Published December 15, 2025 | Version v1
Journal article Open

LOGISTICS-DRIVEN RETAIL CLUSTERING FOR OPTIMAL URBAN CONSOLIDATION CENTER PLACEMENT

Contributors

Description

 Urban freight transport is vital for city logistics but also contributes to congestion and environmental issues. Urban Consolidation Centers (UCCs) offer a promising way to streamline last-mile deliveries and reduce these impacts. This research aims to determine the optimal location for UCCs by first identifying clusters of retail stores within an urban area. These clusters form the basis for selecting the most suitable UCC sites. The research includes defining clustering criteria for logistics optimization, developing related mathematical models, creating a real-data-based case study, coding the method in Python, selecting UCCs based on clusters, and evaluating the clustering criteria. The findings will support more efficient and sustainable urban logistics.

Files

05 Bányai T Ungaria.pdf

Files (1.9 MB)

Name Size
md5:8fbc747dc8376eae0e140ae14ddc338b
1.9 MB Preview Download

Additional details

Software

Repository URL
https://www.ajme.ro
Development Status
Active

References

  • [1] Binh, N.T.; Huong, T.T.T. (2024). Factors affecting public support for the development of urban consolidation center: The case of Hanoi city, Vietnam. Research in Transportation Business & Management, 57, 101220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2024.101220 [2] Akgün, E.Z.; Monios, J.; Cowie, J.; Fonzone, A. (2024). The retailer perspective on the potential for using urban consolidation centres (UCCs). Research in Transportation Economics, 103, 101413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2024.101413 [3] Thiemermann, A.; Holthaus, T.; Mayregger, P.; Leerkamp, B. (2024). Locations of LTL-logistics service providers as urban consolidation centers–the Dusseldorf case and its possible transferability. Transportation Planning and Technology, https://doi.org/10.1080/03081060.2024.2420272 [4] Crotti, D.; Maggi, E. (2023). Social Responsibility and Urban Consolidation Centres in Sustainable Freight Transport Markets. Italian Economic Journal, 9, 829–850. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40797-022-00204-4 [5] Dupas, R.; Deschamps, J.-C.; Taniguchi, E.; Qureshi, A.G.; Hsu, T. (2023). Optimizing the location selection of urban consolidation centers with sustainability considerations in the city of Bordeaux. Research in Transportation Business & Management, 47, 100943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2022.100943 [6] Mepparambath, R.M.; Cheah, L.; Zegras, P.C.; Alho, A.R.; Sakai, T. (2023). Evaluating the Impact of Urban Consolidation Center and Off-Hour Deliveries on Freight Flows to a Retail District Using Agent-Based Simulation. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2677, 264–281. https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981221092385 [7] Giampoldaki, E.; Madas, M.; Zeimpekis, V.; Vlachopoulou, M. (2023). A state-of-practice review of urban consolidation centres: practical insights and future challenges. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 26, 732–763. https://doi.org/10.1080/13675567.2021.1972950 [8] Friedrich, C.; Elbert, R. (2022). Urban consolidation centers and city toll schemes–Investigating the impact of city tolls on transshipment decisions. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 164, 102782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2022.102782 [9] Arrieta-Prieto, M.; Ismael, A.; Rivera-Gonzalez, C.; Mitchell, J.E. (2022). Location of urban micro-consolidation centers to reduce the social cost of last-mile deliveries of cargo: A heuristic approach. Networks, 79, 292–313. https://doi.org/10.1002/net.22076 [10] Dreischerf, A.J.; Buijs, P. (2022). How Urban Consolidation Centres affect distribution networks: An empirical investigation from the perspective of suppliers. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 10, 518–528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2022.01.012 [11] Rudolph, C.; Nsamzinshuti, A.; Bonsu, S.; Ndiaye, A.B.; Rigo, N. (2022). Localization of Relevant Urban Micro-Consolidation Centers for Last-Mile Cargo Bike Delivery Based on Real Demand Data and City Characteristics. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2676, 365–375. https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981211036351 [12] 3 versions of k-Means: A short visual guide to the 3 implementations of k-Means. URL: https://medium.com/data-science/three-versions-of-k-means-cf939b65f4ea Accessed: 12/04/2025