CARTA – mapping CARgo Type usage in urban freight generAtion

Urban freight transport sustains the economy and urban lifestyles, but at a high internal and external cost for transport companies, society and the environment. Research is needed, yet it is hindered by a lack of data and by transport demand models with limited predictive power. These models are based on the number of trips, vehicles or volumes, whereas freight transport is organised according to cargo types, such as pallets and containers. CARTA proposes to use cargo types as a parameter for research. This is novel and constitutes a theoretical contribution, which will be demonstrated through a literature review. Subsequently, the urban use of cargo types will be mapped. We identify the actors who decide which cargo types are used and the actors who are able to monitor and report this usage. Both groups will be surveyed: on the one hand through a concise online questionnaire followed by a workshop, and on the other hand through a uniform large-scale survey that allows for spatial and statistical analysis at city level. This transport demand will form the input for transport models that enable policy and system assessments. CARTA will develop the basic architecture for an agent-based simulation model that incorporates cargo type usage. Verification, external validation and expected outcomes will be quantified in collaboration with international experts.