Assessing Long-Term Impacts of Automation on Freight Transport and Logistics Networks: Large-Scale LRP Integrated in Microscopic Transport Simulation

Abstract

Up to now, bulk transports have been carried out via a hub-and-spoke network in the general cargo sector. However, it is expected that the use of autonomous vehicles will enable a more flexible delivery. Such developments may, economically, make sense for shippers. From an ecological point of view, also negative effects can be expected due to enhanced transport performance. For this reason, in the framework of the research project "Digitalisation in transport sector" funded by Federal Environment Agency, we investigate the impacts of automation on general cargo transport at the logistics network level as well as the resulting economic and ecological effects. For assessing the impacts of autonomous vehicles on logistics network structures and on freight transport routes ex-ante, an instrument for strategic transport and logistics network planning is needed. We develop an efficient meta-heuristic to find new facilities and adjust the network, while thereby considering the routing characteristics by tackling the large-scale location routing problem i.e. LRP. By the linked approach, we can estimate the exact logistics network and coordinates and measure exact transport distances, driving transport lead times and number of necessary vehicles on the infrastructure network. In the framework of the case study food retail distribution in Germany, we operationalize this approach and evaluate the new optimized network as well as investigate the logistics effects. In fact, this research reveals that the utilization of autonomous vehicles significantly enhances transportation ranges, and the number of tours, while reducing the number of operating facilities. Other impacts such as shifting towards a more direct transportation mode choice have also been observed due to the reorganized network.