by Walther Ploos van Amstel
How can cities become cleaner, more efficient, and better connected? Hamburg’s MOVE21 project offers some inspiring answers. In collaboration with the Bezirksamt Altona, the project has developed a Best Practice Manual that examines real-world examples of neighborhood hubs—multifunctional spaces that bring together logistics, mobility, and even social services. Whether placed in existing buildings or public …
A new research paper examines the views of 35 local authorities in England on potential solutions for decarbonizing last-mile parcel deliveries, focusing on the perceived challenges and drivers of implementation. Using co-design and participatory methods, the study engaged stakeholders with diverse expertise in a back-casting process to develop actionable strategies for reducing emissions. The proposed …
A recent study aims to assess urban freight tours by integrating machine learning with the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA). The research captures supply chain operations using the Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR) model, real-time data from surveys, and Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking. These predictions were analysed using LCSA to assess the sustainability impacts of …
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 …
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 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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …