Category «Research»

The installation industry: transitioning to smart and zero-emission mobility

The Dutch installation industry has an annual turnover of approximately €33 billion and employs around 180,000 people. About 29% of installation revenue is spent on maintenance contracts, troubleshooting, and modifications such as short-term and customer-specific projects. Around 80-85% of service visits to buildings involve residential properties, while 15-20% concern commercial buildings. Service engineers drive 264 …

Collaborative distribution network design for sustainable parcel deliveries: a strategic modelling approach

The growth of e-commerce has driven higher demand for B2C transportation, creating challenges for urban distribution and upstream supply networks. Various sustainable transport strategies have been proposed to mitigate the impact of freight movement. However, these strategies must balance economic, environmental, and social considerations. A recent study evaluates a sustainable distribution strategy based on collaborative …

A Generic Modelling Framework for Last-Mile Delivery Systems

A new study presents a generic modeling framework that integrates agent-based models (ABM), specifically HUMAT and MASS-GT, to address the complexity of last-mile delivery (LMD) systems. This framework simulates and evaluates the dynamics of urban goods flow across different cities, focusing on consumer behavior and delivery logistics, which are crucial for optimizing LMD strategies. Key …

Amsterdam starts Park + Switch hub for service engineers

Social media exploded over Amsterdam’s trial with a “klushub.” In the Piet Heingarage, a pilot project called Park + Switch Amsterdam is being launched as a transfer point where entrepreneurs can park their vehicles and switch to electric ones. Online blog GeenStijl commented on the hub: “This pie-in-the-sky idea, dreamed up by desk-jockey bureaucrats, is almost as …

Key characteristics and challenges of last-mile operations

A recent publication by Agatz et al. provides an overview of key characteristics and challenges of last-mile operations (LMO): Final Stage of Supply Networks LMO processes occur at the last stage of supply chains, directly fulfilling individual agent demand. Operations and resources (people, equipment, inventory) are widely dispersed. Diverse geographical areas create specific challenges: Urban …

Research: innovations, technologies, and the economics of last-mile operations

Last-mile operations (LMO), the processes involved in the critical last stage of delivering goods and services, are widespread across major economic sectors, including retail, food services, healthcare, humanitarian services, energy distribution, telecommunications, public services, and others. These operations account for many of these sectors’ costs, jobs, and economic output. Global economic output involving last-mile deliveries …

A review of last-mile delivery optimization: strategies, technologies, and drone integration

Last-mile delivery (LMD) is crucial in modern logistics, impacting operational costs, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. A recent paper reviews optimization techniques in LMD, emphasizing AI-driven decision-making, IoT-enabled real-time monitoring, and hybrid delivery networks. Integrating AI and IoT enhances predictive analytics, dynamic routing, and fleet management, though scalability and regulatory challenges remain significant. Hybrid models incorporating …

Upscaling cargo bike sharing in cities: a comparative case study

Urban mobility transitions are crucial for mitigating climate change and enhancing urban quality of life. Cargo bikes (CBs) offer a sustainable alternative to motorized vehicles thanks to their lower carbon footprint, space efficiency, and ability to reduce air and noise pollution. Cargo bike sharing (CB-sharing) promotes adoption by eliminating purchase and maintenance costs, though individuals …

Podcast: city logistics beyond zero-emission – trends towards 2035

The Dutch “Outlook City Logistics 2035” analyzes future challenges and opportunities for city logistics in the Netherlands, focusing on zero-impact logistics beyond emission-free vehicles. The report examines the impact of city logistics on different types of neighborhoods and the role of municipalities, service providers, and recipients in creating sustainable solutions. Various regulatory instruments for municipalities …