Research Projects

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Research Projects

METRANS
STATUS: Complete YEAR: 2018 TOPIC AREA: E-commerce and urban freight Freight logistics and optimization CENTER: PSR

Automation, Electrification, and Shared Mobility in Freight

Project Summary

Project number: PSR-18-24
Funding source: Caltrans
Contract number: 65A0674 Task Order 009
Funding amount: $35,392
Performance period: 2/1/2019 to 1/31/2020

Project description

Understanding the potential benefits and unintended consequences of automation and electrification revolutions in freight is challenging for academics, practitioners, and decision-makers. On one hand, these revolutions could help mitigate the disproportionate impacts of freight transportation on externalities and improve efficiency; on the other hand, they could generate additional issues such as right-of-way conflicts, crashes, and traffic incidents. To shed light on these issues, this report conducts an extensive review of the state-of-the-practice of such innovations for both long-haul and last-mile freight distribution. The study concentrates on the potential barriers, challenges, and opportunities of the different innovations, and discusses the market readiness of some of the technologies. Finally, the authors discuss planning considerations for the advent and widespread use of these innovations, and provide research and policy considerations.

P.I. NAME & ADDRESS

Miguel Jaller
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Institute of Transportation Studies
2001 Ghausi Hall, Room 3143Davis, CA 95616
United States
mjaller at ucdavis.edu