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Description
Freight deliveries in cities involve a wide variety of challenges. Congestion, narrow areas for freight deliveries and a large number of stakeholders in a limited area contribute to reducing the efficiency of logistics systems. At the same time, freight deliveries contribute to a series of environmental problems, like poor air quality, noise and emissions of greenhouse gases. Analysing the impact of urban freight transport (UFT) measures is particularly important, since improving the situation for freight deliveries more often than not will be at the expense of citizens. To fulfil the expectations of the present city logistics systems and solve the problems mentioned above, the objectives of GRASS-NEXT are fourfold: knowledge-based city logistics activities assessment, implementation of city logistics’ objects (vehicles) identification and movements system, development of city logistics pollution models as a real-time application, development of guidelines for Sustainable Urban Logistics Plans in Polish and Norwegian cities. The major ambition of the GRASS-NEXT project is to deliver efficient methods and tools for data, information and knowledge resources for sustainable city logistics systems development. The methodology established under the project will support the efficient planning and management of such systems. The basis of this methodology will be the utilization of user-independent systems with utilization of telematics solution, like mobile traffic detectors and the innovative approach based on video recognition and object tracking.
Summary of project results
Nowadays, urban areas face the challenge of making transport sustainable in environmental and competitiveness terms while at the same time addressing social concerns. Due to that the city logistics stakeholders are still looking for measures, which could reduce the negative impact of freight transport on city environment. To meet the high level of efficiency and usefulness of sustainable city logistics systems, it is necessary to provide methods and technologies for data collection and to develop the knowledge-based processes for these systems. The GRASS-NEXT project ambition was to fulfil this gap by using telematics solutions as well as online tools that will help both companies and municipalities in their planning processes. Also recommendations developed in the project will support the processes of developing Sustainable Urban Logistics Plans (SULPs).
Key objectives were met as follows:
-Knowledge-based city logistics activities assessment: This was successfully completed through surveys, expert studies, and a Delphi study. The project identified the key challenges, particularly the lack of data related to freight flows and routes, and proposed solutions
-City logistics objects (vehicles) identification and movements system: Algorithms were developed, and numerous test flights and experiments were conducted in cities like Szczecin and Częstochowa. The system successfully captured data on vehicle movements, which was used for further analysis.
-Development of city logistics pollution models as a real-time application: The web-based tool was developed and tested. It integrates traffic data with pollution models and was well-received by stakeholders.
-Development of guidelines for sustainable urban logistics plans (SULP): Guidelines were developed based on input from stakeholders, workshops, and expert feedback. The project successfully engaged with stakeholders in cities like Oslo and Szczecin to promote sustainable logistics plans.
The project results have real potential for implementation and commercial applications across various sectors of the economy, particularly in industries that rely on urban logistics, transport, and data-driven technologies. Additionally, they hold value in several socially important areas that directly affect public welfare and urban living standards. Sectors and areas, where the results could be implemented, include urban freight transport, also last-mile delivery services, urban planning, also so-called smart cities, and the tech industry, regarding the development and use of Al and telematics in traffic systems and data acquisition. Public health and safety should also have a strong interest in the systematic pollution assessment. The project results provide opportunities also for collaboration and data sharing across sectors, enabling the development of integrated solutions. Such applications or stakeholders thus include collaborative urban planning, public-private partnerships, data sharing platforms, freight quality partnerships, commercial ventures, academia-industry collaborate on and public health and environment agencies. They also add value in other socially important areas such as climate and environmental justice, urban quality of life and public safety
Summary of bilateral results
The partnership in the project brought several key benefits, like expertise sharing, international collaboration, access to resources and technology, enhanced research output and greater practical impact. The collaboration between research institutions and industry partners facilitated knowledge exchange and better integration of academic research with practical applications in city logistics. Partnering with institutions from Poland and Norway provided a broader perspective and more universally applicable solutions. The combined expertise of partners contributed to a significant number of academic outputs, including PhD theses and publications, thereby advancing research in the field of city