The City Logistics paradigm for urban freight transport

Freight transport in urban areas is of increasing interest and concern. Significant changes in patterns and intensity of freight movements are occurring as a result of technological and societal change and the growth in e-business, the environmental consequences of road based transport systems, and urban land use and transport systems management policies. One significant problem is the BrowneAllen dilemma of conflicting objectives relating to urban freight operators and their customers on one side, and the community on the other. The City Logistics paradigm is one approach to resolving this problem. City logistics is the study of the dynamic management and operations of urban freight transport and distribution systems. The aim is to deliver a win-win for business and the community by ensuring optimum productivity, reliability and customer service whilst reducing environmental impacts, air pollution emissions, energy consumption and traffic congestion. Current research is being directed at building a city logistics systems simulation model that optimises logistics efficiency under congested urban traffic conditions, and that reflects the unique commercial, traffic and urban form characteristics of Australian cities. A case study for Sydney involving the evaluation of likely impacts of transport policies aimed at mitigating the environmental impacts of urban freight transport is presented.