DYNALOAD

Smart urban freight transport: planning and DYNAmic management of urban LOADing and unloading areas

Research Project 2015-2016
Funded by the Unconvering Excellence 2014 Programme

Abstract
The research aims at developing methods and tools that supports city planners in planning delivery scenarios and in managing and controlling the occupancy of urban areas for loading and unloading operations. Traditionally, delivery areas are defined in order to answer local problems without knowing the consequences at the global level in the city. An unsuited or poorly distributed areas rapidly decreases the efficiency of deliveries in the city. If the number of areas is not enough to match the demand in deliveries, the amount of illegal parking to deliver the goods increases, which slows down the flow of vehicles. Nevertheless, a scheme with too many delivery areas causes unused public space. To achieve a balance, the transport authorities need tools to diagnose according to the logistic problems in urban areas. In this context, the proposal has a twofold aim. One is to define methods and procedures for supporting city planners and experts when designing and assessing such type of measure. It allows to limit the illegal use of road parking and to reduce the interference with other road user (e.g.parking at the second line delays other traffic).Other refers to develop an advanced management and control system able to optimize in real-time the usage of loading and unloading areas. It allows transport and logistics operators when delivering in urban area to book the delivery areas, to have suggestions on delivery tours and to optimize the time spent for such freight operations.

Research Team

Project Code: E82I15000390005

Approval date: 03/03/2015 – Prot. 0006365/2015 /C1 – III/13