Abstract
Logistics in urban areas are currently suffering a radical transformation due to increasing population concentration and the massive use of cars as the preferred transport mode. These issues have resulted in higher pollution levels in urban environments and traffic congestion, impacting the world globally. Facilitating the use of sustainable transport modes is widely regarded as a necessity to cope with these adverse effects on citizens’ life quality. Hence, some regions, such as the European Union, are encouraging bus transport firms to make their business models more environmentally and socially sustainable. The aim of this research is thus to explore how technological innovations adopted by urban bus companies can improve cities’ sustainability. With this in mind, a combined Importance Performance Analysis (IPA)–Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was applied. In this way, their environmental and social sustainability effects were separately represented through hierarchical structures. Subsequently, the importance and performance ratings of technological innovations in each sustainability dimension were estimated, and thus two IPA grids were generated. These grids support managers in the establishment of more effective action plans to improve logistics sustainability in cities. The findings also provide guidance to governments on the technological innovations that should be promoted in future urban mobility plans.
Highlights
The majority of urban areas are currently suffering congestion that will only worsen with time
This situation is even more accentuated in the European Union, where the percentage of the population living in urban areas is 74% (2018), with countries such as Belgium, Denmark, France, Norway, and Spain having over 80% of their population living in urban areas
One of the specific strengths of coupling Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) lies in the fact that the technological innovations are measured considering multiple and weighted effects of environmental and social sustainability
Summary
The majority of urban areas are currently suffering congestion that will only worsen with time. This situation is even more accentuated in the European Union, where the percentage of the population living in urban areas is 74% (2018), with countries such as Belgium, Denmark, France, Norway, and Spain having over 80% of their population living in urban areas This increasing trend is expected to continue in European countries in years to come, reaching a peak of around 82% of urban population in 2050 [1]. This situation generates chronic congestion problems in transportation activities throughout European cities that result in long delay periods for daily journeys. Dependence on passenger cars is up to 90% in some European countries such as Portugal, Norway, and Lithuania
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