Understanding curbside demand using big data analytics & business models - A freight perspective

Research Project, 2023 – 2024

The focus on sustainable urban transport is shrinking the space traditionally used for motorized transports. However, sustainable transport is dependent on vehicles with large cargo capacity meaning that streets and pavements that are increasingly dedicated to pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles are becoming contested space. With trends such as densification, instant deliveries and online shopping the shrinking space for deliveries will lead to more conflicts between urban stakeholders. Understanding the interaction and potential conflicts between freight and other street users is important to ensure access to goods while decreasing negative effects. By effectively integrating transportation and logistics with public space design goals, the project aims to improve efficiency and sustainability in transportation and logistics. It is necessary to integrate multiple disciplines to understand how public space is used, yet there are few studies in the literature that do this. This project involves researchers from both GU and Chalmers, which strengthens the network and can inspire future research. The project combines quantitative (data science) and qualitative (interview, workshops stakeholders) methods. The project contributes to United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals: sustainable cities and communities (#11) and tangentially to industry innovation and infrastructure (#9).