1,721,020 research outputs found
Quantifying the transport impacts of domestic waste collection strategies
Full text linkThis paper models the effects of three different options for domestic waste collection using data from three Hampshire authorities: (i) joint working between neighbouring waste collection authorities; (ii) basing vehicles at waste disposal sites; (iii) alternate weekly collection of residual waste and dry recyclables. A vehicle mileage saving of 3% was modelled for joint working, where existing vehicle allocations to depots were maintained, which increased to 5.9% when vehicles were re-allocated to depots optimally. Vehicle mileage was reduced by 13.5% when the collection rounds were based out of the two waste disposal sites rather than out of the existing depots, suggesting that the former could be the most effective place to keep vehicles providing that travel arrangements for the crews could be made. Alternate weekly collection was modelled to reduce vehicle mileage by around 8% and time taken by 14%, when compared with a typical scenario of weekly collection of residual and fortnightly collection of recyclable waste. These results were based on an assumption that 20% of the residual waste would be directly diverted into the dry recyclables waste strea
Loading bay booking and control for urban freight
Full text linkThis paper investigates the concept of a loading bay advance booking and control system for delivery and service vehicle drivers. A case study of Winchester High Street is presented to illustrate the potential impact of such a system. A number of operating scenarios were considered based on the punctuality of deliveries and service visits, using a comprehensive database of vehicle arrival patterns. The main performance measures used were adherence to schedule, delivery time and the use of unloading points, with reference to their desirability, both from the freight vehicle drivers' and other road users' viewpoints. The research has highlighted the different factors that would need to be taken into account when evaluating a managed loading bay system, from the standpoints of the various actors involved, including the traffic authority, freight operator, driver, retailer and other road users
Transport impacts of local collection/delivery points
No full textThis paper presents an analysis of the vehicle mileage incurred by carriers and customers using local collection/delivery points (CDPs) for failed first-time home shopping deliveries compared with the traditional carrier redelivery method. A number of key factors were identified, including the delivery failure rate, the carrier depot distance from the delivery area, the number of available collection points, the preferred modes of transport used by householders and the extent to which trips were combined with each other. The results of a case study using CDPs in the city of Winchester, UK indicated that customer mileage could be reduced by over 80%, while the estimated impact on carrier mileage was negligible. Worst-case and best-case scenarios for the collection point delivery method were also modelled, which demonstrated that overall mileage could be reduced by 80% or increased by 40% depending on the assumptions made about the key factor
The scope for joint household/commercial waste collections: a case study
Full text linkAlthough commercial and household wastes are compositionally similar, common UK practice is for separate collections. This paper uses vehicle routing and scheduling software to predict the benefits of allowing household and commercial wastes to be collected together by a common vehicle fleet. This was compared in a case study in which collections were made from over 25,000 households on an alternate weekly basis and from 577 commercial premises having one or more collections each week. Modelled joint collections reduced vehicle mileage by up to 9.8%, equating to an annual saving of around £36,800 and a carbon equivalent saving of 2688 kg per annum. The modelled benefits were greatest when a common starting time (6 a.m.)was adopted for the commercial and household collections. The modelled rounds were estimated to have sufficient time and vehicle capacity available to allow an additional 50% of commercial waste to be collected, equating to 35.8 tonnes per week
Quantifying the environmental benefits of collection/delivery points
No full textUsing a node-based routing and scheduling package, this paper estimates the environmental impacts of using a local railway station as a collection/delivery point (CDP) for small parcel transactions. This delivery option was compared with a typical existing situation where some customers who suffer a failed home delivery attempt decide to travel to the carrier's depot to collect their goods. The modelled results suggested that, at a 20 per cent take-up level, the CDP method would reduce the carbon monoxide emissions associated with the deliveries by around 20 per cent and other emissions (nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons) by between 13 per cent and 15 per cent, with higher savings at higher take-up levels. The customer mileage attributable to the collection was modelled to reduce by up to 33 per cent. Modest travel savings were also found for the carrie
Reducing the transport footprint of pathology logistics through shared fleet passenger and freight services: a case study on the Isle of Wight, UK
No full textThis study investigates the potential for shared fleet operations between public organisations, specifically, the National Health Service (NHS) and Isle of Wight Council (IWC), to optimise healthcare logistics and reduce operational inefficiencies. The methodology compares a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario where only NHS vans are used with an intervention scenario integrating IWC school minibus, cash collection and library service vehicle routes with NHS pathology collections. Using historical data and a novel optimisation algorithm, vehicle movements were modelled to evaluate benefits in terms of cost savings, reduced CO₂ emissions and vehicle usage. The results suggested that considerable improvements could be made by integrating pathology collection rounds into the existing IWC minibus routes: (a 10.6% reduction in CO₂ emissions (644 kg/month) and vehicle kilometres (2,300 km/month), a 20.2% reduction in working hours (219 hours/month), and a 17.8% savings in cost (GBP (£) 3,596/month) leading to IWC gaining a potential additional annual revenue stream of GBP (£) 54,829 with a 22.4% reduction in costs to the NHS. The findings highlight the potential benefits of shared fleet operations between public sector organisations, offering a model for similar collaborations in other public sector contexts
Assessing the feasibility and benefits of a shared-fleet collaboration in urban logistics: a case study of a public-private partnership in the UK
No full text1. Purpose: shared-fleet operations, where the collection/delivery (CD) rounds of one fleet (the ‘donor’ fleet) are optimised to include the CD activity of another, are a possible approach to reducing freight vehicle impacts in urban centres. The aims of this study were to: (i) determine the feasibility of a shared-fleet collaboration involving a private company (Carnival UK, (CUK)) and a public municipal authority (Southampton City Council, (SCC)) as the prospective fleet donor; ii) quantify, based on real-world data, the potential benefits of such a shared-fleet collaboration in terms of reducing vkm and emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2); (iii) assess the potential for a real-world trial to identify operational challenges and practicalities.2. Research approach: a one-week survey of business-as-usual (BAU) deliveries made by local suppliers to CUK’s warehouse was undertaken to quantify consignment volumes, weights and receipt times. These data, together with SCC’s current courier fleet schedules, were used to quantify the feasibility and benefits of merging operations. Route optimisation tools were employed to model an intervention scenario where SCC vehicles incorporated collections of CUK’s consignments from local suppliers into their existing CD rounds. The intervention was compared to BAU toquantify the potential reductions in vkm and CO2 emissions, with suitable suppliers identified for a possible real-world trial.3. Findings and originality: a shared-fleet collaboration involving 20 local suppliers serviced by five SCC vans performing 19 rounds/week could achieve reductions of: 80% in vehicles used; 56% in warehouse visits; 32% in vkm; and 89% in CO2 emissions. A real-world trial is being planned to understand practical and real-world scheduling challenges.4. Research impact: the research challenge lies in optimising for both fixed and more dynamic demands across both the donor and secondary fleets where some activities take priority and where vehicle capacity is fixed. A Travelling Salesman optimisation approach considering time windows and the range constraints of electric vehicles was used along with a time-based cost allocation method to share costs and benefits fairly between the parties.5. Practical impact: the research identified a practical approach for public authorities to enhance the efficiency of their vehicles by collaboratively sharing them, while also generating additional revenue for the authority through providing a logistics service. It also highlights the issues associated with establishing and managing such a collaboration where the donor fleet has to cope with fixed and dynamic demands. A real-world trial emanating from the findings is planned for later in 2023/24
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