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Details

  • Name

    Vasco Nunes Silva
  • Role

    Research Assistant
  • Since

    15th December 2021
001
Publications

2023

Sustainable Urban Last-Mile Logistics: A Systematic Literature Review

Authors
Silva, V; Amaral, A; Fontes, T;

Publication
SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract
Globalisation, urbanisation and the recent COVID-19 pandemic has been raising the demand for logistic activities. This change is affecting the entire supply chain, especially the last-mile step. This step is considered the most expensive and ineffective part of the supply chain and a source of negative economic, environmental and social externalities. This article aims to characterise the sustainable urban last-mile logistics research field through a systematic literature review (N = 102). This wide and holistic review was organised into six thematic clusters that identified the main concepts addressed in the different areas of the last-mile research and the existence of 14 solutions, grouped into three types (vehicular, operational, and organisational solutions). The major findings are that there are no ideal last-mile solutions as their limitations should be further explored by considering the so-called triple bottom line of sustainability; the integration and combination of multiple last-mile alternative concepts; or by establishing collaboration schemes that minimise the stakeholders' conflicting interests.

2023

Anticipation of New and Emerging Trends for Sustainable Last-Mile Urban Distribution

Authors
Silva, V; Amaral, A; Fontes, T;

Publication
SMART ENERGY FOR SMART TRANSPORT, CSUM2022

Abstract
Globalization and the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increased number of consumers using e-commerce services. This trend has been raising the demand for logistic activities, especially on the last-mile. This part of the supply chain is expensive and ineffective, and a source of negative externalities such as air and noise pollution, traffic congestion and accidents. The anticipation of innovative solutions can help to mitigate these costs. In this context, this paper provides a systematic literature review of the existing literature regarding emerging solutions for last-mile parcel delivery. For guiding the development of more sustainable last-mile parcel distribution, and to provide some insights for future research, we identified and summarized the emerging concepts within this field domain. The results show that innovative solutions have been emerging at different levels: (i) definition of new crowdsourcing-based models, (ii) use of new types of vehicles, and (iii) development of optimization systems based on data collection and the combination of different technologies. Moreover, recent studies show that new strategies are being developed focusing on using consumers as active actors of delivery; non-road and autonomous vehicles are promising concepts in last-mile operations; and different logistic operations, such as vehicle routing, are being optimized with data analytics, cloud technology and mobile apps.

2023

Towards sustainable last-mile logistics: A decision-making model for complex urban contexts

Authors
Silva, V; Amaral, A; Fontes, T;

Publication
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY

Abstract
E-commerce growth is raising the demand for logistic activities, especially in the last-mile, which is considered the most ineffective part of the supply chain and a negative externalities source. Although various solutions aim to address these issues, selecting the best one is challenging due to multiple perspectives, conflicting criteria, trade-offs, and complex and sensitive urban contexts. This article proposes a 4-level hierarchical model based on the triple bottom line of sustainability that may assist decision-makers in selecting the most adequate last -mile solution for historic centers. The model was defined based on a systematic literature review; evaluated by interviewing a set of experts; and quantified according to an AHP-TOPSIS approach. This quantification focused on the historic center of Porto, Portugal. The experts considered all three sustainability dimensions similarly important. Air pollution was the most valued sub-criterion whereas Visual pollution was the least. 67 decision-maker profiles were defined, showing that environmentally oriented decision-makers prefer cargo bikes, while decision-makers who prioritize economic and social factors prefer parcel lockers. All last-mile solutions considered in the model yielded similar results, therefore suggesting a combined distribution strategy. Nevertheless, the use of parcel lockers is the most favorable solution for Porto's historic center.