Contents

Chapter1 Introduction
Chapter2 Intelligent transport systems - Core technologies
Chapter3 Intelligent transport systems - Recent applications
Chapter4 Vehicle routing and scheduling
Chapter5 Logistics terminals
Chapter6 Intermodal freight transport
Chapter7 Transport demand management for freight transport
Chapter8 Underground freight transport systems
Chapter9 Third party logistics in supply chain management
Chapter10 E-commerce and the consequences for freight transport
Chapter11 Future perspectives

Preface

We are currently faced with many challenging problems relating to transport and quality of life in urban areas. Urbanisation is a common trend in industrialised countries. The more people that move into urban areas, the higher the level of traffic congestion and nuisance including air pollution, noise and vibration occur. Freight transport is one of the major sources of these problems. To solve these complicated and difficult problems more efficient and environmentally friendly freight transport systems are required for establishing sustainable societies.

Fortunately in the 21st century, there are many exciting innovations in freight transport that will play an important role for developing sustainable transport and logistical systems. Many of these innovations are associated with the application of advanced information communication technologies (ICT) and intelligent transport systems (ITS). These emerging technologies allow shippers and freight carriers to develop more efficient and reliable freight transport systems that may lead to improvements in the environment and alleviate trafic congestion.

This book focuses on innovations in modern freight transport systems mainly in urban areas. We believe that technical innovations of ICT and ITS will provide good opportunities to improve inefficient freight transport systems and maximise the use of resources. A good example can be seen in intelligent fleet management systems that use mobile communication systems and software packages for vehicle routing and scheduling with time windows.

City logistics encompasses many of the concepts relating to the development of efficient and environmentally friendly freight transport systems. Several applications of city logistics schemes are presented in this book. These involve advanced vehicle routing and scheduling with time window, optimal location of logistics terminals, transport demand management and underground freight transport systems. Such measures will not only generate cost reduction for transport companies but also decrease the negative impacts of freight transport on the environment.

Recently e-commerce has become popular in business to business as well as business to consumer transactions. The effects of e-commerce on transport are important to consider as they present new challenges to distributors.

The authors of this book have been active in collaborative research projects in the area of city logistics. The Institute for City Logistics (ICL) (http://www.citylogistics.org/) was established in 1999 to promote innovative schemes for addressing social and environmental issues associated with urban freight. ICL has previously organised two International Conference on City Logistics in Cairns, Australia (1999) and Okinawa, Japan (2001) as well as International Short Courses on Ciity Logistics in Kyoto, Melmourne, and Delft in 2001.

We would like to disseminate new ideas and highlight best practice to those who are tackling urban freight problems. We hope that this book will be beneficial for researchers, students, consultants and administrators who wish to study recent innovations in freight transport to improve urban freight systems.

E. Taniguchi
R.G. Thompson
2002

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