierarchy process", "City logistics", "Facility location problem", "Fuzzy logic", "Process (computing)", "Logistics center", "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Computer science", "Site selection", "Business", "Operations research" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.24006/jilt.2011.9.1.115" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4404627989", "doi": "10.1109/access.2024.3504480", "title": "Exploring the Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Freight Transportation Using Truck GPS Data: A Case Study of Lianyungang City", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zhongbin Xiao", "Dong Yang", "Yongxing Bao", "Changxi Ma", "Huayu Xia" ], "first_author": "Zhongbin Xiao", "venue": "IEEE Access", "publisher": "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers", "abstract": "Freight transportation plays a critical role in national economic development. However, there remains a gap in understanding its spatiotemporal characteristics and their impact on efficiency and sustainability. Therefore, exploring the travel distribution and freight volumes of trucks is of significant support to the freight industry. Traditional road traffic estimation methods typically rely on video surveillance and traffic collection equipment. When faced with large-scale vehicle trajectory data, these methods often require complex trajectory reconstruction processes, which are both time-consuming and resource-intensive. In contrast, this study employs a data-driven approach utilizing truck GPS trajectory data from Lianyungang City to propose a novel method for estimating freight vehicle traffic volume. The method uses isochronous data extraction techniques, combined with key variables in traffic flow calculations, to comprehensively understand dynamic factors without the need for individual trajectory reconstruction. The error rate is kept within 5%, thus saving time and resources while maintaining robustness. The research findings indicate that, influenced by supply-side structural reforms in transportation, coastal port cities have a higher proportion of urban freight vehicle trips compared to inland cities. Inland cities, on the other hand, exhibit a greater proportion of intercity freight vehicle trips. In port cities, trucks are more likely to serve connections between freight yards and ports. Additionally, freight demand is closely linked to economic development levels, with high demand observed in urban core areas compared to surrounding regions. These findings provide strong support for optimizing freight structure, enhancing transportation efficiency, and reducing transportation costs.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Global Positioning System", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Telecommunications", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2024.3504480" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1149407176", "doi": null, "title": "City Logistics Optimization:Gothenburg Inner City Freight Delivery", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-12-11", "type": "other", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hyusein Erdinch", "Chao Huang" ], "first_author": "Hyusein Erdinch", "venue": "Gothenburg University Publications Electronic Archive (Gothenburg University)", "publisher": "University of Gothenburg", "abstract": "As number of freight vehicles and the volume handled steadily increase and negative effects of transport are being recognized, sustainable transport attracts more attention from both the researchers and transport stakeholders. Since conflicts of interest among stakeholders are not avoidable, it is important to seek for and keep the balance.\\nThis research conducts a qualitative method to discuss the optimization possibilities of the city logistics of non-chain stores in central Gothenburg, Sweden by focusing on two stakeholders: The administrators and the freight operators. Based on some of the best practices in urban logistics in other major cities in Europe, this paper tries to suggest new methods for the area in Gothenburg.\\nTo understand the subject better, relevant information is collected by the authors from different people involved in city logistics. After getting a clear idea, literature on the subject has been scanned to find the relevant theories.\\nBased on the dynamics of the city, ideas which are not suitable and which could be suitable are discussed from the perspective of the three pillars of sustainability.", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Operations management", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://hdl.handle.net/2077/37710" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7131660961", "doi": "10.1016/j.cie.2026.111939", "title": "Urban delivery network location–routing problem under a metro–truck intermodal transportation mode", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-02-26", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zhen Di", "Yuhang Zhou", "Jianguo Qi" ], "first_author": "Zhen Di", "venue": "Computers & Industrial Engineering", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Iterated local search", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Heuristic", "Mode (computer interface)", "Total cost", "City logistics", "Sensitivity (control systems)", "Metro station", "Minification" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2026.111939" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4367178008", "doi": "10.4324/9781003241478-30", "title": "Decarbonizing Road Freight and Alternative Fuels for Urban Logistics", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-04-27", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Geneviève Giuliano", "Sue Dexter" ], "first_author": "Geneviève Giuliano", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Road freight is a significant and growing source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. Globally the transport sector accounts for about 15% of all GHGs; the share is higher in high-income countries. This chapter examines the decarbonization of medium-duty (MD) and heavy-duty (HD) trucks. Trucks are the workhorse of surface goods movement; they transport two-thirds of all goods by weight in the United States and account for nearly all urban last-mile deliveries. The rise in direct consumer deliveries has changed the urban delivery landscape. Medium and heavy-duty trucks have different duty cycles depending on their use. HD trucks can carry liquid chemicals, shipping containers, or refrigerated groceries to a customer, while MD trucks may deliver packages or goods to numerous customers on a single tour. The chapter closes with a discussion of public policy and decarbonization of the vehicle fleet.", "keywords": [ "Business", "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003241478-30" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2389158034", "doi": null, "title": "Research on Sustainable Urban Freight Planning", "year": 2005, "publication_date": "2005-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zhou Wei" ], "first_author": "Zhou Wei", "venue": "Urban Transport of China", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Based on measures and implementations of developed countries, the paper analyzed concept of urban freight and objectives of urban freight planning. It presented that urban freight planning of main cities can prevent negative impacts of truck operating in urban areas, such as congestion, noises and emissions. Considering reasonable land using and environment protection of urban areas, sustainable urban freight planning should include such progresses as freight and truck surveys, demand forecasting, truck corridors design, layout of freight terminals, distribution point planning and truck traffic management planning.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Traffic management", "Transport engineering", "City logistics", "Transportation planning", "Urban planning", "Business", "Traffic congestion", "Land-use planning", "Environmental planning", "Sustainable transport", "Implementation" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-CSJT200502004.htm" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4313593567", "doi": "10.1016/j.trb.2022.12.007", "title": "Exact solution approaches for the minimum total cost traveling salesman problem with multiple drones", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-04", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Gizem Özbaygın Tiniç", "Oya Ekin Karaşan", "Bahar Y. Kara", "James F. Campbell", "Aysu Ozel" ], "first_author": "Gizem Özbaygın Tiniç", "venue": "Transportation Research Part B Methodological", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Travelling salesman problem", "Drone", "Mathematical optimization", "Traveling purchaser problem", "2-opt", "Mathematics", "Computer science", "Biology" ], "cited_by_count": 71, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trb.2022.12.007" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W560769711", "doi": null, "title": "On the Characterization of Urban Freight Transport", "year": 2011, "publication_date": "2011-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Julio Comendador", "María Francisca Yáñez", "María Eugenia López Lambas", "Andrés Monzón de Cáceres" ], "first_author": "Julio Comendador", "venue": "Transportation Research Board 90th Annual MeetingTransportation Research Board", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The current life in urban centers has led to increasing and demanding freight requirements, and manufactures, retailers and other urban agents have thus tended towards more frequent and smaller deliveries, which result in a growing use of light freight vehicles (<3.5 ton). In this paper the authors characterize and analyse urban freight mobility. Based on a 2-city case, which gathers data from global positioning systems (GPS) and complementary interviews, the authors first propose a categorization of urban freight movement, after which the authors carry out a speed analysis. Finally, this multi-factor study allows us to link dangerous behavior (out-of-limit-speed) with movement characteristics. The authors confirm that routine movements lead to safer driving behavior, while the lack of patterns and of previous route planning promote higher and, even worse, out-of-limit speeds. The results of this research could make an important contribution for setting appropriate and more specific safety policies.", "keywords": [ "SAFER", "Transport engineering", "Speed limit", "Categorization", "Global Positioning System", "Business", "Computer science", "Risk analysis (engineering)", "Engineering", "Computer security", "Telecommunications" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/1092610" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4390226701", "doi": "10.1016/j.cor.2023.106514", "title": "Parallel drone scheduling vehicle routing problems with collective drones", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-12-26", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Roberto Montemanni", "Mauro Dell’Amico", "Andrea Corsini" ], "first_author": "Roberto Montemanni", "venue": "Computers & Operations Research", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "We study last-mile delivery problems where trucks and drones collaborate to deliver goods to final customers. In particular, we focus on problem settings where either a single truck or a fleet with several homogeneous trucks work in parallel to drones, and drones have the capability of collaborating for delivering missions. This cooperative behaviour of the drones, which are able to connect to each other and work together for some delivery tasks, enhance their potential, since connected drone has increased lifting capabilities and can fly at higher speed, overcoming the main limitations of the setting where the drones can only work independently. In this work, we contribute a Constraint Programming model and a valid inequality for the version of the problem with one truck, namely the Parallel Drone Scheduling Traveling Salesman Problem with Collective Drones and we introduce for the first time the variant with multiple trucks, called the Parallel Drone Scheduling Vehicle Routing Problem with Collective Drones. For the latter version of the problem, we propose two Constraint Programming models and a Mixed Integer Linear Programming model. An extensive experimental campaign leads to state-of-the-art results for the problem with one truck and some understanding of the presented models’ behaviour on the version with multiple trucks. Some insights about future research are finally discussed.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Travelling salesman problem", "Computer science", "Vehicle routing problem", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Integer programming", "Constraint programming", "Operations research", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Mathematical optimization", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 47, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cor.2023.106514" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2810308524", "doi": "10.1002/9781119425472.ch3", "title": "Simulation of a City Logistics Solution for Montreal", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-05-30", "type": "other", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Marguérite Kamdem Simo", "Teodor Gabriel Crainic", "Yvon Bigras" ], "first_author": "Marguérite Kamdem Simo", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "City logistics solutions have been implemented in many cities in a number of countries around the world. This chapter presents the simulation of an urban logistics solution in a North American city. It also presents the different types of models used in urban areas for goods movement simulations. The chapter evaluates the efficiency of using an urban consolidation center (UCC) solution in the Montreal area to reduce truck flows on the road. It provides the results of the simulations of different scenarios using the modified model and compares them to the initial situation. Using only interregional truck flows, the results show that the use of a UCC could reduce trucking in the central parts of the metropolitan area. Even under a pessimistic scenario, a significant number of empty trucks are removed from the road, and the truck traffic decreases in the densest parts of the metropolitan area.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Metropolitan area", "Transport engineering", "City logistics", "Consolidation (business)", "Urban area", "Business", "Geography", "Computer science", "Environmental science", "Engineering", "Economy" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119425472.ch3" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2777685040", "doi": "10.1504/writr.2017.10009827", "title": "Monitoring, measurement and statistical analysis-based methodology for improving city logistics of shopping malls in Budapest", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Krisztián Bóna", "Bálint Mészáros", "Dávid Lajos Sárdi" ], "first_author": "Krisztián Bóna", "venue": "World Review of Intermodal Transportation Research", "publisher": "Inderscience Publishers", "abstract": "Urban freight transport poses significant problems in cities around the world: trucks play a major role in congestion, environmental and noise pollution and damage the roads. Shopping centres are problematic, in particular, as they concentrate a large number of retail stores in a relatively small space. There are 18 shopping malls in Budapest alone, each containing 180 stores on average, therefore there is great potential in streamlining their deliveries. The most effective solution is a cooperative city-logistics system, a freight consolidation scheme. However, there is a shortage of available data regarding the logistical operations and freight quantities of shopping malls, so it is inescapable to develop a methodology by which the logistical characteristics of any shopping centre can be obtained. After testing our methodology, we concluded that it is capable of serving as the basis of such systems. This paper presents the development, structure and testing of this methodology.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Economic shortage", "Transport engineering", "Consolidation (business)", "City logistics", "Traffic congestion", "Business", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1504/writr.2017.10009827" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2897353646", "doi": "10.1108/978-1-78756-803-720181007", "title": "Analysis of Urban Logistics Measures in an HORECA Intensive Area", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-10-22", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Luis Chicaiza-Vaca Jorge", "Andrés Hidalgo-Carvajal David" ], "first_author": "Luis Chicaiza-Vaca Jorge", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Abstract The fast growth of urban areas in major cities worldwide is undoubtedly one of the biggest concerns for city officials. In Latin America, data show that currently 81% of its inhabitants live in urban areas, and calculations forecast an increase in this percentage. In this context, urban logistics would become increasingly important in the overall performance of the region and its cities. The main objective of this study was to develop a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) to complement the square kilometer (km2) methodology developed by MIT, applying it in a highly intensive HORECA (hotels, restaurant, coffee shops) area known as “Zona T (The T Zone)” in Bogotá, Colombia, as this is a critical area where distribution needs to be performed at its best. Data such as shop inventory (stores, restaurants, drugstores, etc.), vehicle counting (cars, buses, motorbikes, trucks, etc.), product deliveries (by type: perishables, groceries, cleaning supplies, etc.), and traffic disruptions were collected through observation. Based on literature review and results of the study, 13 KPIs are proposed in three categories: operational (average distance and store coverage, service time & service rate, store density, delivery points, easiness for delivery and vehicle delivery factor), energy and environmental (fuel consumption and emissions), and traffic (traffic density, speed and traffic per lane). The main results show a 62-m average distance from truck to store, service time of 18:36 min, 1.019 gal and 9.1 kg CO2e of fuel consumption and emission, respectively, traffic density of 421 vehicles/h, and other results described throughout the document.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Context (archaeology)", "Transport engineering", "Fuel efficiency", "Performance indicator", "Service (business)", "Kilometer", "Consumption (sociology)", "Business", "Urban area", "Environmental economics", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78756-803-720181007" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W218826270", "doi": null, "title": "The potential role of urban waterways in sustainable urban freight transport - A case study of mass transport from the construction of Västlänken", "year": 2013, "publication_date": "2013-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Vanja Carlén", "Andreas Josefsson", "Lina Olsson" ], "first_author": "Vanja Carlén", "venue": "Chalmers Publication Library (Chalmers University of Technology)", "publisher": "Chalmers University of Technology", "abstract": "Urban freight transport (UFT) is becoming increasingly important; a well working transport system is\\na precondition for economic growth of cities and as more people and business move to urban areas the\\namount of goods transported to, from and within cities increases. However, it also results in emissions,\\ncongestion and safety issues. The city of Gothenburg is in need of an updated infrastructure to meet\\nthe increased transport need and as part of this update, the planning of a railway tunnel, Västlänken,\\nunder central Gothenburg is taking place. The construction work is planned to start in 2018 and is\\nestimated to run for ten years. The new railway system will include three new stations under the city\\ncentre and simplify commuting to and from the city. One of the main issues during the construction\\ntime is the removal of a large amount of mass from the sites and thus increased levels of UFT within\\nthe already constrained infrastructure.\\nThis thesis was initiated to find transport solutions for this mass and started as a part of the sustainable\\nUFT project Sendsmart that aims for finding both technical and soft solutions for sustainable UFT.\\nWhen looking at possible transport solutions for the mass, the waterways in Gothenburg are of\\nparticular interest, as they are not fully utilized and would decrease the congestion on the roads. This\\nleads to the purpose of this thesis that was to evaluate the feasibility and sustainability of using urban\\nwaterways for mass transport in urban areas during the construction of Västlänken in Gothenburg. In\\norder to fulfil the purpose, two research questions were assessed. First, it was examined if the usage of\\nurban waterways is feasible when transporting mass during the construction of Västlänken. Second, it\\nwas examined if the usage of urban waterways is a sustainable alternative to road transport.\\nThe feasibility study was conducted through theoretical studies, benchmark of six similar cases to the\\none in Gothenburg and studies of the context specific conditions in Gothenburg. In addition, three\\nbarge suppliers, two construction machine manufacturers and one construction truck manufacturer\\nwere interviewed to gain a technical understanding and knowledge of the available vehicles and\\nvessels on the Swedish market. It was concluded that both barge and truck are feasible modes of\\ntransport in this context. Both modes of transport however need different transhipment methods, and\\nthe belt conveyor investigated for the vessel alternative showed not to be suitable for clay or for shafts\\nlocated close to streets and instead a truck is recommended for these transhipments.\\nThe sustainability study was divided into an environmental study, a cost study and a social impact\\nstudy. In the environmental and cost study, it was concluded that a larger carrier results in less\\nenvironmental impact and costs for both trucks and vessels. The largest vessel investigated was\\nhowever outstanding and would also be better from a congestion point of view. From a social\\nperspective, vessel also showed to be the best solution, as it is safe and results in less noise and visual\\nintrusion impact on the city. This is also in accordance with the stakeholder analysis performed.\\nIn conclusion, the large vessel investigated outclasses all other transport solutions both regarding\\nfeasibility and sustainability. When taking on a system view perspective, it is shown that two large\\nvessels with mixed types of mass is the most efficient combination for the total flow of mass from the\\nthree shafts investigated. The infrastructure of Gothenburg allows for efficient barge transport flows\\nand the short distances gained when using the seaways result in sustainable transport solutions. A well\\nworking transport system is a precondition for economic growth of cities and the urbanisation of\\nGothenburg requires mitigation actions in order to handle congestion. Barge transport is an efficient\\nway of making the transport system in Gothenburg more sustainable and would also facilitate the need\\nof more frequent and efficient deliveries in the city centre.", "keywords": [ "Mass transport", "Mass transportation", "Work (physics)", "Sustainability", "Transport engineering", "Sustainable transport", "Business", "Transport system", "Environmental planning", "Civil engineering", "Public transport", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://studentarbeten.chalmers.se/publication/193491-the-potential-role-of-urban-waterways-in-sustainable-urban-freight-transport-a-case-study-of-mass-tr" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2124440993", "doi": "10.3141/2410-09", "title": "Analysis of Competitiveness of Freight Tricycle Delivery Services in Urban Areas", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Chawalit Tipagornwong", "Miguel Figliozzi" ], "first_author": "Chawalit Tipagornwong", "venue": "Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "This research analyzed the competitiveness of freight tricycles, low-capacity freight delivery vehicles, as compared with diesel vans in urban areas. Freight tricycles, also known as electric-assisted trikes, are low-emission vehicles powered by a combination of human effort and an electric engine. This research developed a cost model that incorporated vehicle ownership and operation models as well as logistics constraints such as time windows, cargo capacity, fuel consumption, and energy use. Unlike previous research efforts, the model was tailored to the unique characteristics of freight tricycles and diesel van deliveries in urban areas. The model was used to analyze the competitiveness of freight tricycles against diesel-powered delivery vans. Cost breakeven points and elasticity for several vehicles and route-related variables were estimated. Results provided new insights on the last-mile delivery characteristics and logistical constraints that could affect tricycle competitiveness. Freight tricycle competitiveness was sensitive to urban policies and design variables such as on-street speed limits and parking policies. Tricycle competitiveness was also greatly affected by drivers’ costs but barely affected by electricity or diesel costs. In contrast with the use of electric trucks, the competitiveness of tricycles was not driven by the value of the vehicles and their use.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Diesel fuel", "Electricity", "Business", "Fuel efficiency", "Environmental economics", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 81, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3141/2410-09" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W635819132", "doi": null, "title": "CITY LOGISTICS: A CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT? - A CONTRIBUTION TO THE DISCUSSION ON SOLUTIONS TO FREIGHT TRANSPORT PROBLEMS IN URBAN AREAS", "year": 1999, "publication_date": "1999-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "P Loeffler" ], "first_author": "P Loeffler", "venue": "World Transport Policy and Practice", "publisher": "Emerald Publishing Limited", "abstract": "The increasing amount of freight transport by road in urban areas of industrialised countries induces serious social and economic impacts through local and global environmental deterioration. Sustainable development demands that these effects be reduced substantially. The concept of City Logistics seems to offer an ideal method to decrease the number of trucks without harming economic performance. However, its current use is restricted in a number of ways. In particular, large-scale implementation of City Logistics would require different economic incentives for private actors. (A)", "keywords": [ "Incentive", "Truck", "Business", "City logistics", "Sustainable development", "Sustainable transport", "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Environmental planning", "Scale (ratio)", "Sustainability", "Environmental economics" ], "cited_by_count": 4, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/492234" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7117454012", "doi": "10.3390/urbansci10010010", "title": "Sustainable Urban Freight Optimization for Isobenefit Cities: Integrating Neural Networks and Graph Theory", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-12-26", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Tarak Barhoumi", "Sami Jarboui", "Younes Boujelbene" ], "first_author": "Tarak Barhoumi", "venue": "Urban Science", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "Urban logistics serves as a cornerstone for efficient freight transport and sustainable city development, particularly in contexts challenged by congestion and environmental pressures. This research examines the restructuring of the urban logistics system in Sfax, Tunisia—an expanding industrial and economic center increasingly burdened by traffic congestion. Through a comprehensive analytical framework, the study identifies the primary determinants influencing freight transport operations and develops a phased policy roadmap to enhance logistical efficiency. Neural Network Modeling is employed to evaluate the effects of multiple transport-related variables on logistics performance, while Graph Theory is utilized to represent spatial and functional interconnections, facilitating the visualization of freight flows and supporting evidence-based decision-making. The results emphasize the crucial role of managing truck circulation within Sfax’s urban core. Accordingly, a three-phase reorganization plan is proposed to optimize freight mobility, alleviate congestion, and advance sustainable urban growth. The methodological approach and policy insights offer practical guidance applicable to other metropolitan areas facing similar logistical challenges.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Restructuring", "Traffic management", "Truck", "Traffic congestion", "Plan (archaeology)", "Cornerstone", "Supply chain", "Strategic planning" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/10/1/10/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2017070333", "doi": "10.1108/scm-05-2014-0149", "title": "The role of a structured stakeholder consultation process within the establishment of a sustainable urban supply chain", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-04-30", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ines Österle", "Paulus Teguh Aditjandra", "Carlo Vaghi", "Gabriele Grea", "Thomas Hagen Zunder" ], "first_author": "Ines Österle", "venue": "Supply Chain Management An International Journal", "publisher": "Emerald Publishing Limited", "abstract": "Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyse a case of local freight stakeholder involvement to plan and design eco-efficient city logistics innovations in Como, a small city in Italy. While the importance of a well-functioning urban goods distribution system is widely acknowledged, city authorities have become increasingly aware of the need to minimise the negative impacts associated to the system. There are now countless examples of attempts to increase the eco-efficiency of urban freight deliveries; however, very few have made a notable impact. The success of such schemes often depends upon the response of a range of private sector freight stakeholders and their involvement during the planning process of these solutions is crucial. Design/methodology/approach – To engage local freight stakeholders within the planning process of a city logistics project, the logical framework approach, in the form of the design and monitoring framework (DMF) developed by the Asian Development Bank, has been applied. Findings – The structured consultation process implied within the DMF approach allowed urban freight stakeholders to share their aspirations from the beginning of the city freight planning process, despite their differences in priorities in adopting eco-efficient logistics innovations. The process ensured that city stakeholders accepted and committed to the city logistics strategies formulated during the consultation process, namely: changes to the Limited Traffic Zone regulation, the use of an urban consolidation centre and hybrid electric truck adoption. Research limitations/implications – The evaluation of the DMF application will be definitive after the demonstration/implementation stage of the city logistics project. It will then become clear if freight stakeholders have committed to the project and if it is effective in delivering the expected outputs and outcomes. Practical implications – Local city authorities may find this method useful in situations where a structured consultation process is needed for addressing urban freight issues. This is especially the case in the context of introducing innovative, eco-efficiency solutions. Originality/value – The application of DMF in the developed environment can be considered novel; this paper extends this with an application to the promotion of sustainable urban freight.", "keywords": [ "Business", "Stakeholder", "Process (computing)", "Supply chain", "City logistics", "Process management", "Plan (archaeology)", "Urban planning", "Truck", "Environmental planning", "Transport engineering", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 63, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1108/scm-05-2014-0149" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4399467620", "doi": "10.59890/ijir.v2i5.1567", "title": "Acceptability of Sustainable Logistics Measures for Fuel Distribution by Tanker Trucks in Nigeria", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-06-05", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Fatai A. Yakeen" ], "first_author": "Fatai A. Yakeen", "venue": "International Journal of Integrative Research", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Globally, greater attention is being paid to sustainable logistics practices due to the increasing negative impact of urban freight logistics on the environment. Urban logistics stakeholders are faced with the challenge to adopting measures to mitigate the negative impacts of freight logistics operations. This study evaluates the acceptability of sustainable logistics measures. This study adopted a cross-sectional and quantitative survey design. According to Creswell (2014), quantitative research involves the analysis of numerical data using statistical methods. This study used a purposive sampling technique for the distribution of 300 structured questionnaires to stakeholders in the oil industry including other road users in Lagos, Nigeria. The results from the analysis show that respondents accepted (are in support) all the sustainable freight logistics measures. The measures with the highest acceptability (strongest support) are the measures for traffic control, followed by the measures for traffic diversion, and lastly measures for traffic reduction)", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Business", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Traffic management", "Nonprobability sampling", "Transport engineering", "Environmental economics", "Sustainable development", "City logistics", "Operations management", "Engineering", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.59890/ijir.v2i5.1567" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W802101431", "doi": null, "title": "Vehicle fleet mix and practices for improving the level of service for freight vehicles", "year": 2006, "publication_date": "2006-09-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Michelle Su", "James Y. K. Luk" ], "first_author": "Michelle Su", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "This report analyses the existing vehicle fleet mix and forecast future fleet growth and reviews the appropriate indicators for the level of service for freight vehicles. It also compiles the current practices in improving the efficiency of freight vehicle movements. The freight growth was analysed with data from ABS in the period 2000 to 2004. Growth from all capital cities was found to average 2.5% per year in VKT. When light commercial vehicles were excluded, growth rates for VKT and tonne-km travelled were 0.8% and 3.0% per year respectively. Tonnage growth rates were higher than the VKT growth rates in the largest four capital cities - Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. It is possible that the consolidation of more freight into larger heavy vehicles may have taken place in these cities, e.g. more use of Class 9 articulated vehicles. Brisbane had both VKT and tonne-km travelled increase at about 3% per year. The growth of the urban freight task does not appear excessive but requires traffic management and other non-build measures to be planned ahead if urban congestion and freight efficiency are to be maintained. Buses, trams and emergency vehicles account for only a small percentage of the total VKT in a city. The issue for these users is not on the level of demand, but rather on the measures required to maintain and improve their level of service because of the important roles they all play in a city.", "keywords": [ "Tonnage", "Vehicle miles of travel", "Transport engineering", "Level of service", "Kilometer", "Service (business)", "Business", "Traffic congestion", "Agricultural economics", "Engineering", "Economics", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://austroads.com.au/publications/freight/ap-r294-06" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4392668750", "doi": "10.1109/dsins60115.2023.10455630", "title": "Research on Model-Based Cooperative Delivery Problem of Trucks and UAVs", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-11-10", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jinchen Zhao", "Jun Lei", "Mian Ye", "Weiran Zhang", "H. Yang" ], "first_author": "Jinchen Zhao", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "In order to address the increasing complexity of the urban logistics and distribution environment, a novel cooperative delivery model of trucks and UAVs was proposed, aiming to improve the efficiency of logistics and distribution, reduce the economic loss caused by untimely delivery, and meanwhile solve the problems of short distribution distance and insufficient range capacity in the UAV logistics industry. K-means clustering algorithm was utilized to determine the truck distribution points, and genetic algorithm was applied to solve the problem of the shortest driving distance under the cooperative distribution model. Through numerical experiments, it was verified that the proposed method featured favorable distribution performance with faster delivery speed and less time consumption. The research provided future development of urban logistics and distribution with regard to novel ideas and methods.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Aerospace engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/dsins60115.2023.10455630" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3188450829", "doi": "10.1016/j.comcom.2021.07.013", "title": "Traveling salesman problem with drone under recharging policy", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-07-20", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Emine Eş Yürek", "H. Cenk Özmutlu" ], "first_author": "Emine Eş Yürek", "venue": "Computer Communications", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Travelling salesman problem", "Computer science", "Truck", "Battery (electricity)", "2-opt", "Heuristic", "Bottleneck traveling salesman problem", "Mathematical optimization", "Operations research", "Algorithm", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 38, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comcom.2021.07.013" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4206974578", "doi": "10.1109/jiot.2022.3142095", "title": "Edge-Cloud Blockchain and IoE-Enabled Quality Management Platform for Perishable Supply Chain Logistics", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-11", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Chen Yang", "Shulin Lan", "Zhiheng Zhao", "Mengdi Zhang", "Wei Ying Wu", "George Q. Huang" ], "first_author": "Chen Yang", "venue": "IEEE Internet of Things Journal", "publisher": "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers", "abstract": "In perishable supply chain logistics, even a small departure from the required storage conditions at any distribution link can compromise the quality of transported products, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and other bioproducts, resulting in big losses for the businesses involved or even threats to public health. To enhance quality management (QM) and consumer confidence, an edge-cloud blockchain and Internet of Everything (IoE)-enabled QM platform is proposed to achieve low delay and rapid response for sensor data acquisition, authentication, consistency, and transparency in cold supply chain logistics. Then, we design an adaptive data smoothing and compression (ADSC) mechanism to reduce IoE data size, and analyze and store those data in the edge gateways with limited computation and storage capacity for correctly characterizing logistics operations and transactions. Moreover, to ensure the data integrity during last-mile delivery, the mobile edge gateway is adopted when the goods are temporarily off the communication range of the fixed edge gateway in the truck. Then, we propose a synchronization engine with a formal workflow applied at mobile and fixed edge gateways where data blocks are generated, validated, and synchronized with the cloud. Finally, a real-life case study on vaccine logistics is introduced to verify our proposed approach with results presented.", "keywords": [ "Computer science", "Cloud computing", "Edge computing", "Supply chain", "Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution", "Data integrity", "Cloud storage", "Computer network", "Computer security", "Telecommunications", "Operating system", "Business" ], "cited_by_count": 79, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/jiot.2022.3142095" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4391338726", "doi": "10.1007/s13369-023-08681-0", "title": "Drone Applications in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: A Systematic Review Using Latent Dirichlet Allocation", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-30", "type": "review", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Imen Zrelli", "Abderahman Rejeb", "Rawan Abusulaiman", "Raghad AlSahafi", "Karim Rejeb", "Mohammad Iranmanesh" ], "first_author": "Imen Zrelli", "venue": "Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Latent Dirichlet allocation", "Drone", "Supply chain management", "Supply chain", "Computer science", "Mathematical optimization", "Mathematics", "Topic model", "Business", "Artificial intelligence", "Marketing" ], "cited_by_count": 40, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-023-08681-0" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4413696429", "doi": "10.1177/0308518x251361632", "title": "Towards a radical highway geography: Berlin and the remaking of city logistics in global capitalism", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-08-26", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Susanne Soederberg" ], "first_author": "Susanne Soederberg", "venue": "Environment and Planning A Economy and Space", "publisher": "SAGE Publishing", "abstract": "Highways are vital to global supply chains, enabling the dominant form of circulating goods inland by truck. Within critical economic geography and related disciplines, however, insufficient attention has been placed on developing a radical highway geography that positions highways within the evolving relationships between global capital, state scales and the labour of moving goods. I fill this silence by applying a historical-geographical materialist lens to Germany's most congested, costly, and controversial highway - Berlin's intercity A100 - to explore the entanglements of highways, labour power and the capitalist state within the socio-spatial and temporal dynamics of global capitalism. By following the A100 from the 1950s to the proposed completion of its contentious 16th extension in 2025, I argue that the 16th construction phase is the outcome of continual attempts by the capitalist state - at various scales of intervention - to annihilate space through time. These time-space compressions, which are incomplete, contradictory and contested, facilitate the circulation of commodities - understood here as urban freight and labour power - across space more rapidly and at lower cost, leading not only to a remaking of city logistics but also in the embodied labour of truck drivers, whose working lives increasingly reflect the pressures of accelerated circulation.", "keywords": [ "Capitalism", "Economic geography", "Sociology", "Geography", "Regional science", "Political science", "Politics", "Law" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518x251361632" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4376057007", "doi": "10.54612/a.45um2oare0", "title": "Characterising and Modelling Urban Freight in Developing Economies", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-01-01", "type": "book", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Abel Kebede Reda" ], "first_author": "Abel Kebede Reda", "venue": "Acta universitatis agriculturae Sueciae", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Urban freight systems in developing countries present significant challenges due to their complexity. Authorities often have inadequate institutional structures, making it difficult to identify and implement relevant initiatives. This thesis aims to characterise the systems in developing economies and model freight demand using innovative approaches by considering new attributes, dimensions and alternatives. As a first modelling step, freight (trip) generation was improved by considering spatial and locational determinants, as freight activities are strongly related to spatial and locational characteristics of establishments. Spatial models were developed using a combined spatial autoregressive model (SAR) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) or multiscale GWR (MGWR) (GWR/MGWR-SAR model). This model accounted for non-linearity, spatial heterogeneity and spatial dependency and demonstrated significant improvements (R2 0.29-0.71, RMSE reduced by 71% and AIC value by 56%). Shipment size decisions related to the choice of truck type were strongly timedependent, with commodity type, activities at the trip end, truck body type and industry sector affecting the preferences. Freight demand, including shipment size choices, was influenced by economic fluctuations, with shipment size declining after an economic slowdown. In freight demand modelling, it is imperative to consider economic conditions, especially those in developing countries, which are often susceptible to strong economic fluctuations. The models were applied in ex ante testing of a policy restricting large trucks from entering a city centre, as commonly considered in many developing countries. In tests, the truck restriction was accompanied by single-tier and two-tier distribution systems. The results showed that the two-tier system had a slight advantage over the single-tier system regarding operational expenditure and emission levels. Truck restriction was generally counterproductive, even when accompanied by distribution systems with greater speed and efficiency. We conclude that the models enhance the accurate prediction of freight demand patterns. The ex ante evaluation of policy alternatives supports the decision-making process for urban freight systems of large cities in developing economies. The models allow considering relevant practical, local contextual conditions.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Commodity", "Developing country", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Economics", "Econometrics", "Engineering", "Economic growth" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://pub.epsilon.slu.se/id/document/20414238" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7162791488", "doi": "10.1016/j.tre.2026.104958", "title": "Electric truck-based robot delivery problem with nonlinear charging", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-05-29", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Shaohua Yu", "Tengkuo Zhu", "Jakob Puchinger" ], "first_author": "Shaohua Yu", "venue": "Transportation Research Part E Logistics and Transportation Review", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Nonlinear system", "Robot", "Control theory (sociology)", "Electric vehicle", "Nonlinear programming", "Nonlinear model" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2026.104958" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3096900237", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-030-61075-3_80", "title": "Validating the Simulated Impacts of Urban Freight Transport", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-11-03", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ioannis D. Karakikes", "Eftihia Nathanail" ], "first_author": "Ioannis D. Karakikes", "venue": "Advances in intelligent systems and computing", "publisher": "Springer Nature", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Business", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61075-3_80" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4362696338", "doi": "10.3233/jifs-224307", "title": "A hybrid large-neighborhood search for a truck and drone delivery system with stochastic customer existence and time windows", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-04-07", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ebrahim Teimoury", "Reza Rashid" ], "first_author": "Ebrahim Teimoury", "venue": "Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems", "publisher": "IOS Press", "abstract": "In recent years, e-commerce has become increasingly popular, and consumers expect quick and affordable delivery, placing additional pressure on city logistics activities. An innovative approach is proposed to coordinate ground vehicles and drones for delivery services, which has gained tremendous attention from academia and logistic service providers. This paper introduces a variant of this problem: the two-echelon truck and drone routing problem, characterized by stochastic demand existence and soft time windows. A Markov chain is used to model the problem, and a linear mathematical model is presented. This work employs a hybrid large-neighborhood search approach. Numerous computational experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed solution method, and the results demonstrate its efficacy.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Computer science", "Markov chain", "Vehicle routing problem", "Service (business)", "Operations research", "Mathematical optimization", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Engineering", "Mathematics", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.3233/jifs-224307" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4295860426", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.4211063", "title": "A Collaborative Truck Multi-Drone Routing Problem with Flexible Launch and Recovery Operations", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Liu Changshi", "Wu Zhang", "Gang Kou", "Feng Xiao", "Xiancheng Zhou", "Lijun Fan" ], "first_author": "Liu Changshi", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Aeronautics", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Engineering", "Business", "Aerospace engineering", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4211063" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W657686535", "doi": null, "title": "THE URBAN FREIGHT CONSOLIDATION TERMINAL CONCEPT: AN APPRAISAL", "year": 1978, "publication_date": "1978-07-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "A D Schuster" ], "first_author": "A D Schuster", "venue": "Traffic quarterly", "publisher": "Eno Foundation for Transportation", "abstract": "The objective of this article is to examine the economic feasibility of implementing the consolidation terminal concept in metropolitan areas of different population categories. The double-parked truck is a frequent site in the Central Business District (CBD) of many large cities. These double-parked trucks, primarily involved in pickup and delivery of freight shipments, impede traffic flow and are a symbol of increasing congestion and decreasing quality of life experienced in many metropolitan areas. The high degree of vehicular congestion is reflected in high pickup and delivery costs that are the major component of the costs of providing freight service in urban areas. One concept proposed to reduce vehicular congestion and the costs of providing freight transportation service in densely populated areas is the urban freight consolidation terminal. The terminal operator is a local carrier who provides pickup and delivery service services within the terminal area for intercity carriers of freight. Although the consolidation terminal would offer its services to private carriers and for-hire air and rail carriers, the primary market for its services would be for-hire motor carriers of general commodities. The terminal would reduce vehicular congestion by decreasing the number of vehicles required to provide a given level of transportation service, and it would reduce pick up and delivery costs by increasing the intensity of use of each transportation vehicle.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Transport engineering", "Truck", "Traffic congestion", "Consolidation (business)", "Business", "Service (business)", "Level of service", "Finance", "Engineering", "Marketing", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/708234" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3171080252", "doi": "10.3390/en14123471", "title": "Novel Modelling Approach for the Calculation of the Loading Performance of Charging Stations for E-Trucks to Represent Fleet Consumption", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-06-11", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Thomas Märzinger", "David Wöß", "Petra Steinmetz", "Werner Müller", "Tobias Pröll" ], "first_author": "Thomas Märzinger", "venue": "Energies", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "In its “Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy”, the European Commission assumes a 90% reduction in traffic emissions by 2050. The decarbonisation of transport logistics as a major contributor to climate change is, therefore, indicated. There are major challenges in converting logistic transport processes to electric mobility. Currently, there is little available information for the conversion of entire fleets from fossil to electric fuel. One of the biggest challenges is the additional time needed for recharging. For the scheduling of entire logistics fleets, exact knowledge of the required loading times and loading quantities is essential. In this work, a parametrized continuous function is, therefore, defined to determine the essential parameters (recharging time, retrieved power, energy amounts) in HPC (high-power charging). These findings are particularly important for the deployment of multiple e-trucks in fleets, as logistics management depends on them. A simple function was constructed that can describe all phases of the charging process in a continuous function. Only the maximum power of the charging station, the size of the battery in the truck and the start SOC (state of charge) are required as parameters while using the function. The method described in this paper can make a significant contribution to the transformation towards electro-mobile urban logistics fleets. The required charging time, for example, is crucial for the planning and scheduling of e-logistics fleets and can be determined using the function described in this paper.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Automotive engineering", "Fuel efficiency", "Computer science", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Operations management" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/12/3471/pdf?version=1623417314" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4408559999", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2025.02.005", "title": "Urban case studies on optimized truck-drone last-mile distribution", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Rui Zhang", "Junfeng Xiao", "Florian M. Heinitz" ], "first_author": "Rui Zhang", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "Evaluating an urban/sub-urban freight transport system with targeted drone sorties from and in addition to delivery trucks at the micro level, we present a computational application of a single-truck, multiple-drones routing problem with self-developed heuristics for a set of real urban networks using a program solver. Results from five cities worldwide demonstrate by example that the new approach – compared to optimum road-based delivery – is more carbon and cost efficient, as it can save 43 to 51% in delivery time at a scale of 20 customer nodes. Further to this, a quantitative analysis of the impact of customer node aggregation and varying drone-to-truck speed ratios on the profitability and negative externalities of the collaborative delivery system is posed. In effect, the solution quality increases at a lower computational effort.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Mile", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Last mile (transportation)", "Aeronautics", "Engineering", "Environmental science", "Computer science", "Geography", "Automotive engineering", "Biology" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2025.02.005" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4411634772", "doi": "10.2139/ssrn.5320948", "title": "Reliable Design of Hub-Based Truck-Drone Relay Delivery System Under Uncertainty", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "preprint", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bo Zhang", "Meng Zhao", "Jiateng Yin", "Lixing Yang", "Xiangpei Hu" ], "first_author": "Bo Zhang", "venue": "SSRN Electronic Journal", "publisher": "RELX Group (Netherlands)", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Relay", "Truck", "Computer science", "Delivery system", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Physics", "Biology" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5320948" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4412883803", "doi": "10.1038/s44333-025-00054-4", "title": "Optimization of a hierarchical hub and satellite network for urban freight on transit", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-08-04", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Meijing Zhang", "Lynette W. Cheah" ], "first_author": "Meijing Zhang", "venue": "npj Sustainable Mobility and Transport", "publisher": "Springer Science+Business Media", "abstract": "Growing urban populations drive the demand for urban goods movement, prompting interest in innovative urban logistics solutions. This study explores integrating passenger and freight transport by using public transport—the urban rail network—for parcel deliveries. We propose a three-echelon transit-based freight transport system. Parcels are initially transported by trucks from warehouses to hubs located at train stations. They are then transferred by rail to satellite stations, where smaller vehicles complete final deliveries to end destinations. The research focuses on strategic decisions pertaining to hub and satellite locations and tactical planning for vehicle routing and parcel assignments. To identify optimal satellite locations that minimize vehicle kilometers traveled, we develop an iterative heuristic algorithm. Furthermore, we assess the viability of the approach using real-world parcel delivery and rail network data in Singapore. Findings indicate that leveraging transit can significantly reduce vehicle kilometers traveled, thereby promoting sustainable urban logistics.", "keywords": [ "Transit (satellite)", "Satellite", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Geography", "Engineering", "Public transport", "Aerospace engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s44333-025-00054-4.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4253639456", "doi": "10.1504/ijscor.2020.109190", "title": "Prioritisation of city logistics solutions based on stakeholders' point of view", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Leise Kelli de Oliveira", "Carla de Oliveira Leite Nascimento", "Paulo Renato de Sousa", "Paulo Tarso Vilela de Resende", "Selma Setsumi Isa" ], "first_author": "Leise Kelli de Oliveira", "venue": "International Journal of Supply Chain and Operations Resilience", "publisher": "Inderscience Publishers", "abstract": "Using the methods of successive intervals, this paper assesses prioritisation of city logistics solutions by considering the viewpoints of carriers, retailers, and shippers. The group of solutions evaluated include truck lanes, urban distribution centres, parking areas, off-peak deliveries, and real-time information. Results suggest that truck lanes are the most important and off-peak delivery the least important solution according to stakeholders. Brazilian municipalities and urban planners can use these results to subsidise decisions regarding urban mobility master plans due to a lack of studies that support urban freight transport planning. Urban freight transport will thus become more efficient, reducing externalities associated with this field.", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Truck", "Viewpoints", "Externality", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Point (geometry)", "Environmental planning", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Traffic management", "Environmental economics", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1504/ijscor.2020.109190" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2293038843", "doi": null, "title": "Estimation of CO2 Emissions for Low Carbon Urban Freight Transport in Khon Kaen, Thailand", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-10-21", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Kumiko Nakamichi", "Kumiko Nakamichi", "Shinya Hanaoka", "Shinya Hanaoka", "Shinsuke Mogi", "Shinsuke Mogi", "Thaned Satiennam", "Thaned Satiennam" ], "first_author": "Kumiko Nakamichi", "venue": "Tokyo Tech Research Repository (Tokyo Institute of Technology)", "publisher": "Tokyo Institute of Technology", "abstract": "The growth of manufacturing industry and freight transport demand is expected to raise energy consumption and CO₂ emissions due to the increase of truck use as a trip end mode of interregional freight transport in hub cities of highways or the economic corridors. This study aims 1) to investigate the distribution of urban freight transport by interview survey and estimate CO₂emissions in Khon Kaen and 2) to find the better solution to reduce CO₂ emissions considering land use, traffic control and dissemination of energy technology. Since Khon Kaen is located on the crossing point of East West Corridor and Central Corridor in Greater Mekong Subregion, it is expected to increase urban freight transport demand as the hub city. The results showed that transit oriented development (TOD) including aggregation of offices and plants around bus rapid transit (BRT) stations and the dissemination of Electric Vehicle as freight use could reduce vehicle kilometers travelled and CO₂ emissions.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Bus rapid transit", "Transport engineering", "Energy consumption", "Environmental science", "Business", "Agricultural economics", "Engineering", "Public transport", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://t2r2.star.titech.ac.jp/cgi-bin/publicationinfo.cgi?q_publication_content_number=CTT100697688" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2888126348", "doi": "10.1051/matecconf/201819504010", "title": "Evaluation of urban freight transport operations in Surakarta city", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Budi Yulianto" ], "first_author": "Budi Yulianto", "venue": "MATEC Web of Conferences", "publisher": "EDP Sciences", "abstract": "In an effort to monitor and control the urban freight transport, the Municipal Government of Surakarta City issue a dispensation license for freight vehicles through the inner-city road. Nevertheless, the facts indicate that traffic violations by freight vehicles against the provisions of existing regulations are relatively high and thus have the potential to decrease the level of safety, road service and environmental sustainability. This is due to the weakness of the system of monitoring and the control of urban freight transport is low both in terms of technicality and legality. The research’s aims are to evaluate and improve the current system of monitoring and control of urban freight transport related to the provision of the dispensation license for freight vehicles through the inner-city road in Surakarta City. The analysis results indicate that the percentage of unlicensed urban freight transport is significant in number, and no clarity is associated with licensing dispensation for urban freight transport weighing > 9,000 kg, a significant number of traffic violations, road bearing capacity of freight transport routes do not correspond to the vehicle weight. Various recommendations are proposed for improving the current system of monitoring and of the control of urban freight transport.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "License", "Traffic management", "Business", "Control (management)", "Sustainability", "Service (business)", "Transport system", "Principle of legality", "Enforcement", "Government (linguistics)", "CLARITY" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2018/54/matecconf_icrmce2018_04010.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1579291420", "doi": "10.1155/2015/302867", "title": "Conventional, Hybrid, or Electric Vehicles: Which Technology for an Urban Distribution Centre?", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Philippe Lebeau", "Cedric De Cauwer", "Joeri Van Mierlo", "Cathy Macharis", "Wouter Verbeke", "Thierry Coosemans" ], "first_author": "Philippe Lebeau", "venue": "The Scientific World JOURNAL", "publisher": "Hindawi Publishing Corporation", "abstract": "Freight transport has an important impact on urban welfare. It is estimated to be responsible for 25% of CO2 emissions and up to 50% of particles matters generated by the transport sector in cities. Facing that problem, the European Commission set the objective of reaching free CO2 city logistics by 2030 in major urban areas. In order to achieve this goal, electric vehicles could be an important part of the solution. However, this technology still faces a number of barriers, in particular high purchase costs and limited driving range. This paper explores the possible integration of electric vehicles in urban logistics operations. In order to answer this research question, the authors have developed a fleet size and mix vehicle routing problem with time windows for electric vehicles. In particular, an energy consumption model is integrated in order to consider variable range of electric vehicles. Based on generated instances, the authors analyse different sets of vehicles in terms of vehicle class (quadricycles, small vans, large vans, and trucks) and vehicle technology (petrol, hybrid, diesel, and electric vehicles). Results show that a fleet with different technologies has the opportunity of reducing costs of the last mile.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Vehicle routing problem", "Electric vehicle", "Order (exchange)", "Range (aeronautics)", "Driving range", "Automotive engineering", "City logistics", "Computer science", "Diesel fuel", "Fuel efficiency" ], "cited_by_count": 92, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2015/302867.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7165685507", "doi": "10.1016/j.tre.2026.105034", "title": "Two-phase truck-van-drone collaborative transportation with transshipment: a two-stage heuristic approach enhanced with reinforcement learning", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-06-23", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Haipeng Cui", "Zhixin Tan", "Xin Jiang", "H T Wang", "Xi Zhang" ], "first_author": "Haipeng Cui", "venue": "Transportation Research Part E Logistics and Transportation Review", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Reinforcement learning", "Heuristic", "Intelligent transportation system", "Minification", "Mathematical model" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2026.105034" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7125238727", "doi": "10.25365/thesis.80115", "title": "Last-mile delivery via truck and trolley", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Boryana Djarova" ], "first_author": "Boryana Djarova", "venue": "University of Vienna", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Der starke Anstieg des E-Commerce verstärkt die operativen Herausforderungen der Letzten-Meile-Zustellung, insbesondere in dicht besiedelten Gebieten. Begrenzte Haltemöglichkeiten, Verkehrsdichte und eine wachsende Paketmenge erschweren eine effiziente Tourengestaltung – Aspekte, die in klassischen Optimierungsmodellen wie dem Traveling-Salesman-Problem (TSP) kaum berücksichtigt werden. Diese Arbeit stellt ein integriertes Modell des TSP mit Haltepunktauswahl und Trolley-Kapazitätsbeschränkungen (TSP-PTP) vor, das Fahrzeugrouten, Haltepunkte und fußläufige Zustelltouren gemeinsam optimiert. Das Modell kombiniert ein Bin-Packing-Teilproblem mit einer TSP-ähnlichen Routingstruktur und wird über eine heuristische Vorgehensweise gelöst, die einen Ausgleich zwischen Lösungsqualität und Rechenaufwand ermöglicht. Die Rechenergebnisse zeigen, wie Haltezeiten, maximale Gehstrecken und Trolley-Kapazitäten das Verhältnis zwischen Fahr- und Fußwegen beeinflussen. Zudem wird deutlich, dass Tourenpläne ohne Halte- und Kapazitätsrestriktionen systematisch zu optimistisch ausfallen. Die integrierte Modellierung bildet die realen Bedingungen der Letzten-Meile-Zustellung deutlich besser ab und führt zu effizienteren Touren.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Workplace safety", "Die (integrated circuit)" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.25365/thesis.80115" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2471995299", "doi": "10.1061/9780784479926.015", "title": "Managing the Freight Deliveries in Manhattan: Opportunities for Collaborative City Logistics Measures", "year": 2016, "publication_date": "2016-06-20", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Md. Shoaib Chowdhury" ], "first_author": "Md. Shoaib Chowdhury", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Manhattan, the economic heart of New York City, is the most densely populated place in USA with diverse economic activities. It is also one of the most polluted and congested cities. Manhattan heavily relies on trucks for the delivery of goods, which contributes to congestions and intern makes the delivery of goods and doing business costly. If Manhattan has to maintain sustained economic growth and ensure the quality of city life, efficient and cost economic freight delivery arrangements need to be made. Based on the review of literatures, it is identified that a freight consolidation and distribution strategy along with the utilization of cleaner motorized and non-motorized vehicles could be a potential solution to the problem as it would help increase the roadway capacity while potentially reducing the number of delivery vehicles on city streets. Furthermore, a vehicle may be used for a shared delivery of goods to multiple businesses/consumers. To further evaluate the strategy and to develop a comprehensive logistical and management solutions to the problem, it is recommended that the city administration leads the effort to collaborate with the private sector stakeholders including trucker’s/carriers, businesses and consumers.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "City logistics", "Business", "Consolidation (business)", "Traffic management", "Transport engineering", "Quality (philosophy)", "Finance", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784479926.015" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4214720713", "doi": "10.1002/net.22093", "title": "Preface: Special issue on the future of city logistics and urban mobility", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-02-26", "type": "editorial", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mor Kaspi", "Tal Raviv", "Marlin Wolf Ulmer" ], "first_author": "Mor Kaspi", "venue": "Networks", "publisher": "Wiley", "abstract": "This special issue of Networks focuses on recent and forthcoming trends in city logistics and urban mobility. Specifically, new business models and services are enabled due to technological advancements in information technology, vehicle autonomy and connectivity, vehicle electrification, payment methodologies, and clearing solutions. Notable trending topics include: drones and autonomous ground vehicles, physical internet for parcel and cargo delivery, electric vehicles and micromobility, ride-sharing and ride-hailing, crowd shipping and the gig economy, same-day delivery of goods and meals, collaborated transportation, and brokering. We have invited and received a broad range of operational research papers that study these topics for this special issue. In what follows, we briefly describe the seven research papers included in this issue, covering a wide range of trending topics. To these papers, we have added a survey paper that provides an overview of future directions for research in urban mobility and city logistics 4. In particular, the survey focuses on three main developments: vehicle autonomy, crowdsourced logistics, and urban micro-consolidation centers. Abbaas and Ventura 1 study the continuous deviation-flow refueling station location problem on a general network that arises in the context of alternative fuels. They propose an exact algorithm that determines the endpoints of all refueling segments on each edge of the network that cover the corresponding origin-destination flows. This set of endpoints is used in a set covering model to locate multiple refueling stations under the assumption that every vehicle only refuels once on each way of its round trip. A numerical experiment illustrates the performance of the proposed methodology. Arrieta–Prieto et al. 2 formulate the last-mile delivery problem assisted by urban micro-consolidation centers as a mixed-integer quadratically-constrained program (MIQCP) and develop a greedy heuristic solution, inspired by decomposition algorithms for large-scale optimization. Simulation results and a case study in Manhattan (NY, USA) demonstrate that the proposed heuristic can provide good results with respect to the exact solution and can be used for freight-efficient urban design and policy planning. Haferkamp and Ehmke 3 study demand and fulfillment control policies in ride-sharing systems. They classify the existing policies in the literature and explore the effectiveness of such policies under varying conditions in order to identify benefits and risks for ride-sharing systems. For this purpose, the authors define policies that differ in the optimization of demand and/or fulfillment control through the exploitation of either confirmed or complete information. Experimental results demonstrate that demand and fulfillment control have different effects on ride-sharing systems' performance and service quality. Le et al. 5 analyze the impact of optimized coordination between autonomous vehicles and traffic-light controlled intersections. To this end, they develop a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model based on a microscopic traffic model with centrally controlled autonomous vehicles and they incorporate traffic-light switching regulations. Their model allows an estimation of the maximum performance gains due to improved communication and serves as a benchmark for decentralized approaches. An evaluation of the numerical results with a traffic simulation tool shows that performance indicators such as time, energy, and emissions can be reduced significantly compared to simulated real-world traffic. In addition, the authors evaluate the performance of a moving horizon approach which exposes the trade-off between performance and real-time feasibility. Ostermeier et al. 6 present an approach to cost-optimal routing of a truck-and-robot system for last-mile deliveries with time windows. Their solution algorithm is based on a combination of a neighborhood search with cost-specific priority rules and search operators for the truck routing. An exact solution approach and a heuristic approach are proposed for the robot scheduling sub-problem. The numerical experiments show that the approach can reduce last-mile delivery costs significantly. In particular, a case study indicates that the truck-and-robot concept reduces last-mile costs by up to 68%, compared to truck-only delivery. Finally, a sensitivity analysis provides managerial insights regarding the setting in which truck-and-robot deliveries can efficiently be used in the delivery industry. Rosenfeld 7 studies a retrieval problem arising in puzzle-based storage systems. The problem consists of a general number of loads to be retrieved and arbitrary numbers of I/O points and empty locations on a two-dimensional lattice graph. The author analyzes the theoretical characteristics of the problem and proposes a set of graph search algorithms to tackle these characteristics. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms can optimally solve moderate-sized puzzle-based storage problems using a limited amount of memory and in a reasonable amount of time. Voigt and Kuhn 8 consider a parcel delivery service that ships parcels from pickup to delivery points using regular drivers and occasional drivers where drivers can hand over or collect parcels at predefined transshipment points. The company seeks to minimize the overall costs that arise from the total distance traveled by regular drivers and the compensation paid to occasional drivers. The authors model the pickup and delivery problem with transshipments and occasional drivers (PDPTOD) as a mixed-integer programming (MIP) problem. They develop a specialized heuristic approach based on an adaptive large neighborhood search (ALNS). The numerical study reveals the impact of the number and location of transshipment points on the cost advantages achieved by integrating occasional drivers into the delivery process. It also shows that the cos", "keywords": [ "Context (archaeology)", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Transport engineering", "Payment", "The Internet", "Engineering", "Geography", "World Wide Web" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/net.22093" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4242006295", "doi": "10.1504/writr.2017.088913", "title": "Monitoring, measurement and statistical analysis-based methodology for improving city logistics of shopping malls in Budapest", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bálint Mészáros", "Dávid Lajos Sárdi", "Krisztián Bóna" ], "first_author": "Bálint Mészáros", "venue": "World Review of Intermodal Transportation Research", "publisher": "Inderscience Publishers", "abstract": "Urban freight transport poses significant problems in cities around the world: trucks play a major role in congestion, environmental and noise pollution and damage the roads. Shopping centres are problematic, in particular, as they concentrate a large number of retail stores in a relatively small space. There are 18 shopping malls in Budapest alone, each containing 180 stores on average, therefore there is great potential in streamlining their deliveries. The most effective solution is a cooperative city-logistics system, a freight consolidation scheme. However, there is a shortage of available data regarding the logistical operations and freight quantities of shopping malls, so it is inescapable to develop a methodology by which the logistical characteristics of any shopping centre can be obtained. After testing our methodology, we concluded that it is capable of serving as the basis of such systems. This paper presents the development, structure and testing of this methodology.", "keywords": [ "Economic shortage", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Consolidation (business)", "City logistics", "Business", "Traffic congestion", "Retail trade", "Computer science", "Operations management", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1504/writr.2017.088913" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W1981647350", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2014.11.027", "title": "Does a Mobile Depot Make Urban Deliveries Faster, More Sustainable and More Economically Viable: Results of a Pilot Test in Brussels", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Sara Verlinde", "Cathy Macharis", "Lauriane Milan", "Bram Kin" ], "first_author": "Sara Verlinde", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "A Mobile Depot (MD) is a trailer fitted with a loading dock, warehousing facilities and an office. The trailer is used as a mobile inner city base from where last-mile deliveries and first-mile pick-ups are done with electrically supported cyclocargos. In the morning and evening it is used to transport shipments from and to a peripheral depot. The MD was developed by TNT Express as a response to the challenging urban working conditions: narrow streets, mixed traffic, traffic congestion, congestion charging, environmental zones, etc. TNT Express tested this innovative concept in Brussels for a period of three months in 2013 as part of the European FP7 project STRAIGHTSOL. Regular TNT Express deliveries and pick-ups in Brussels are carried out from the TNT depot at the Brussels freight airport using diesel trucks for pallets and using diesel vans for parcels and documents. During the trial period, the parcels and documents destined for a part of the inner city were delivered and picked up through the MD. This new way of working resulted in a decrease of the number of diesel kilometres from 1.34 km per stop in the Business-As-Usual scenario to 0.52 km per stop in the Mobile-Depot scenario. This decrease can be linked to a positive environmental impact with, for example, 24% less emission of CO2 and up to 59% less emission of PM2.5. TNT Express was able to successfully integrate the MD in their operations. Service levels dropped slightly mainly due to the additional time needed to load the cyclocargos. However, none of the TNT customers complained about the quality of service. For TNT, delivering through the MD was twice as expensive as before. However, they feel it is possible to further decrease the operational costs by using the MD at its full capacity (the MD was only used at 40% of its full capacity) and by further refining the handling. A multi-actor multi-criteria analysis (MAMCA) of the MD concept revealed under which conditions it would become a more profitable concept to TNT Express: internalised external costs, higher capacity use and higher drop density. The MAMCA also revealed that the benefits are mostly for the other stakeholders, especially society.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Depot", "Transport engineering", "Traffic congestion", "Diesel fuel", "Environmental science", "Operations management", "Engineering", "Geography", "Waste management", "Automotive engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 115, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235214651400310X/pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4400655160", "doi": "10.1016/j.trpro.2024.03.030", "title": "Urban freight assessment as an instrument to improve urban policies in the city of Santo André, state of São Paulo, Brazil", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Thiago Canhos Montmorency Silva", "Mathieu Gardrat", "Florence Toilier", "Karin Regina de Castro Marins" ], "first_author": "Thiago Canhos Montmorency Silva", "venue": "Transportation research procedia", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "This study evaluates urban freight movement in two selected areas of Santo André, a mid-sized city in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, in Brazil. The research method integrates Brazilian databases into the Freturb model and, which is combined to truck volume counting to analyze the urban freight behavior and how the land use patterns affect it. The study findings indicate that urban freight movements and the types of vehicles vary significantly between the two urban areas due to the different economic sectors and land use. Thus, by considering the characteristics of urban freight and land use together, policymakers and urban planners can develop more effective urban instruments for each area. Moreover, when truck volumes, from field work truck counting, and high cargo movement density, calculated from Freturb modelling, are mapped and show a close position, it is possible to conclude that the trucks are coming to or leaving from establishments in the city. However, when there is no proximity, trucks may be just passing through the city. This method may support the definition of new truck counting points with greater precision, as inputs for land use, traffic and logistics policies in dense urban areas.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Metropolitan area", "Transport engineering", "Work (physics)", "Urban area", "Geography", "Land use", "Position (finance)", "Regional science", "Traffic volume", "Business", "Civil engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2024.03.030" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2809933339", "doi": "10.18335/region.v5i2.244", "title": "Editorial Special Issue: Urban Freight, land use planning and public administration strategies", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-07-02", "type": "editorial", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Valerio Gatta", "Edoardo Marcucci", "Lætitia Dablanc" ], "first_author": "Valerio Gatta", "venue": "REGION", "publisher": "ERSA", "abstract": "Well-being and economic growth are strictly correlated. Cities are the engines of an innovation-based economy where research and new ideas are the core input of production. Urbanisation is becoming synonymous of economic growth. People flock into cities, both in the developed and developing world, since here is where wealth is, where high quality services are available and life standards are comparatively higher with respect to other places. However, one has to acknowledge that growth also produces undesired negative effects. In fact, cities are net importers. They need to acquire consumption/intermediate goods, export production and get rid of waste. In other words, the existence of a city relies on a transportation system providing the necessary services for its functioning. The typical urban transportation system heavily depends on passenger and freight movements by road. While this dependency is, in some cases, less relevant for passenger transport, most of freight moved in, out, within and through a city relies on motorized road transportation. Trucks and vans are responsible for congestion, polluting emissions, accidents, noise, visual intrusion and stench. All these negative effects are concentrated where many citizens live and, consequently, produce relevant economic (e.g. time lost), environmental (e.g. air quality), and social (e.g. segregation) impacts. Cities to be attractive, sustainable and thriving need an efficient freight transportation system. Fast changing consumption patterns with the rise of e-commerce and home deliveries also point out to another dimension of cities: their need to adapt quickly to economic trends. The papers in this special issue address, from alternative points of view and using different methodological approaches, some of the relevant and critical issues pertaining to land use planning and administration strategies in modern cities with respect to the urban freight sector.", "keywords": [ "Business", "Urbanization", "Truck", "Thriving", "Consumption (sociology)", "Traffic congestion", "Production (economics)", "Quality (philosophy)", "Industrialisation", "Goods and services", "Transport engineering", "Economic growth" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.18335/region.v5i2.244" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3001716336", "doi": "10.1016/j.trd.2020.102223", "title": "Evaluating the environmental impacts of online shopping: A behavioral and transportation approach", "year": 2020, "publication_date": "2020-01-24", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Miguel Jaller", "Anmol Pahwa" ], "first_author": "Miguel Jaller", "venue": "Transportation Research Part D Transport and Environment", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Environmental planning", "Business", "Engineering", "Environmental science" ], "cited_by_count": 246, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2020.102223" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W188318629", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-319-04630-3_10", "title": "An Environmental Approach to Optimize Urban Freight Transport Systems", "year": 2014, "publication_date": "2014-01-01", "type": "book-chapter", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Juan P. Romero", "Juan José Benavente", "José Luis Moura", "Ángel Ibeas", "Borja Alonso" ], "first_author": "Juan P. Romero", "venue": "Advances in intelligent systems and computing", "publisher": "Springer Nature", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Business", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04630-3_10" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W587550540", "doi": null, "title": "SMARTFREIGHT – A Generic Approach to ITS for Smart Urban Freight Distribution", "year": 2009, "publication_date": "2009-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Marit Kjøsnes Natvig" ], "first_author": "Marit Kjøsnes Natvig", "venue": "16th ITS World Congress and Exhibition on Intelligent Transport Systems and ServicesITS AmericaERTICOITS Japan", "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper provides an overview of the conceptual and logical parts of the current work on a framework architecture in the SMARTFREIGHT project. SMARTFREIGHT aims to make urban freight transport more efficient, environmentally friendly and safe by targeting challenges related to traffic management, freight distribution management, and the coordination between the two. SMARTFREIGHT works with on-board units as means for communication with the freight vehicles. Solutions for traffic management of individual freight vehicles and information exchange are specified by means of a top-down approach that provides a generic and holistic view upon freight distribution to support deployment in different European cities. The ARKTRANS framework architecture for ITS is used as a starting point for the work.", "keywords": [ "Software deployment", "Traffic management", "Architecture", "Transport engineering", "Work (physics)", "Point (geometry)", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Software engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/906986" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4383163325", "doi": "10.1016/j.engappai.2023.106631", "title": "Sustainable last mile parcel delivery and return service using drones", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-07-03", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Nawin Yanpirat", "Daniel F. Silva", "Alice E. Smith" ], "first_author": "Nawin Yanpirat", "venue": "Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Drone", "Computer science", "Truck", "Last mile (transportation)", "Travelling salesman problem", "Operations research", "Service (business)", "Vehicle routing problem", "Python (programming language)", "Mile", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Computer network" ], "cited_by_count": 51, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engappai.2023.106631" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W7204105425", "doi": "10.1016/j.trc.2026.105952", "title": "Synchronous truck-robot-drone last-mile delivery", "year": 2026, "publication_date": "2026-08-24", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Behrang Bootaki", "Omar Abou Kasm", "Joe Naoum‐Sawaya" ], "first_author": "Behrang Bootaki", "venue": "Transportation Research Part C Emerging Technologies", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The continued growth of online shopping in recent years has placed greater demands on efficient last-mile delivery systems. Traditional truck parcel delivery faces challenges such as slow delivery in congested urban areas and high environmental impacts. These issues have inspired researchers and practitioners to develop novel multi-modal delivery systems based on the coordination between traditional delivery trucks and newer technologies such as delivery robots and drones. In this paper, we model a synchronous truck-robot-drone last-mile delivery system and propose a mixed integer program along with a heuristic solution. The proposed model is designed for a delivery truck equipped with a multi-visit drone and multiple single-delivery robots. The model accounts for multiple operational constraints, including drone energy endurance and the load capacities of both the drone and the robots. Computational experiments are conducted to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed heuristic in solving real-sized instances. The impact of the proposed delivery system is evaluated using the 2021 Amazon Last Mile Routing Research Challenge dataset in Seattle. The case results show that replacing the truck with the proposed system can reduce travel times within customer zones by an average of 40% compared to the original routes. Time savings can reach up to 52% for larger deliveries, demonstrating the system’s potential to improve efficiency and contribute to reduced environmental impacts in urban logistics.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Heuristic", "Last mile (transportation)", "Delivery system", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Delivery Performance", "Vehicle routing problem" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2026.105952" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4406295182", "doi": "10.1080/17538947.2024.2449568", "title": "Multi-objective optimization of urban logistics land: a gradient-based method approach with Wuhan city as an example", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-12", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Hongzan Jiao", "Shuaikang Zhang" ], "first_author": "Hongzan Jiao", "venue": "International Journal of Digital Earth", "publisher": "Taylor & Francis", "abstract": "Effective planning of logistics land is crucial for mitigating urban freight congestion, fostering economic activities, and achieving environmental equilibrium. However, the dual challenge of mismatched logistics supply and demand, along with conflicts in land use functions, can lead to inefficiencies in resource allocation and urban freight system performance. To tackle this issue, our study integrates truck GPS trajectory data with urban land use datasets to formulate a multi-objective optimization model. By utilizing the gradient descent algorithm, which effectively handles large-scale datasets, we can navigate the complexities of logistics land planning with precision. The application of this model in the Wuhan Urban Development Area reveals that: (1) across various scenarios, the model balances the utilization of multiple optimization objectives and demonstrates high solution efficiency; (2) in both the equal weight scenario and the economic preference scenario, the areas of logistics land change are characterized by high economic output, relatively good traffic conditions, greater distance from residential zones, and comparatively low land prices; and (3) based on urban development goals, the model can determine the upper bounds of the optimization objectives through manual supervision of the selection of ideal points.", "keywords": [ "Geography", "Computer science", "Land use", "Cartography", "Environmental planning", "Regional science", "Civil engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17538947.2024.2449568?needAccess=true" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4387226327", "doi": "10.36108/ijss/1202.91.0120", "title": "Analysis of Intra-Urban Freight Traffic Pattern in Lagos State, Nigeria", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-06-19", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Tolu Isaac Atomode" ], "first_author": "Tolu Isaac Atomode", "venue": "IBADAN JOURNAL OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES", "publisher": null, "abstract": "This study examined the intra-urban freight trips pattern in Lagos State, Nigeria. Major traffic bottlenecks along selected roads served as data collection stations for this study. At each station, data were collected on type of vehicle, origin of trip, destination of trip, land use at origin and land use at destination by trained field assistants. A combination of observatory survey and questionnaire administration to freight vehicle drivers was used for the data collection. A total of 12,533 drivers of freight vehicles who at the time of the survey were conveying goods in their vehicles for delivery were randomly sampled. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were employed for data analysis. Simple percentages, averages, tabulation and charts are some of the descriptive statistical techniques employed to measure the spread of observations. Two-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the hypothesis that “freight vehicle’s trips do not vary by land use types in the study area”. Urban land use was found to significantly influence freight trips. The study revealed that commercial, industrial, residential and circulatory land uses are the pivots upon which urban freight movement revolves in the study area. Commercial land use is the largest generator (42%) and attractor (34%) of urban freight trips. Industrial land use generates 28% and attracts 20% of the urban freight trips, while residential land use generates 4% and attracts 26%. Also, circulatory land use generates 17% and attracts 8% of the urban freight trips. The analysis also revealed that small trucks are the commonly used vehicles for intra-urban freight movement in the study area accounting for about 47% of the freight trips. Also, freight vehicles’ trips significantly varied by land use types, F (4, 1) = 3097.39, P = 0.13. This study concludes that land use types played a significant role in the pattern of freight traffic distribution in the study area. It was therefore recommended that efforts should be directed towards effective freight transport planning and management in the study area.", "keywords": [ "TRIPS architecture", "Transport engineering", "Descriptive statistics", "Land use", "Truck", "Geography", "Trip generation", "Engineering", "Civil engineering", "Statistics", "Mathematics" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://www.ijss-ui.com.ng/publication/vol_19/issue_1/Article 2.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2766205344", "doi": null, "title": "Public purchasing as game changer in smarter and cleaner urban freight distribution", "year": 2015, "publication_date": "2015-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Susanne Balm", "W. Ploos van Amstel", "Luke Mackaay", "Daniel Schulz" ], "first_author": "Susanne Balm", "venue": "Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS)", "publisher": "Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences", "abstract": "Extended abstract Objectives and motivation Public sector organisations, such as municipalities, universities, health institutions and the police act as promotors of safe, clean and sustainable cities. They set guidelines, conduct research and impose restrictions to achieve accessible, liveable and healthy cities. These activities have in general been directed towards other private organisations and citizens. For example; Municipalities provide purchase subsidy programs to the business sector for electric freight vehicles; Research groups at universities analyse and develop clean and efficient transport solutions; Hospitals encourage visitors to use cycling as a more environmentally friendly form of transport. However, the ambition to lead by example is growing. And this is more than justified, when we look at the impact of public sector deliveries on city logistics (Balm, et al, 2015). The purchasing behaviour of the public sector may be key in the development of viable business cases for smart and clean urban distribution systems.", "keywords": [ "Business", "Purchasing", "Subsidy", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Public sector", "Private sector", "Public transport", "Marketing", "Economic growth", "Transport engineering", "Engineering", "Economics" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://research.hva.nl/en/publications/15061932-05e1-4090-9697-15af375e704b" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2743735578", "doi": "10.1109/mtits.2017.8005623", "title": "Real-time signal control accounting for urban freight deliveries", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-06-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Eric J. Gonzales", "Eleni Christofa" ], "first_author": "Eric J. Gonzales", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "Freight vehicles often block lanes of traffic on signalized arterials when double-parking to make deliveries in urban areas. When delivery vehicles block lanes of traffic near signalized intersections, the capacity of the intersection is affected. Current practice is for traffic signals to be timed assuming that each approach can serve vehicles at the unobstructed saturation flow. This paper presents a model for adapting the traffic signal timing in real time for signal cycles during which a delivery blocks a link upstream of the intersection. The model requires real-time information about the location of the double-parked delivery vehicle, which is assumed to be available from connected vehicle data from urban freight vehicles or from another detection system. The results show that for low levels of traffic demand, the signal control method reduces intersection delay compared to a signal that is timed for unblocked traffic. The algorithm also keeps the intersection approach undersaturated for higher levels of demand, which is important because deliveries can last for many signal cycles.", "keywords": [ "Intersection (aeronautics)", "Computer science", "SIGNAL (programming language)", "Traffic flow (computer networking)", "Real-time computing", "Upstream (networking)", "Transport engineering", "Signal timing", "Block (permutation group theory)", "Traffic wave", "Traffic signal", "Traffic congestion reconstruction with Kerner's three-phase theory" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/mtits.2017.8005623" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4403210470", "doi": "10.1109/ictle62418.2024.10703905", "title": "Reshaping Urban Logistics: Route Planning Strategies for Collaborative Delivery Using Autonomous Vehicles and Passenger-Freight Combined Buses", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-08-23", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Xueyan Zhou", "Cheng Zhao", "Fengjie Xie" ], "first_author": "Xueyan Zhou", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "In recent years, the rapid growth of e-commerce has led to a surge in demand for urban logistics. The traditional truck-based delivery model, characterized by high energy consumption and limited delivery efficiency, is increasingly inadequate for urban express delivery requirements. This study proposes a collaborative delivery route planning model that integrates autonomous vehicles with passenger-freight combined buses to optimize urban express delivery routes, enhance delivery efficiency, and reduce logistics costs. Additionally, a single-parent genetic algorithm was developed for path optimization within this model. This algorithm evaluates delivery route quality by comprehensively considering factors such as delivery time, operational costs, and energy consumption. Finally, a case study conducted in Hanzhong City demonstrates that the collaborative delivery model, compared to the traditional truck-based delivery model, reduces operational costs for courier companies by Ɏ624.75, decreases travel distance by 13.48 kilometers, and increases daily net revenue for bus companies by Ɏ347.2. This study validates the efficiency and economic viability of the collaborative delivery model in modern urban logistics, providing robust support for optimizing urban delivery systems.", "keywords": [ "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "City logistics", "Computer science", "Passenger transport", "Business", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1109/ictle62418.2024.10703905" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2109676506", "doi": null, "title": "Modelling the impacts of alternative policy options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from urban freight transport – a Sydney case study", "year": 2004, "publication_date": "2004-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Michael A.P. Taylor", "Neil T. Smith", "Glen M. D'Este", "Rocco Zito" ], "first_author": "Michael A.P. Taylor", "venue": "Transport Research Forum", "publisher": null, "abstract": "This paper describes research on the impacts of alternative policies aimed at reducing the greenhouse gas emissions produced by freight transport in urban areas. A combined travel demand, traffic network and pollutant emissions modelling system was established, to test the impacts of the following generic policy initiatives: ‘best practice’ truck fleet fuel efficiency, general reductions in peak period traffic congestion, improved traffic management, provision of real-time traffic information, infrastructure improvements, changes to industrial land use distribution, and improved vehicle load factors. The Sydney region was use as a case study. Whilst almost all of the policy options showed the potential for some improvement in emissions outcomes, the best option overall was that directed at vehicle load factors. The policy direction aimed at changing the distribution of industrial land use provided mixed results, which suggested that complementary measures to influence modal choice for certain urban freight tasks were also required to achieve positive outcomes for this policy initiative. The value of the modelling system was clearly demonstrated by the case study.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Greenhouse gas", "Modal shift", "Transport engineering", "Traffic management", "Environmental economics", "Fuel efficiency", "Traffic congestion", "Land use", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Environmental science", "Business" ], "cited_by_count": 3, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://atrf.info/papers/2004/2004_taylor_smith_deste_zito.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4414446784", "doi": "10.1016/j.tranpol.2025.103808", "title": "A comprehensive framework for the assessment of the effects of increased electric truck weights on road infrastructure: A New York City case study", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-09-23", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Zerun Liu", "Lan Tu", "Zilin Bian", "Jingqin Gao", "Kaan M. A. Özbay" ], "first_author": "Zerun Liu", "venue": "Transport Policy", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Context (archaeology)", "Bridge (graph theory)", "Transportation infrastructure", "Urban planning", "Battery (electricity)" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2025.103808" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4386745731", "doi": "10.1080/00207543.2023.2254402", "title": "Delivery network design of a locker-drone delivery system", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-09-14", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Bipan Zou", "Siqing Wu", "Yeming Gong", "Zhe Yuan", "Yuqian Shi" ], "first_author": "Bipan Zou", "venue": "International Journal of Production Research", "publisher": "Taylor & Francis", "abstract": "Drones are increasingly used for last-mile delivery due to their speed and cost-effectiveness. This study focuses on a novel locker-drone delivery system, where trucks transport parcels from the warehouse to lockers, and drones complete the final delivery. This system is ideal for community and intra-facility logistics. The research optimises the network design by determining the location of lockers, the number of drones at each locker, and the assignment of demands to lockers, minimising operating costs. Both single-parcel and multi-parcel capacity drones are examined. We build an optimisation model for each system, considering drone service capacity as a critical constraint. We design an algorithm combining average sample approximation and a genetic algorithm to address demand uncertainty. The algorithm's efficiency is validated through comparative analysis with Gurobi. Numerical experiments, using real and generated data, optimise the network design. Results show that the multi-capacity drone system requires fewer lockers and drones than the single-capacity system. Although the single-capacity system yields lower drone delivery costs, it incurs higher truck delivery costs. Additionally, a comprehensive cost analysis compares the cost-efficiency of the locker-drone system with a conventional drone delivery system, revealing the cost-saving advantage of the locker-drone system.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Last mile (transportation)", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Engineering", "Simulation", "Transport engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Mile", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 45, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2023.2254402" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2230772284", "doi": "10.2495/ut990291", "title": "URBAN FREIGHT TRANSPORT: LEARNING FROM THE PRACTICES IN TWO COUNTRIES", "year": 2000, "publication_date": "2000-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ron van Duin" ], "first_author": "Ron van Duin", "venue": "WIT transactions on the built environment", "publisher": "WIT Press", "abstract": "Holland and Japan, like other countries, are confronted with a growing need for freight transportation. Although multimodal transportation modes will gain more market share in the future, the scenarios for the next decades still predict a continuous growth of truck transportation. Therefore, reducing congestion problems and their negative environmental impacts seems to be an important goal for the local governments of both countries. Next to these reductions, improving the quality of the living environment is also a common goal for the governments in the field of urban transportation logistics. Various policy measures are taken by the local authorities to satisfy some of these goals. Confronted with the differences in policy measures in the two countries, the research orientations have a different scope. Both modelling and implementation are different, but the integration of both leads to new promising ideas. The results of the research joint venture between Kyoto University and the Technical University of Delft are discussed in the paper.", "keywords": [ "Scope (computer science)", "Truck", "Business", "Transport engineering", "Traffic congestion", "Industrial organization", "Regional science", "Economic growth", "Environmental economics", "Economics", "Engineering", "Computer science" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.witpress.com/Secure/elibrary/papers/UT99/UT99029FU.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4388766824", "doi": "10.1016/j.eswa.2023.122483", "title": "Multi-Depot Vehicle Routing Problem with Drones: Mathematical formulation, solution algorithm and experiments", "year": 2023, "publication_date": "2023-11-17", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Petr Stodola", "Libor Kutěj" ], "first_author": "Petr Stodola", "venue": "Expert Systems with Applications", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": "The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, driven by technological advancements, cost-effectiveness, and the increasing demand for faster and more efficient delivery solutions. This article deals with the mathematical formulation of the Multi-Depot Vehicle Routing Problem with Drones (MDVRP-D), whereby a set of heterogeneous trucks, each paired with a UAV, are located in different depots. Both types of vehicles deliver goods to customers; UAVs are dispatched from trucks while en route to make the last-mile delivery. A metaheuristic algorithm based on the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) principle is proposed as the solution. This algorithm has been adapted for this newly proposed problem; the novel mechanics include the probabilistic decision to dispatch an UAV, the selection of a customer to be served, and local search optimization. Extensive computational experiments are performed to verify the proposed algorithm. First, its performance is compared with Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search (ALNS) metaheuristics on a set of Vehicle Routing Problem with Drones (VRP-D) benchmarks. A set of various benchmark instances are subsequently proposed for the newly formulated MDVRP-D (differing in complexity and graph topology). Finally, the behavior of the proposed algorithm is thoroughly analyzed, especially in respect of features connected with UAVs. The findings presented in this article provide valuable contributions to the NP-hard models related to the Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) and to the very popular ACO-based algorithms.", "keywords": [ "Vehicle routing problem", "Computer science", "Travelling salesman problem", "Ant colony optimization algorithms", "Metaheuristic", "Mathematical optimization", "Drone", "Benchmark (surveying)", "Truck", "Set (abstract data type)", "Algorithm", "Probabilistic logic" ], "cited_by_count": 47, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2023.122483" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4401455998", "doi": "10.1155/2024/1203246", "title": "Two‐Echelon Pickup and Delivery Problem Using Public Transport in City Logistics", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Shuai Wang", "Xiaoning Zhu", "Pan Shang", "Wenqian Liu", "Lin Wei Xiao", "Lóránt Antal Tavasszy" ], "first_author": "Shuai Wang", "venue": "Journal of Advanced Transportation", "publisher": "Hindawi Publishing Corporation", "abstract": "The rapid increase in e‐commerce and the emergence of combined passenger/freight systems in urban areas have raised the question of how best to integrate public transport services into door‐to‐door deliveries. This paper develops a variant of the pickup and delivery problem, called the two‐echelon pickup and delivery problem using public transport (2E‐PDP‐PT). In the 2E‐PDP‐PT, the transportation network is split into two echelons. Different vehicles are utilized across the first and second echelons to ensure distribution efficiency. Parcels are delivered by public transport with free capacity or via trucks between satellites in the first echelon, and logistics vehicles are operated in the second echelon. The satellites are located at the echelon borders to transfer commodities between echelons. The 2E‐PDP‐PT aims to minimize total delivery costs and improve public transport capacity utilization. We formulate a new mathematical model based on a space‐time network and adopt an adaptive large neighborhood search (ALNS) algorithm for the 2E‐PDP‐PT. The effectiveness of the ALNS algorithm is validated using newly generated small‐scale instances. Furthermore, we investigate large‐scale instances based on the Beijing Yizhuang transportation network. The computations show that an average total delivery cost savings of 4.5% is feasible. In addition, we analyze the impact of demand distributions and compare the ALNS algorithm and the LNS algorithm. Finally, we conclude that dynamically integrating public transport into freight transport services can benefit both logistics companies and public transport operators.", "keywords": [ "Pickup", "City logistics", "Public transport", "Transport engineering", "Computer science", "Operations research", "Business", "Engineering", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1155/2024/1203246" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2062502704", "doi": "10.1093/jel/eqn005", "title": "Urban Goods Movement and Air Quality Policy and Regulation Issues in European Cities", "year": 2008, "publication_date": "2008-02-05", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Lætitia Dablanc" ], "first_author": "Lætitia Dablanc", "venue": "Journal of Environmental Law", "publisher": "Oxford University Press", "abstract": "This article looks at the way urban goods movements are included in transport policies aimed at improving air quality in large European cities, particularly in France. The movement of goods in cities is a major contributor to local emissions caused by mobile sources. Trucks emit many pollutants (notably NO x and particulate matter) because they mostly use diesel and because there is a high proportion of old trucks and vans circulating in cities. As a result of this research, it seems that there are few policy innovations in freight issues in cities. Even more surprising is, in France, the low level of legal disputes over air quality standards attainment issues. Nonetheless, responding to public opinion's increasing concern over health issues and to European standards for urban air quality, some European cities have started to reserve access to city centres to new, ‘clean’ or ‘fully loaded’ trucks. By doing so, they have engaged in a more environmentally oriented urban freight strategy. The main conclusion of this article is that this new type of environmental regulation targeted on trucks is the best way available for cities wishing to improve their environment and air quality. Considering the current structure of the freight industry, other policy instruments such as negotiated agreements with freight professionals cannot be very useful except in a limited number of cities.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Air quality index", "Business", "Quality (philosophy)", "Environmental planning", "Geography", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 80, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/jel/eqn005" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W649447612", "doi": null, "title": "Meeting the Challenges of Urban Freight in European Cities. The Examples of London and Paris", "year": 2004, "publication_date": "2004-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "M BAYBARS", "Lætitia Dablanc" ], "first_author": "M BAYBARS", "venue": "10th World Conference on Transport ResearchWorld Conference on Transport Research SocietyIstanbul Technical University", "publisher": null, "abstract": "The paper presents an overview of freight distribution in two World Cities, Paris and London. It starts by discussing the impacts of political changes that took place in both cities in the last three to four years, on deliveries and distribution. Freight statistics are presented for London and Paris and trends explained. The paper compares the Mayor’s Transport Strategy with the Paris Mobility Masterplan (Plan de deplacements de Paris); discusses the impact of various transport policies on freight, and the emergence of Freight Quality Partnerships in both cities. There is an in-depth coverage of the issues affecting freight in the two cities and the new initiatives. These include traffic management and lorry controls; delivery bays; central London congestion charge; bus lanes; night-time deliveries; freight databases; rail and waterborne transport, and the “greening up” of delivery fleets. The paper concludes with the comparison of each city’s response to the challenges they are facing, and highlights the similarities and differences in their approach.", "keywords": [ "Traffic management", "Transport engineering", "Truck", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Plan (archaeology)", "Regional science", "Traffic congestion", "Business", "Passenger transport", "Quality (philosophy)", "Geography", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/843676" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2901581382", "doi": "10.1051/matecconf/201823500025", "title": "Practical application of city logistics in the city of Trenčín", "year": 2018, "publication_date": "2018-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Milan Dedík", "Tomáš Čechovič", "Jozef Gašparík" ], "first_author": "Milan Dedík", "venue": "MATEC Web of Conferences", "publisher": "EDP Sciences", "abstract": "At present, mobility is an important part of everyday activities in cities. The increasing number of passenger and freight vehicles on the widening transport infrastructure raises several problems. The range of use of public passenger transport does satisfy enough the citizens needs and its use is constantly decreasing, especially in the new EU countries. One of the reasons is also the growing sale and production of new passenger cars in the EU, resulting in congestion in the road infrastructure of cities. These issues are dealt with the modern City Logistics concept. The paper is aimed to the basic principles of city logistics, the reasons for its development and, in particular, the possibilities of practical use. An example is the city of Trenčín in Slovakia, where a regional rail passenger transport is proposed for city traffic service including Park and Ride system.", "keywords": [ "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Passenger transport", "Public transport", "Business", "Service (business)", "Traffic congestion", "Park and ride", "Marketing", "Engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2018/94/matecconf_hort2018_00025.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2779021028", "doi": "10.11648/j.larp.20170204.13", "title": "Sustainable Urban Freight Distribution: The Case of Piraeus Port-City", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-12-20", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Afroditi Anagnostopoulou", "Μαρία Πούλου" ], "first_author": "Afroditi Anagnostopoulou", "venue": "Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning", "publisher": "Science Publishing Group", "abstract": "In port cities, there are often severe transport and urban freight mobility issues associated with the port operations since ports and their surrounding urban areas are struggling with the ever-increasing flow of trucks, accommodating both through and intra-city cargo movement. This paper aims to present how urban freight distribution measures can support the goals of sustainable development even in cities with limited previous experience in energy efficiency and environmental friendly solutions. The successful case of the Piraeus port-city is presented and findings derived from a survey about urban delivery in the city center are provided. The study describes how efforts from different stakeholders should be coordinated to support urban freight distribution in the context of an action plan that promotes sustainable development in the city. Results from Piraeus case are useful for other comparable port-cities in Europe experiencing a rapid growth in passengers and freight volumes required to be handled, imposing significant negative externalities to the urban area.", "keywords": [ "Port (circuit theory)", "Context (archaeology)", "Externality", "Business", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Sustainable development", "Action plan", "Urban planning", "Environmental planning", "Civil engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://article.larpjournal.org/pdf/10.11648.j.larp.20170204.13.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2781115609", "doi": "10.1016/j.tranpol.2017.12.010", "title": "Technical and operational obstacles to the adoption of electric vans in France and the UK: An operator perspective", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-12-23", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Eléonora Morganti", "Michael J. Browne" ], "first_author": "Eléonora Morganti", "venue": "Transport Policy", "publisher": "Elsevier BV", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Last mile (transportation)", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Service (business)", "Mile", "City logistics", "Incentive", "European union", "Marketing", "Engineering", "Economics", "International trade" ], "cited_by_count": 140, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2017.12.010" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W2767007023", "doi": "10.5604/01.3001.0010.5562", "title": "THE ARGUMENTATION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF URBAN CONSOLIDATION CENTER FOR THE OLD TOWN IN GDAŃSK AS AN INDICATION OF SUSTAINABLE URBAN FREIGHT LOGISTICS", "year": 2017, "publication_date": "2017-11-03", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Maria Matusiewicz" ], "first_author": "Maria Matusiewicz", "venue": "Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego. Ekonomika Transportu i Logistyka", "publisher": null, "abstract": "Distribution of goods in urban areas is one of the most important factors affecting the operation of the region but the management of these services is often overlooked by transport policy makers in Polish cities. Historical buildings create additional difficulties because they make the infrastructure development impossible. It is estimated that in large European cities approximately 25% of CO2 emissions, 30% of nitrogen oxides and 50% of particulates from transport are emitted by trucks and vans. The doctoral thesis presents methods used to optimize distribution processes in cities with historic buildings in Europe and around the world. It also presents the results of a research carried out in the Old Town of Gdańsk and proposes a method to optimize distribution processes for the area, which was the main objective of the work. The hypothesis of the trial has been formulated as follows: locating Urban Consolidation Center not far away from the center of the City of Gdańsk would bring tangible benefits for the city and all users of the urban space. The study used a method of analysis and criticism of literature; detailed study of a particular case and the method of observation. According to the design model, the proposed solution will bring tangible benefits to all users of space – residents, businesses and city authorities. The results of tests carried out on account of this thesis were provided to the city authorities.", "keywords": [ "Consolidation (business)", "Truck", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Transport engineering", "Work (physics)", "City centre", "City logistics", "Environmental planning", "Business", "Argumentation theory", "Regional science", "Civil engineering" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0010.5562" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4416850776", "doi": "10.3390/app152312619", "title": "Balancing Efficiency and Sustainability in Last-Mile Logistics: A Novel Multi-Truck Multi-Drone Collaborative Framework with Bi-Objective Optimization", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-11-28", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Yong Chen", "Weimin Sheng", "Wenchao Yi" ], "first_author": "Yong Chen", "venue": "Applied Sciences", "publisher": "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute", "abstract": "The increasing variety in last-mile delivery demands requires diverse vehicle-drone collaboration models to meet various scenarios. Meanwhile, growing environmental concerns demand that we optimize not just delivery efficiency but also sustainability. This study thus proposes a unified multi-mode framework for collaborative multi-vehicle, multi-drone delivery networks to enable fair model comparisons. We introduce a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm combining NSGA-II and VND using specialized encoding and neighborhood structures to handle complex constraints, thereby comprehensively enhancing both efficiency and sustainability. Experiments on nine benchmark instances across three models reveal a nonlinear trade-off between efficiency and sustainability, with our migratory-relay model consistently outperforming others in terms of the Pareto front across multiple comparisons. Sensitivity analysis shows diminishing returns from adding more drones; while the first drone can cut emissions by up to 23.1%, additional drones bring progressively smaller reductions. These findings provide a strong framework and practical insights for designing sustainable urban logistics systems.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Benchmark (surveying)", "Variety (cybernetics)", "Sustainability", "Pareto principle", "Multi-objective optimization", "Metaheuristic" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/23/12619/pdf?version=1764334096" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4408262305", "doi": "10.1007/978-3-031-82818-8_51", "title": "Single-Charge Feasibility Evaluation of Synthetic Electric New York City Truck Tours", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Haggai Davis", "Joseph Y.J. Chow" ], "first_author": "Haggai Davis", "venue": "Lecture notes in intelligent transportation and infrastructure", "publisher": "Springer International Publishing", "abstract": null, "keywords": [ "Truck", "Charge (physics)", "Transport engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Physics" ], "cited_by_count": 1, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-82818-8_51" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3083199972", "doi": "10.13140/rg.2.2.21327.74406", "title": "Light Electric Freight Vehicles in Last-Mile Delivery", "year": 2019, "publication_date": "2019-01-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Ronald. Veldman" ], "first_author": "Ronald. Veldman", "venue": "DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)", "publisher": "Massachusetts Institute of Technology", "abstract": "Thesis: M. Eng. in Supply Chain Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Supply Chain Management Program, 2019", "keywords": [ "Mile", "Last mile (transportation)", "Transport engineering", "Electric cars", "Automotive engineering", "Engineering", "Business", "Aeronautics", "Geography", "Geodesy" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/1721.1/122252/1/1119538148-MIT.pdf" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4392370594", "doi": "10.15240/tul/001/2024-5-005", "title": "Navigating urban logistics challenges: An optimized approach to parcel distribution in the Prague city center", "year": 2024, "publication_date": "2024-01-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Jakub Andar", "Kateřina Hušková", "Jakub Dyntar" ], "first_author": "Jakub Andar", "venue": "E+M Ekonomie a Management", "publisher": "Technical University of Liberec", "abstract": "In this paper, we focus on metropolitan transport logistics that has always been difficult due to the need to transport goods through a complex urban infrastructure, heavy traffic, and dense populations. The goal of this paper is to describe a micro hub location in the neighborhood of the historic center of the city of Prague, the Czech Republic in a situation where the municipalities consider prohibiting the entry of trucks with combustion engines that currently provide cargo transportation for B2B partners operating in this area. Micro hubs represent the efficient last mile consolidation and distribution facilities located in or near urban neighborhoods and serving a spatially limited, densely populated delivery area. We propose a solution combining facility location problem, vehicle routing problem and balancing with the horizontal and vertical cooperation in supply chains to locate the micro hub in the area with extremely low availability of suitable space while respecting the necessity to connect this facility to an existing network of regional terminals operated by 3PLs to ensure the distribution of cargo across the board according to the requirements of customers. For the collection and distribution of parcels within the area, we suggest to use of cargo bikes and electric vans to provide environmentally sustainable service and minimize the harmful consequences of excessive traffic for residents. We also discuss the economic implications of adopting such innovative sustainable supply chain solutions for involved horizontal and vertical supply chain partners emphasizing different motivation aspects to convince these partners to cooperate and share scarce resources.", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Last mile (transportation)", "Truck", "City logistics", "Transport engineering", "Business", "Supply chain", "Distribution (mathematics)", "Service (business)", "Consolidation (business)", "Sustainable transport", "Sustainability" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://dx.doi.org/10.15240/tul/001/2024-5-005" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W618205160", "doi": null, "title": "THE LOCATION AND SIZING OF URBAN FREIGHT TERMINALS WITH MULTIPLE PLANNING PERIODS: THE URBAN TERMINAL INVESTMENT MODEL (UTIM)", "year": 1977, "publication_date": "1977-12-01", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Gordon M. Clark", "W. Bradford Ashton" ], "first_author": "Gordon M. Clark", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "The purpose of this research was to develop and test an Urban Terminal Investment Model (UTIM) for use in the design decisions required to locate, construct, and operate a network of terminal facilities. Several overall criteria are presented as guidelines to produce a model and a solution procedure which permits terminal planning on a routine basis. This research has led to a design methodology which is currently operational for use by transportation planners. The methodology is implemented with computer programs collectively called UTIM. This document contains an investigation of the economic advantages of consolidation terminals for the distribution of small-shipment freight in large metropolitan areas. Planning models for two different system operating rules which assign freight flows to terminals are developed. The models are designed to identify least cost terminal system configuration which are valuable in assessing the economic attractiveness of freight consolidation relative to other goods movement methods. The UTIM models are nonlinear integer programs which are solved with new partial enumeration methods developed in this research. The research results included realistic evidence for potential economic superiority of multiple terminal networks over a single facility, namely, for cities whose metropolitan areas are charcterized by spread out commercial zones and concentrated truck carrier locations. Application of the UTIM models was tested, using data for the Columbus, Ohio, area. For this analysis, the least cost configuration was a single consolidation facility which was estimated to permit significant cost savings over the current goods movement system. /UMTA/", "keywords": [ "Metropolitan area", "Truck", "Transport engineering", "Operations research", "Terminal (telecommunication)", "Sizing", "Computer science", "Engineering", "Geography", "Telecommunications" ], "cited_by_count": 2, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://trid.trb.org/view/81744" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4416247861", "doi": "10.1080/17477778.2025.2586165", "title": "A simulation study of mixed trucks and robots for last mile delivery", "year": 2025, "publication_date": "2025-11-15", "type": "article", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Angelina Krendeleva", "Agostino Marcello Mangini", "Bartolomeo Silvestri", "Maria Pia Fanti" ], "first_author": "Angelina Krendeleva", "venue": "Journal of Simulation", "publisher": "Taylor & Francis", "abstract": "This paper introduces an approach to enhance the efficiency of last-mile delivery through trucks and robot transport. The primary objective is to alleviate traffic congestion by repurposing pedestrian sidewalks for robot transportation through autonomous vehicles, consequently optimizing the activities of trucks by eliminating the necessity for them to navigate through the city. In addressing this challenge, we formulate an optimization problem and apply it in a case study conducted in the city of Bari, Italy. The city is partitioned into distinct zones, served by a hub, where trucks arrive to unload goods to be delivered to final destinations. The issue is formulated as an optimization problem aimed at maximizing the daily number of deliveries. To assess the proposed solutions under more realistic conditions, we employ modelling and simulation techniques utilizing the Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO) software. These simulations consider the influence of road traffic, which has the potential to affect the overall efficiency of the delivery system. The analysis conducted revealed significant advantages of this innovative approach compared to the classical delivery system.", "keywords": [ "Truck", "Robot", "Discrete event simulation", "Mobile robot", "Simulation modeling" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.1080/17477778.2025.2586165" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W3212857424", "doi": null, "title": "Cooperative Truck-Drone Scheduling Approach for Last-Mile Deliveries", "year": 2021, "publication_date": "2021-01-01", "type": "conference-paper", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Francesco Betti Sorbelli", "Federico Corò", "Sajal Kumar Das", "Lorenzo Palazzetti", "Cristina Maria Pinotti" ], "first_author": "Francesco Betti Sorbelli", "venue": "Florence Research (University of Florence)", "publisher": "University of Florence", "abstract": "We present our ongoing work on the cooperation between a truck and drones in a last-mile package delivery scenario. We model this application as an optimization problem where each delivery is associated with a cost (drone's energy), a profit (delivery's priority), and a time interval (launch and rendezvous times from and to the truck). We aim to find an optimal scheduling for drones that maximizes the overall profit subject to the energy constraints while ensuring that the same drone performs deliveries whose time intervals do not intersect. After seeing that this problem is NP-hard, we first devise an optimal Integer Linear Programming (ILP) formulation. We then design an optimal pseudo-polynomial algorithm using dynamic programming and a polynomial-time approximation algorithm that exploits optimal coloring on interval graphs for the single drone case. We also provide an approximation algorithm for the multiple drone case.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Mile", "Truck", "Last mile (transportation)", "Computer science", "Scheduling (production processes)", "Aeronautics", "Engineering", "Automotive engineering", "Operations management", "Geography" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "http://hdl.handle.net/2158/1253590" }, { "id": "https://openalex.org/W4295787878", "doi": "10.32469/10355/91688", "title": "Hybrid truck-drone systems for last-mile delivery logistics", "year": 2022, "publication_date": "2022-05-01", "type": "dissertation", "language": "en", "authors": [ "Mohamed Salama" ], "first_author": "Mohamed Salama", "venue": null, "publisher": null, "abstract": "[EMBARGOED UNTIL 6/1/2023] With growing consumer demand and expectations, companies are attempting to achieve cost-efficient and faster delivery operations. The integration of autonomous vehicles, such as aerial and ground drones, in the last-mile network design, could curtail many operational challenges and provide a competitive advantage. This dissertation deals with the problem of delivering orders to a set of customer locations using multiple drones that operate in conjunction with a single truck. Four variants of the problem are considered. The first variant takes advantage of the drone eet by parallelizing the delivery tasks via concurrently dispatching the drones from a truck parked at a focal point (ideal drone launch location) to the nearby customer locations. The key decisions to be optimized are the partitioning of delivery locations into small clusters, identifying a focal point per cluster, and routing the truck through all focal points such that the customer orders in each cluster are fulfilled either by a drone or truck. The first problem variant restricts each focal point to one of the customer locations, while the second addresses the same delivery problem when allowing truck viii stops to be anywhere in the delivery area (i.e., a customer or non-customer location). Mathematical programming models are developed to jointly optimize both the clustering and routing decisions. The third variant suggests allowing the usage of non-customer locations (referred to as exible sites) as truck stops for drone launch and recovery operations (LARO). This relaxes a common constraint in the literature restricting the drone LARO to customer locations. The proposed variant also accounts for three key decisions - (i) assignment of each customer location to a vehicle, (ii) routing of truck and UAVs, and (iii) scheduling drone LARO and truck operator activities at each stop, which are always not simultaneously considered in the literature. A mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model is formulated to jointly optimize the three decisions. Furthermore, to handle large problem instances, we develop an optimization-enabled two-phase search algorithm by hybridizing simulated annealing and variable neighborhood search. The fourth variant in this dissertation proposes utilizing a network of docking stations and repositioning of drones to enhance the efficacy of delivery operations. In particular, such stations are used for drone docking before and after delivery operations to avoid both loading all required drones to the truck at the depot and waiting of the truck on its route to recover drones. A MILP model is formulated to optimize the management of this setting of facilities and delivery operations. Finally, extensive computational experiments are conducted in this dissertation for the four variants to obtain several insights aiding the logistics practitioners in decision making.", "keywords": [ "Drone", "Truck", "Last mile (transportation)", "Computer science", "Cluster analysis", "Routing (electronic design automation)", "Operations research", "Mile", "Engineering", "Computer network", "Geography", "Artificial intelligence" ], "cited_by_count": 0, "is_retracted": false, "is_paratext": false, "open_access_url": "https://doi.org/10.32469/10355/91688" } ]