Sustainable urban deliveries - FWF Project 10.55776/I6702

Abstract:

Urban last mile deliveries are a key component of transport in cities. They are a major contributor to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In this project, we are considering the potential of novel, green urban delivery concepts. These concepts are typically based on two-echelon delivery approaches where synchronization between larger vehicles and smaller (green) modes of transport is necessary to transfer goods. The green transport modes we plan to take into consideration are cargo-bikes, walking couriers as well as electric robots.

The objective of this project is to develop a scientific frame allowing to address decision making problems on strategical, tactical, and operational levels for deploying sustainable distribution modes in a multi-echelon setting. On the strategic level we will be analyzing the potential benefits of introducing novel delivery concepts in a city. On the tactical level subjects such as fleet sizing, locations and fine-tuning of the delivery concepts will be addressed. On the operational level we will be investigating route planning for such concepts in static and dynamic settings.  The overarching goal is to show that deliveries can be carried out by carbon neutral and less harmful modes of transport in an urban setting, while remaining economically viable and fulfilling the needs of the citizens.

We use a quantitatively driven approach supplemented by qualitative methods to reach the objectives of our project. To solve the underlying optimization problems, we will investigate solution methods for combinatorial optimization problems. We will study the use of heuristic solution methods, and also a combination of exact and heuristic approaches. We will also apply continuous approximation approaches. To obtain the necessary data for case studies and identify the  requirements of the delivery system, stakeholder interviews, data collection, desk research and a literature review will be undertaken.

Prior research usually has a focus on a specific case or application such as using cargo bikes in combination with stationary hubs. The novelty of this proposal is that it investigates the best combination of transport modes and hub solutions by considering all planning levels. The algorithms developed during the project will be useful as a decision support for local authorities and companies. The combination of strategic, tactical, and operational levels in such a project is rare as well as the combination of continuous approximations approaches with detailed combinatorial optimization methods. This will permit a kind of cross-validation between the newly proposed models.

Project team:

• Vera Hemmelmayr (Project leader Austria)

• Jakob Puchinger (Project leader France)

• Yen Hai Luu (WU)

• Dung Nguyen (EM Normandie)

• Jiahua Tang (EM Normandie)

Recent activities:

• Dissemination:

  • Advisory Board meeting, Vienna, 27.05.2025

• Presentations at conferences:

  • Designing two-echelon sustainable urban logistics networks with green transport modes ( Speaker: Dung Nguyen).

    • VeRoLog 2025 (June, 2025)

    • Future Cities Lab Seminar (February, 2025)

  • Sustainable two-echelon deliveries with mobile microhubs using Branch-and-Price (Speaker: Jiahua Tang)

    • VeRoLog 2025, Trento, Italy (June, 2025)

    • Future Cities Lab Seminar (February, 2025)

  • Using sustainable delivery modes in a two-echelon last-mile delivery (Speaker: Hai Yen Luu)

    • Young ProLogWorkshop 2025, Vienna Austria(February, 2025)

    • VeroLog2025, Trento, Italy (June, 2025)

    • ODS 2025, Milan, Italy (September, 2025)