by Walther Ploos van Amstel
The rapid rise of e-commerce, on-demand services, and shared mobility has transformed public space into a critical logistics and mobility infrastructure. Curbs, sidewalks, and small urban plots—once peripheral in transport policy—are now contested sites for parcel lockers, micro- and mobility hubs, and charging stations. Policy debates and research increasingly frame the curb as a scarce …
Circular models can be both sustainable and profitable—if developed with the right partners. But is municipal waste collection truly a core competence? Urban waste collection is a complex challenge. In many cities, residents and businesses struggle with persistent litter on the streets. Despite the efforts of frontline staff, stricter rules, and awareness campaigns, waste problems …
Urban logistics is under mounting pressure. Population density is rising, e-commerce is accelerating, and regulatory requirements are tightening. Traditional logistics systems, with their reliance on static planning, are increasingly inadequate. They struggle to adapt to the dynamic realities of urban environments, leading to inefficiencies, congestion, and environmental challenges. A recent paper by Liu, Pan, and …
Sustainable management of urban logistics (UL) is becoming increasingly urgent as cities grapple with rising congestion, worsening air quality, and growing e-commerce demand. Traditional freight management models—largely static and inflexible—struggle to cope with dynamic urban environments. A new study by Galkin, Švadlenka, Vrba, and Kijewska (2025) proposes a Dynamic Freight Management (DFM) framework that uses …
A recent thesis addresses one of the most pressing challenges in contemporary urban planning: how to reconcile the growing intensity of urban logistics activities with broader sustainability and livability goals. It adopts a spatial-temporal perspective on logistics operations, combining spatial analytics, machine learning, and case studies from Dutch cities. Conceptual framing The thesis rightly identifies …
A new report from London’s Cross River Partnership (CRP) highlights how digital kerbside management can transform freight operations and urban air quality. In collaboration with Grid Smarter Cities, CRP piloted a network of eight Virtual Loading Bays (VLBs) across London. Kerbside Management Technology Kerbside Management Technology is designed to dynamically manage urban kerb space, helping …
The rapid growth of information technology enables firms to track consumer purchase histories. This allows them to distinguish between new and returning customers, and to adjust both prices and delivery promises accordingly. A recent study develops a two-period duopoly game-theoretic model to examine how these strategies (behavior-based pricing (BBP) and behavior-based promised delivery times (BBT)) …
Cities increasingly use experimentation to tackle complex sustainability challenges. Experimentation allows actors to test new interventions in real-world contexts, creating opportunities for learning-by-doing. Yet, whether this learning translates into actual organizational change remains unclear. Recent research examines this relationship through four city logistics experiments in Bergen (Norway) and Groningen (Netherlands), offering insights into the dynamics …
Technological innovations such as parcel lockers are often presented as a solution to the negative impacts of last-mile delivery on people, the planet, and business performance. Yet these benefits will only materialize if consumers actually choose to use them. A recent study applied the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to better …
The rise of online shopping has changed consumer expectations, with more people choosing to have products delivered directly to their homes. Grocery home delivery is a growing segment within this trend, but it presents specific logistical challenges. Groceries typically have low profit margins, while last-mile delivery is expensive. Orders are often large, heavy, and perishable, …