Periodic Reporting for period 2 - URBANE (UPSCALING INNOVATIVE GREEN URBAN LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS THROUGH MULTI-ACTOR COLLABORATION AND PI-INSPIRED LAST MILE DELIVERIES)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2024-03-01 do 2025-02-28
URBANE supports the transition towards effective, resilient, safe and sustainable last mile delivery solutions, driven by four Lighthouse Living Labs in Helsinki, Bologna, Valladolid and Thessaloniki, that demonstrates TRL8 efficient, replicable and socially acceptable innovative last-mile delivery solutions [Wave 1 LLs].
Hands-on learning at European level is facilitated by the URBANE Innovation Transferability Platform underpinned by Digital Twinning Tools, open models, smart contracts governed by blockchain technology and a data-driven Impact Assessment Radar. Together, these tools enabled the adaptation and replication of Wave 1 solutions in two Twinning LLs in Barcelona and Karlsruhe [Wave 2 LLs], demonstrating their own solutions.
URBANE’s commitment to upscaling is further strengthened by the engagement of six early adopters (Follower Cities) in iadoption feasibility studies, thus stimulating the formulation of new LL communities. The scale-up effort is further leveraged through the City Platform led by POLIS promoting results in 17 more cities across Europe.
The approach employs social simulation tools to experiment with possible strategies and business models, aiming at boosting end-user adoption and increase investors’ confidence.
Hands-on learning at European level is facilitated by the URBANE Innovation Transferability Platform underpinned by Digital Twinning Tools, open models, smart contracts governed by blockchain technology and a data-driven Impact Assessment Radar. Together, these tools enabled the adaptation and replication of Wave 1 solutions in two Twinning LLs in Barcelona and Karlsruhe [Wave 2 LLs], demonstrating their own solutions.
URBANE’s commitment to upscaling is further strengthened by the engagement of six early adopters (Follower Cities) in iadoption feasibility studies, thus stimulating the formulation of new LL communities. The scale-up effort is further leveraged through the City Platform led by POLIS promoting results in 17 more cities across Europe.
The approach employs social simulation tools to experiment with possible strategies and business models, aiming at boosting end-user adoption and increase investors’ confidence.
Motivated by the objective of achieving a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions, the project has developed the URBANE Transferability Platform. This platform facilitates the replication and scaling up of smart, green last-mile delivery solutions, proven effective in the Living Labs, to other EU cities. During the second reporting period, the project partners have:
• Delivered Wave 1 LL demonstrators showcasing innovative and collaborative models for last-mile logistics (Bologna, Thessaloniki, Valladolid and Helsinki) and documented lessons learned and recommendations for replication.
• Deployed the transferability platform comprising a Blockchain-enabled Smart Contract Generator, a Simulation Engine, a new front-end application (CitIQore) and the Impact Assessment Radar. The backbone of the Digital Twin simulation engine employs a library of 11 reusable models to support various what-if and optimisation scenarios. 8 models have been developed in the URBANE project and 3 have been adapted from the LEAD project. The CitIQore application has been built to improve the use of Digital Twin Tools by city stakeholders with limited knowledge of modelling and covers three major interventions: last-mile delivery with ADVs, Collaborative logistics between last-mile delivery operators and last-mile delivery with e-bikes.
• Organised 3 Open Innovation days in Bologna, Helsinki and Karlsruhe, engaging citizens and business stakeholders.
• Measured Wave 1 interventions’ impact following the impact assessment methodology, demonstrating efficiencies and the decarbonisation potential of scaling up the innovative solutions.
• Demonstrated the transferability potential of Wave 1 LLs solutions in Wave 2&3 LLs, identifying areas of improvement and generalisation.
• Consolidated feedback from the Advisory Board and informed project activities (e.g. improved the friendliness of the platform through the CitiQore front-end application).
• Engaged Cities in following the project development towards adopting innovative models through the City Platform, scaling from 15 in RP1 to 32 members (17 cities non-consortium members).
• Strengthened collaboration and liaison actions with sister projects and the CIVITAS forum towards amplifying impact, aligning KPIs and promoting interoperability of tools.
• Populated the PI observatory with content to support the project exploitation activities and sustain it as part of URBANE's legacy.
• Promoted the project in 21 events and published 8 scientific articles.
• Have identified 3 potential innovations to be patented.
• Delivered Wave 1 LL demonstrators showcasing innovative and collaborative models for last-mile logistics (Bologna, Thessaloniki, Valladolid and Helsinki) and documented lessons learned and recommendations for replication.
• Deployed the transferability platform comprising a Blockchain-enabled Smart Contract Generator, a Simulation Engine, a new front-end application (CitIQore) and the Impact Assessment Radar. The backbone of the Digital Twin simulation engine employs a library of 11 reusable models to support various what-if and optimisation scenarios. 8 models have been developed in the URBANE project and 3 have been adapted from the LEAD project. The CitIQore application has been built to improve the use of Digital Twin Tools by city stakeholders with limited knowledge of modelling and covers three major interventions: last-mile delivery with ADVs, Collaborative logistics between last-mile delivery operators and last-mile delivery with e-bikes.
• Organised 3 Open Innovation days in Bologna, Helsinki and Karlsruhe, engaging citizens and business stakeholders.
• Measured Wave 1 interventions’ impact following the impact assessment methodology, demonstrating efficiencies and the decarbonisation potential of scaling up the innovative solutions.
• Demonstrated the transferability potential of Wave 1 LLs solutions in Wave 2&3 LLs, identifying areas of improvement and generalisation.
• Consolidated feedback from the Advisory Board and informed project activities (e.g. improved the friendliness of the platform through the CitiQore front-end application).
• Engaged Cities in following the project development towards adopting innovative models through the City Platform, scaling from 15 in RP1 to 32 members (17 cities non-consortium members).
• Strengthened collaboration and liaison actions with sister projects and the CIVITAS forum towards amplifying impact, aligning KPIs and promoting interoperability of tools.
• Populated the PI observatory with content to support the project exploitation activities and sustain it as part of URBANE's legacy.
• Promoted the project in 21 events and published 8 scientific articles.
• Have identified 3 potential innovations to be patented.
URBANE drives innovation in shared, connected and low-emission logistics operations by focusing on 1. Sustainability - Zero Emission Logistics aiming at 20% reduction in CO2 emissions), 2. Enhancing collaborative logistics to streamline the supply chain, 3. Combining automation and shared logistics infrastructure to implement the Physical Internet in urban deliveries.
Indicative advancements of the project beyond the state of the art include innovative interventions at several levels:
1. Business, Operations, Governance:
- Co-development of innovative and open operational models in the Wave 1 LLs.
- Demonstrating PI-inspired interventions in Urban Logistics operations, implying the establishment of collaborative business models and Public-Private partnerships.
2 Digital infrastructure, automation & technology enablers
- Enhancing collaboration among the last mile logistics stakeholders through smart contracts supported by Blockchain technology and delivering a smart contract generator to facilitate easier setup of smart contracts in other city logistics communities.
- Delivering the Innovation Transferability platform, simulation tools and models for enhancing the replicability of innovations across EU.
- Impact Assessment Radar to support new measures planning.
3. Pysical infrastructure and innovative vehicles:
- Piloting several new services on the city's physical layer including Autonomous Delivery Vehicles (ADVs) assisted operations, Micro-hubs networks and light EDVs, electric vehicles with solar panels, Hub and Spoke delivery models, Intermodal solutions combining ADVs with rail-based parcel movement, Automated routing and open RFID solution for efficient parcel handling.
4. Social Innovation
- Empowering citizens active engagement by including local communities in co-designing innovative solutions in LLs with the use of surveys monitoring consumer behaviors, needs, and opinions.
Indicative advancements of the project beyond the state of the art include innovative interventions at several levels:
1. Business, Operations, Governance:
- Co-development of innovative and open operational models in the Wave 1 LLs.
- Demonstrating PI-inspired interventions in Urban Logistics operations, implying the establishment of collaborative business models and Public-Private partnerships.
2 Digital infrastructure, automation & technology enablers
- Enhancing collaboration among the last mile logistics stakeholders through smart contracts supported by Blockchain technology and delivering a smart contract generator to facilitate easier setup of smart contracts in other city logistics communities.
- Delivering the Innovation Transferability platform, simulation tools and models for enhancing the replicability of innovations across EU.
- Impact Assessment Radar to support new measures planning.
3. Pysical infrastructure and innovative vehicles:
- Piloting several new services on the city's physical layer including Autonomous Delivery Vehicles (ADVs) assisted operations, Micro-hubs networks and light EDVs, electric vehicles with solar panels, Hub and Spoke delivery models, Intermodal solutions combining ADVs with rail-based parcel movement, Automated routing and open RFID solution for efficient parcel handling.
4. Social Innovation
- Empowering citizens active engagement by including local communities in co-designing innovative solutions in LLs with the use of surveys monitoring consumer behaviors, needs, and opinions.