Holistic approach to the ecological cargo distribution in urban areas with the use of multi-modal transport

Abstract

Due to the continuous development of cities and growing demand for cargo transportation, it is necessary to develop and implement new concepts for distribution. The paper presents the concept of a hierarchical cargo distribution in the distribution system using multi-modal transport. This approach involves the use of trams and electric vehicles. It is justified from the point of view of the European Union‘s strategy related to lowering emissions of toxic compounds. The use of such means of transport not only has a positive impact on the ecology, but also on the social development of cities and the living conditions of the inhabitants. The presented concept includes the use of cargo consolidation centers located on the outskirts of cities. The city was divided into three zones with different traffic characteristics and the possibility of dynamically changing the size of the area occupied by them. The use of different means of transport needed to take account of appropriate transport infrastructure like sidings (loading track) located within the city. This article presents a mathematical model of that distribution system. Linear and point infrastructure and other system components like means of transport were characterized. Constraints arising from the technical and legal conditions were identified. The considerations presented in this article represent an interesting approach to deliveries in urban areas. Positive and negative aspects of the used approach were presented in the paper. The developed concept is a new approach to the cargo distribution with a positive impact on reducing exhaust emissions in cities. This article presents the part of research in the “EMITRANSYS” project implemented by the Faculty of Transport in Warsaw University of Technology and the Poznan University of Technology.