In the city of Amsterdam commercial transport is responsible for 15% of vehicles, 34% of traffic’s CO2 emissions and 62% of NOx emissions. The City of Amsterdam plans to improve traffic flows using real time traffic data and data about loading and unloading zones. In this paper, we present, reflect, and discuss the results of two projects from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences with research partners from 2016 till 2018. The ITSLOG and Sailor projects aim to analyze and test the benefits and challenges of connecting ITS and traffic management to urban freight transport, by using real-time data about loading and unloading zone availability for rerouting trucks. New technologies were developed and tested in collaboration with local authorities, transport companies and a food retailer. This paper presents and discusses the opportunities and challenges faced in developing and implementing this new technology, as well as the role played by different stakeholders. In both projects, the human factor was critical for the implementation of new technologies in practice.
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How can transport and land-use transitions in urban regions be understood and supported? This question is increasingly relevant for researchers and policy makers alike given the growing urgency of sustainability issues confronting cities and the limited improvements can be observed despite continued policy attention, for example Transit-oriented development policies. To tackle this question, this thesis draws on theories and concepts from transition studies. This has led to a richer conceptualisation of transitions and the extent to which policy makers can actively influence them. Transport and land-use transitions can be seen as resulting from the interaction between established and novel structures and practices and exogenous developments. In historic case studies carried out in Munich and Zürich, we see that in transitions that have taken place troubles, or difficulties that people experience in their daily lives, play an important role in focusing political debates. In the process of reaching consensus regarding problems and solutions, interest groups, coalition building and both implicit and explicit societal rules open to conflict and supportive of its resolution play a pivotal role. To aid in supporting transition attempts, a reflexive planning approach has been developed and tested in the region of Amsterdam. The breadth of the focus in this approach in terms of developments considered and actors involved resulted in potential solutions that differed from traditional policy in terms of innovativeness and the extent of support for them.
The Dutch Environmental Vision and Mobility Vision 2050 promote climate-neutral urban growth around public transport stations, envisioning them as vibrant hubs for mobility, community, and economy. However, redevelopment often increases construction, a major CO₂ contributor. Dutch practice-led projects like 'Carbon Based Urbanism', 'MooiNL - Practical guide to urban node development', and 'Paris Proof Stations' explore integrating spatial and environmental requirements through design. Design Professionals seek collaborative methods and tools to better understand how can carbon knowledge and skills be effectively integrated into station area development projects, in architecture and urban design approaches. Redeveloping mobility hubs requires multi-stakeholder negotiations involving city planners, developers, and railway managers. Designers act as facilitators of the process, enabling urban and decarbonization transitions. CARB-HUB explores how co-creation methods can help spatial design processes balance mobility, attractiveness, and carbon neutrality across multiple stakeholders. The key outputs are: 1- Serious Game for Co-Creation, which introduces an assessment method for evaluating the potential of station locations, referred to as the 4P value framework. 2-Design Toolkit for Decarbonization, featuring a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to guide sustainable development. 3- Research Bid for the DUT–Driving Urban Transitions Program, focusing on the 15-minute City Transition Pathway. 4- Collaborative Network dedicated to promoting a low-carbon design approach. The 4P value framework offers a comprehensive method for assessing the redevelopment potential of station areas, focusing on four key dimensions: People, which considers user experience and accessibility; Position, which examines the station's role within the broader transport network; Place-making, which looks at how well the station integrates into its surrounding urban environment; and Planet, which addresses decarbonization and climate adaptation. CARB-HUB uses real cases of Dutch stations in transition as testbeds. By translating abstract environmental goals into tangible spatial solutions, CARB-HUB enables scenario-based planning, engaging designers, policymakers, infrastructure managers, and environmental advocates.
To reach the European Green Deal by 2050, the target for the road transport sector is set at 30% less CO2 emissions by 2030. Given the fact that heavy-duty commercial vehicles throughout Europe are driven nowadays almost exclusively on fossil fuels it is obvious that transition towards reduced emission targets needs to happen seamlessly by hybridization of the existing fleet, with a continuously increasing share of Zero Emission vehicle units. At present, trailing units such as semitrailers do not possess any form of powertrain, being a missed opportunity. By introduction of electrically driven axles into these units the fuel consumption as well as amount of emissions may be reduced substantially while part of the propulsion forces is being supplied on emission-free basis. Furthermore, the electrification of trailing units enables partial recuperation of kinetic energy while braking. Nevertheless, a number of challenges still exist preventing swift integration of these vehicles to daily operation. One of the dominating ones is the intelligent control of the e-axle so it delivers right amount of propulsion/braking power at the right time without receiving detailed information from the towing vehicle (such as e.g. driver control, engine speed, engine torque, or brake pressure, …etc.). This is required mainly to ensure interoperability of e-Trailers in the fleets, which is a must in the logistics nowadays. Therefore the main mission of CHANGE is to generate a chain of knowledge in developing and implementing data driven AI-based applications enabling SMEs of the Dutch trailer industry to contribute to seamless energetic transition towards zero emission road freight transport. In specific, CHANGE will employ e-Trailers (trailers with electrically driven axle(s) enabling energy recuperation) connected to conventional hauling units as well as trailers for high volume and extreme payload as focal platforms (demonstrators) for deployment of these applications.
"Box-achtige” sandwichproducten komen veelvuldig voor in de mobiliteits- en logistiektoepassingen o.a. vanwege hun lichte gewicht en stijfheid. Denk hierbij aan elektrische “thuisbezorg-autootjes”, lichte bestelwagens en trailers (paardentransport) en transportkisten. Deze producten bestaan in hun huidige vorm uit stijve en lichte wanden (vaak composiet sandwichpanelen) die samengesteld worden met randverstijving en brackets: veelal aluminium inkoopdelen. De verbindingstechnologie bestaat uit verlijming, boutverbindingen of klinknageltechnologie. De product is vaak een Multi-Material Solution en hierdoor moeilijk te recyclen. De toekomstige Europese wetgeving 2030 (Green Deal) dwingt de bedrijven die deze boxen anders te ontwerpen en produceren, en na te denken over “End of Life” consequenties. Hierbij is vooral de inzet van te hergebruiken of recyclen van materialen.. Voor de bedrijven betekent dit onder andere: kan ik de panelen hergebruiken ‘as is’ of moeten deze panelen omgezet worden naar een soort van grondstofvorm (bijvoorbeeld ‘flakes’), welke wederom voor een hoogwaardige toepassing kunnen worden ingezet. En welke technologieën (inclusief procesautomatisering) zijn daarvoor van toepassing. Het huidige project, een samenwerking tussen bedrijven, hogeschool en brancheorganisatie, richt zich op bovenstaande vragen. Het spitst zich vooral toe op de circulariteit van deze ‘box-achtige’ sandwichproducten en doet onderzoek naar het hergebruik of recycling van de gebruikte thermoplastische sandwichpanelen en de demontage/assemblage-technieken daarvoor. Het project start bij de classificering van het recyclaat uit sandwichpanelen en het kwalificeren van de verschillende grondstof vormen. Vervolgens wordt gekeken hoe deze materialen, al in een vroeg stadium in het ontwerpproces kunnen worden meegenomen. De verschillende materiaal verschijningsvormen zullen vervolgens via dit (her-)ontwerp in een demonstrator worden ondergebracht. Dit op basis van diverse productieprocessen, procescondities, andere randvoorwaarden. Tenslotte zal de economische haalbaarheid worden bestudeerd met aandacht voor businessmodellen rondom integratie van recycling in de bestaande productie en/of aangevuld met automatisering. Naar inschatting gaat het in West-Europese om een verbruik van circa 12,5 km2/jaar.
