Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
5.2 More Sustainable and New Forms of Organizations
Supply-chains are continuously evolving and are submitted to strong mutations.
Cooperative solutions only are able to cope with the stakes of revitalizing envi-
ronmentally, socially and economically large urban structures. The efficiency of
these solutions will be based on their articulation with the territories in which they
are implemented. Urban planners involvement is essential on the subjects of urban
logistics which have to be integrated as early as possible in the planning process.
Two main axes of change are available for decision-makers to diminish the
impacts of urban goods movements on the urban environment:
5.2.1 First Axis: Mutualizing the Means
We will divide the means implicated in the distribution of goods into two classes:
• Dynamic means: it is preferable to share the transport capacities, to favour
concentrated means of transport (rail or inland waterways transport) upstream of
the supply chain. In parallel, the last kilometre should be a segment of con-
solidation of already existing road transport (i.e. LUMD program 17 ). It also
turns out that sharing goods transports with public transport dedicated infra-
structures (like railways, stations, bus lanes…) and vehicles (buses, tram,
underground) is a possible solution. The positive impact expected for these
types of measures will be a reduction of the number of vehicles operating
delivery rounds as a consequence of a higher load rate and a modal shift towards
railway or waterways transports.
• Static means: As well as above, it is advantageous to share flow processing
capacities in storage facilities implanted nearby cities or in urban areas, with a
preference for cross-docking operations (with adapted urban containers) in
smaller (thus cheaper) surfaces. These collective efforts will minimize the
approach links, allowing energy savings while reducing GHG and other pollu-
tants emissions.
5.2.2 Second Axis: Using Alternate Engines
We can first list the different existing solutions: combustion engines for alternate
fuels : bio fuels, gas, LPG; hybrids: diesel or gasoline/electric for heavy vehicles;
electric: all types traffics/goods are not fit for electric deliveries, but those who are
fit are easily predictable in terms of demands and specifications (range, distances,
etc.).The combined effort of mutualisation and new ''clean'' technologies could
divide the price of the negative effects of urban goods transports by 80 (Sia Conseil
17
Sustainable and Mutualized Urban Logistics, a French PREDIT project.
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