23/05/11
Newsletter - final issue available
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29/03/11
SMARTFREIGHT Final Conference video available (20 mins)
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29/03/11
SMARTFREIGHT Fact Sheets available
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Staten hus, Prinsens gate 1 Trondheim, Norway

Freight transport has often been neglected in urban traffic management. Though it is very important for the business and life of a city, commercial traffic has never been given much attention in the transport planning process. Traffic congestion, scarcity of loading and unloading bays in city centres, sub-optimal delivery routes and too little use of back-loading, negatively influence its efficiency. In addition, freight transport accounts for environmental problems and traffic congestion, as well as safety concerns.

Over the last three years, SMARTFREIGHT, a research project co-funded by the European Commission, has developed a new concept to integrate urban traffic management systems with the management of freight and logistics in urban areas. Building on the cooperative technology developed in European projects such as CVIS, ICT solutions have been assessed to allow bi-directional wireless communication with individual freight vehicles, so operations can be better supported and controlled. This new concept could lead to a more efficient, environmentally friendly and safer urban freight transport.

In order to evaluate the SMARTFREIGHT potential, the city of Trondheim provided a dedicated technical test site, while simulations took place in Winchester and Bologna, and a desktop study was carried out in Dublin. In addition, different European and local key stakeholders were consulted throughout the project.

This final conference highlighted the new SMARTFREIGHT solutions and illustrated several possible applications. Thanks to the unique location of the event, a demonstration showed in practice how the ICT infrastructure set in Trondheim can eventually be used to better coordinate urban and freight management systems.

Downloads:

• Technical visit video (External link, 20 minutes)
• Agenda
• Demonstration handout

• Urban Freight Distribution: Main needs and views of freight operators and local authorities - Fraser McLeod, University of Southampton (pdf, 993Kb)
• The European Commission ICT Programme: Towards innovative solutions for city logistics - Wolfgang B. Höfs, European Commission (pdf, 436Kb)
• An integrated solution for city logistics: Overview of the SMARTFREIGHT project - Hans Westerheim, SMARTFREIGHT Coordinator, SINTEF (pdf, 545Kb)
• SMARTFREIGHT in real life: Introduction to the site visit - Ola Martin Lykkja, Q-Free (pdf, 2Mb)
• How does SMARTFREIGHT actually work? The Trondheim case - Tor K. Moseng, SINTEF and Ola Martin Lykkja, Q-Free (pdf, 2.9Mb)
• How to apply SMARTFREIGHT in different contexts and situations? A presentation of possible scenarios - Stig Franzén, Chalmers University (pdf, 782Kb)
• A case study in Bologna - Stig Franzén, Chalmers University (pdf, 4.6Mb)
• A simulation of loading bay booking in Winchester - Fraser McLeod, University of Southampton (pdf, 1Mb)
• Wider issues: Views from industry on 'Smart' freight concept in Dublin - Eoin Farrell, National Transportation Authority, Dublin (pdf, 946Kb)
• Key issues and implications - Stig Franzén, Chalmers University (pdf, 406Kb)
• SMARTFREIGHT Final Conference Panel Debate (pdf, 71Kb)

04-05/11/2010
3rd European Conference on ICT for Transport Logistics (ECITL), Bremen
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13-14/10/2010
SMARTFREIGHT Final Conference, Trondheim
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08-10/09/2010
Logistics Research Network Conference, Harrogate
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Past events
can be viewed here