The last-mile delivery sector is transforming, driven by the need for greater operational efficiency, sustainability, and adaptability. The DECARBOMILE project addresses these challenges by developing advanced ICT tools that optimize logistics operations across strategic, short-term, and real-time horizons. These tools create a dynamic, responsive system that enhances resource efficiency, supports stakeholder growth, and promotes decarbonization.
At its core, DECARBOMILE integrates strategic network planning, short-term forecasting, real-time management, and performance analytics. By leveraging digital city models, dynamic e-routing solutions, and optimization algorithms, the project minimizes waste, reduces delivery times, and improves customer satisfaction. Integration with legacy IT systems ensures stakeholders can adopt these innovations without disrupting daily workflows. Let’s take a closer look at the technology and innovative processes that DECARBOMILE brings to the sector.
Track and Trace and Monitoring Tools
DECARBOMILE’s Track and Trace and Monitoring (T&T&M) tools enhance visibility and control in last-mile logistics. The system combines hardware and software components to provide real-time insights into goods, vehicles, and drivers.
- Beacons: Compact devices with sensors (e.g., temperature, humidity) monitor goods during transit, ensuring optimal conditions for sensitive items.
- Trackers: These devices geolocate vehicles and transmit data from connected beacons and sensors to a cloud platform, enabling real-time tracking.
- Web Application: Provides a user-friendly web application that visualizes data collected by tracking devices. An interactive map provides real-time tracking for vehicles and goods. On top of that, there is robust data visualization to simplify decision-making.
Centralized Management
The administrative panel manages vehicles, drivers, and devices. Vehicles are registered with details like license plates, drivers, and group affiliations. Tracking devices and components (e.g., probes, SIM cards) are also registered for seamless data transmission.
To streamline operations, the platform allows registration of vehicle models (e.g., trucks, bicycles) categorized by type, fuel, size, and load capacity. This promotes greener logistics by encouraging the use of electric vehicles and bikes. Vehicles can also be grouped by city or stakeholder for better management.
The DECARBOMILE platform also tracks drivers to ensure accountability and compliance. A notable use case is Logroño’s bike-sharing concept, where cargo bikes are tracked for billing and rule enforcement. Future enhancements, like real-time driver updates, are planned to further improve functionality. The synergy between hardware and software creates several use cases that can tangibly improve last-mile operations.
Key Innovations in Last-Mile Optimization
DECARBOMILE introduces cutting-edge tools and algorithms to enhance efficiency and sustainability:
- Load Optimisation: Maximizes vehicle capacity, reducing trips and emissions.
- Dynamic E-Routing: Adjusts routes in real-time based on traffic and delivery priorities, minimizing fuel consumption.
- Forecasting Algorithms: Predicts demand fluctuations, enabling proactive resource allocation.
- Network Design Algorithms: Plans resilient logistics networks to reduce distances and emissions.
- Load Pooling: Consolidates deliveries, reducing vehicles on the road.
- Digital City Models: Simulates urban environments for data-driven decision-making.
These tools are being tested in Living Labs (LLs)—Hamburg, Logroño, Nantes, and Istanbul—to demonstrate their practical impact. While delays in use case definition and stakeholder engagement have occurred, these challenges are being addressed to ensure successful implementation.
The Role of Digital Twins
Digital twins play a crucial role in urban logistics by providing real-time, data-driven simulations of cities and transportation networks. The combination of the above key innovations letsthe DECARBOMILE project enhance efficiency, reduce congestion, and optimize delivery routes. By simulating different scenarios, digital twins help city planners and Living Lab managers predict bottlenecks, improve last-mile delivery, and minimize environmental impact.
Strategic Network Planning
DECARBOMILE emphasizes strategic network planning to drive sustainable growth. Key tools include network design algorithms, which create optimized logistics networks that are resilient to future needs, and digital city models, which provide virtual urban representations for scenario testing. These tools help stakeholders minimize emissions, maximize efficiency, and plan for long-term growth.
Short-Term Planning and Real-Time Management
DECARBOMILE also focuses on short-term planning and real-time management to address demand fluctuations. Forecasting algorithms predict short-term demand, enabling capacity adjustments, while load optimization ensures efficient vehicle loading. Load pooling consolidates deliveries to reduce costs and environmental impact.
For real-time operations, dynamic e-routing adjusts routes based on traffic, and performance metrics track KPIs like delivery times for continuous improvement.
A Leap Forward in Urban Logistics
The DECARBOMILE project represents a significant leap forward in urban logistics, combining advanced ICT tools with real-world testing to enhance efficiency and sustainability. By integrating strategic planning, short-term optimization, and real-time management, the project sets a new standard for last-mile delivery. As urban areas grow and delivery demands increase, DECARBOMILE’s innovations will play a crucial role in shaping a greener, more efficient future for urban logistics.
