The Impact of Underground Logistics System on Urban Sustainable Development: A System Dynamics Approach

Abstract

The lack of practical application and accurate benefit analysis, which are the prerequisites for each other, make it difficult to implement and promote the underground logistics system (ULS), although in theory people always recognize its advantages in sustainable improvement of urban transportation and logistics. This paper attempts to use the system dynamics (SD) method, based on the real-world simulation, to analyze the quantitative relationship between the implementation strategy of ULS and the sustainability of urban transportation and logistics to solve this problem. Beijing city, China, was selected as the empirical background. Four ULS implementation strategies were proposed according to the city's potential investment in ULS and its demand for ULS network capacity. Meanwhile, four representative indicators were selected to evaluate the simulation results, including the average speed of the road networks in the peak hour, congestion loss, delivery travel time in the peak hour and the PM emissions of the truck. Good fitting index of historical data shows the validity of the model. Simulation results show that ULS, as a supplement to the urban integrated transport system, can significantly improve urban traffic and logistics. This study provides a perspective in the systematic and quantitative analysis of ULS to support the urban sustainable development.

A Systematic Literature Review of Green and Sustainable Logistics: Bibliometric Analysis, Research Trend and Knowledge Taxonomy

“…ULS can be designed as a network form connecting urban logistics parks and last-mile delivery, or a dedicated underground container line established between seaports and urban gateways, leading to huge environmental and social benefits (e.g., energy-saving, accidents and congestion mitigation and improving urban logistics capacity, etc.) [114]. So far, the technological feasibility of several ULS projects was acknowledged, yet the large-scale implementation has not started due to the relatively high construction cost and low public awareness [5].…”

Communication Barrier, Spillover Effect and Industrial-Technological Innovation

“…PCG depends on CB, because different levels of communication will directly affect the type and depth of information acquisitions [5,51], as well as the PCG shown in Equation (8).The FCFR is regulated by CB, and higher CB reduce the frequency of communication between firms, where the FCFR shown in Equation 9. FCF is determined by the PCG and FCFR, more frequent communication and greater differences will bring a stronger sense of crisis, the FCF as shown in Equation 10…”

“…[4]. It is worth mentioning that the low level of industrial technology is one of the reasons [5]. The development model of China's low-edge manufacturing industry which relied on importing and imitating other countries' technology has been unsustainable [6].…”

“…Under the open environment, the communication between innovation subjects is becoming more frequent, and the path of cooperation affecting innovation has gradually become an academic hot issue [11]. Technology communication and spillover are the main ways of ITI [5,12]. However, no consensus has been reached on the effects between technology…”

Logistic Modeling of the Last Mile: Case Study Santiago, Chile

“…According to Ranieri et al [1] sometimes, social or economic activities of a group of people have an impact in other groups (pedestrian concentration, vehicles, trucks, and bicycles) with different interests; the concentration of these agents generates indirect costs or negative externalities. On the other hand, authors such as [2] supported by the economic theory, state that the costs of the activities fall on individuals other than the agents that generate them. This implies that the costs generated on third parties are not compensated by those responsible for their generation; being of social interest generating mechanisms that allow achieving compensations.…”