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The increasing traffic and goods flows in urban areas are due to an increasing share of urban logistics as well as modern mobility needs and behaviour patterns of citizens in cities. In September 2017, the USEfUL research project was launched, in which various solutions for urban logistics are tested and evaluated in simulations. In particular, the analysis of the current situation of urban economic transport serves as a basis.
With the simulation of various logistics concepts in representative pilot quarters in Hanover, the respective effects on traffic and the environment are analysed and evaluated - also with regard to their economic efficiency and customer acceptance. The results can be transferred to other municipalities by adapting parameters such as population, building structure or traffic volume. Based on the modelling and simulation of traffic and goods flows, urban logistics solutions for goods and services can be analysed and evaluated.
In this research project, a web application is being developed with which logistics concepts can be simulated and optimised, and their effects on city life and overall traffic can be demonstrated. The project should do justice to its acronym and be "useful": Politicians and municipalities in particular will use the web application to identify effective measures according to their defined sustainability goals. With the implementation of the identified logistics concepts, the inner-city logistics should, for example, become quieter and exhibit lower pollutant emissions. This could make cities more liveable for their citizens*. Another focus of the project group is to achieve the goal set by the EU to make urban logistics as CO2-free as possible by 2030.
◾ Project management and external presentation are the responsibility of the City of Hannover. The networking of the individual projects as well as internal and external communication are controlled from there.
◾ Leibniz Universität Hannover is responsible for the analysis of urban commercial traffic and the identification of pilot districts. With the participation of the residents, the needs with regard to the mobility offers and demands of urban logistics are determined and categorised.
◾ The development of a traffic simulation is the task of the TU Braunschweig and the Hochschule Hannover. The analysed data will be translated into suitable simulations.
◾ Scenario analyses are the basis for new logistics concepts at Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts. These are developed on the basis of the results of the simulations to the actual situation and scenarios or extended from existing beginnings.
◾ The web application for decision support of municipalities is developed under the responsibility of Leibniz University, prepared for real operation and published.