Evaluation of urban goods distribution initiatives towards mobility and sustainability: indicators, stakeholders and assessment tools

• Type: Thesis
• Date: 2010

Authors

Sandra Melo (Author) FEUP

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Civil engineering

Associated Institutions

FEUP - Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto

Other information

Abstract (EN): In the last years freight transport has increased significantly within urban areas, and predictions point to the maintenance of this tendency. The high degree of flexibility added to the increasing demand for delivery small loads with a high frequency to cities has contributed for the majority of this growth to be assured by road mode. Despite the relevant role road mode plays to supply cities, it also generates negative impacts. The most common examples occur at the three dimensions of sustainability: air pollution (environmental sustainability), fatalities, noise disturbance, local traffic safety (social sustainability), journey unreliability and delivery delays (economic sustainability). Furthermore, goods traffic decreases the accessibility of passenger’s transport in urban areas and the efficiency of the urban goods distribution process itself can be affected by congestion, disturbing in this way also the mobility of the area. Within this context, problems caused by freight transport are multiple and have been a major issue of concern for local administrators. Cities want to maintain and promote their sustainability, mobility and quality of life, while ensuring that urban goods distribution systems efficiently serve their needs. To win this challenge, cities mainly have to face the difficult task of promoting urban goods distribution systems that are environmental friendly and at the same time, efficient enough to satisfy, both society and distribution companies. Following these concerns, the thesis focuses the effects of alternative initiatives on urban goods distribution at different geographical levels and stakeholders group. It evaluates initiatives that in specific contexts were considered ‘best practices’ in terms of its effects on public good (mobility and sustainability) and private interests. The evaluation analyses the impacts on general motorised society and on suppliers simultaneously, by defining and measuring indicators, which will reflect their interest levels. Indicators are assessed with microscopic traffic simulation, which provides a transparent and objective support for decision making. With such approach, the thesis provides a helpful input to inspire the design the foundations of a general good practice and process approach on urban goods distribution.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 329