A Theoretical Research Framework of Future Sustainable Urban Freight Transport for Smart Cities

Abstract

This paper aims to construct a theoretical research framework for sustainable urban freight transport (SUFT) from the perspectives of future urban development and distribution innovations, and appropriate research methods are discussed, as well. Urban freight transport plays a critical role in the promotion of sustainable and livable cities. According to the literature review, considerable research on SUFT has focused on resolving some specific problems with a short-term perspective. The existence of an urban freight transport strategy is noted, which should be embedded in an overall sustainable development strategy with a long-term perspective (approximately 20–30 years). Nevertheless, considerable research has paid scant attention to the long-term planning of SUFT. Given this, this paper contributes to the closure of this gap. First, this paper presents a systematic literature review (SLR) to highlight published papers involving foresight research within the past 16 years (2003–2018). This step contributes to the understanding of research methods that can be used in foresight research. Subsequently, this paper discusses the impacts of both urban development and distribution innovations on future SUFT, and these effects are used to select the appropriate methods to construct the theoretical research framework. Finally, the theoretical research framework of long-term planning for SUFT is developed on the basis of two future perspectives: the trends of urban development and the application of urban distribution innovations. This framework is intended to provide an approach to designing sustainable urban logistics, taking into account urban development and distribution innovations.

Evaluation of Intelligent Transport Systems Used in Urban Agglomerations and Intercity Roads by Professional Truck Drivers

“…Freight transport in cities is seen as a source of pollution, noise, traffic congestion and have a negative impact on safety [12,13] and, despite the civilizational need to move cargo by road, road transport in general is viewed in a negative way [14]. The volume of urban freight transport is constantly growing, causing demand for vehicle movement and service space, congestion, emission of GHGs (greenhouse gases) and noise, and accidents [15,16]. However, city authorities are constantly seeking ways of improving safety of traffic in cities, mostly by developing road infrastructure, resulting in less congestion and better accommodation of traffic flows [17].…”

Time Efficiency Model for Identification of Development Potentials in Urban Logistics

“…1) Reducing urban logistics inefficiencies in order to achieve a reduction in costs and externalities (1 st principle); 2) Resolving the effects of customer's poor planning (2 nd principle), and 3) Using the intermodal transport success factors (3 rd principle) Based on the analysis of the scientific literature, a gap has been identified in the existence of an urban logistics model that uses a combination of the principles mentioned here. It can be concluded that there is a necessity for a model that promotes the business aspects of urban logistics and intermodal transport principles, as a future research in the urban freight system [9].…”

“…The coexistence of inefficiency in urban logistics and waste of resources, due to the nature of business, is a sign of a market inconsistencies. There is lack of long term planning of sustainable urban freight transport [9] with the last 25 years of research in sustainable urban logistics being dominated by technical problems [10]. Urban logistics requires new sustainable solutions and models reduction, resolving the effects of customer's poor planning, and using the intermodal transport success factors.…”

Performance and Intrusiveness of Crowdshipping Systems: An Experiment with Commuting Cyclists in The Netherlands

“…We narrow down our scope to city logistics, which by itself is complex and can be improved on many dimensions [13]. Literature sees crowdshipping as the more sustainable solution to city logistics [14], because of its potential in terms of economic and environmental benefits [15].…”