Considering the emission of air pollutants and green-house gases in vehicle routing and scheduling

An emissions module is suggested as an add-on facility to common vehicle routing and scheduling tools in Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs). Traditionally, vehicle routing and scheduling tools assist third party logistics companies and transport operators in generating the most cost efficient routes for shipments by minimising mileage and fuel consumption and increasing vehicle utilisation. So far, environmental issues have not been directly taken into account. However, CSR (corporate and social responsibility) standards are gaining importance as a competitive advantage. Some logistics contractors are already receiving requests from prospective customers to disclose the environmental impact of any proposed distribution networks. An emissions calculator as add-on facility to vehicle routing and scheduling software allows companies to rearrange their journeys under environmental considerations and thus to comply with pressure from their costumers and shareholders. The purpose of the emissions-module is to produce the emissions generated by a trip and to compare the information with alternative distribution strategies. The underlying methodology is based on a study which estimates emissions from road and rail freight transport in Britain as part of the LEeds Freight Transport Model (LEFT) series.

• Authors:
  • MAURER, H
• Publication Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 11p
• Serial:
  • PROCEEDINGS OF THE 13th ITS WORLD CONGRESS, LONDON, 8-12 OCTOBER 2006

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Calculation; Conferences; Economic efficiency; Environmental impact analysis; Environmental protection; Fuel consumption; Logistics; Mathematical models; Operations research; Software; Trucks; Urban areas
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 6464: Calculation; 8525: Conference; 237: Economic efficiency; 2433: Emission control; 2444: Environment protection; 232: Fuel consumption; 2436: Impact study (environment); 264: Logistics; 1236: Lorry; 6473: Mathematical model; 9055: Operational research; 8645: Software; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Environment; Freight Transportation; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; I15: Environment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01087497
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jan 29 2008 10:44AM