Abstract
Using 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 carrier.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Fraser N. McLeod
Fraser McLeod, BSc (Mathematics), MPhil (Sonar) is a research fellow within the University of Southampton, UK with some 22 years experience of working on transport projects. His areas of expertize are in statistical analysis and simulation modelling. In recent years he has specialized in intelligent transport systems research and evaluation, particularly in connection with freight distribution, public transport, urban traffic control, pedestrian behaviour and control. Recent studies have investigated the transport associated with home shopping deliveries and with waste collection.
Tom J. Cherrett
Tom Cherrett, BSc (Transport Management and Planning), PhD (Congestion and Driver response) is a senior lecturer in transport management and construction management in the School of Civil Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, UK. He has management and logistics experience from working in the chilled warehousing industry. His research areas include developing sustainable strategies for the collection and disposal of wastes and the distribution of goods in urban areas, and improving incident detection and journey time estimation using urban traffic control infrastructure. He was secretary of the ITS UK ‘Freight Interest Group’ from its inception in 1998–2006 and is also a member of the BSI Standards Institute ‘Road transport informatics’ and ‘Public transport/Fleet management’ committees. He is a chartered member of the Institute of Logistics and Transport.
