IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i9p7535-d1139309.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Freight Distribution in Small Islands: Integration between Naval Services and Parcel Lockers

Author

Listed:
  • Massimo Di Gangi

    (Department of Engineering, University of Messina, Contr. di Dio—Villaggio S. Agata, 98166 Messina, Italy)

  • Antonio Polimeni

    (Department of Engineering, University of Messina, Contr. di Dio—Villaggio S. Agata, 98166 Messina, Italy)

  • Orlando Marco Belcore

    (Department of Engineering, University of Messina, Contr. di Dio—Villaggio S. Agata, 98166 Messina, Italy)

Abstract

Freight transportation in urban areas represents an essential activity from the standpoint of economic development; in recent years, the spread of e-commerce (also accelerated by COVID-19) has contributed to increasing the demand for freight distribution over short distances. In most cities, the approaches and measures are often based on new technologies. Nevertheless, today there are contexts wherein delivery operations represent critical tasks to be solved. Furthermore, low accessibility areas, such as small islands, present further problems due to their exclusive dependence on maritime links (and often low-reliability services). This paper tackles this topic, formulating and solving a distribution problem by linking shipping services with last-mile distribution operated by means of an automatic delivery service (parcel lockers). A test application is proposed by considering the small island of Lipari in the archipelago of the Aeolian islands (Sicily, Southern Italy). The results show that such a type of service could reduce the user’s waiting time when compared to traditional home deliveries.

Suggested Citation

  • Massimo Di Gangi & Antonio Polimeni & Orlando Marco Belcore, 2023. "Freight Distribution in Small Islands: Integration between Naval Services and Parcel Lockers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:9:p:7535-:d:1139309
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/9/7535/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/9/7535/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marisdea Castiglione & Antonio Comi & Rosita De Vincentis & Andreea Dumitru & Marialisa Nigro, 2022. "Delivering in Urban Areas: A Probabilistic-Behavioral Approach for Forecasting the Use of Electric Micromobility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Zhen-Hua Che & Tzu-An Chiang & Yun-Jhen Luo, 2022. "Multiobjective Optimization for Planning the Service Areas of Smart Parcel Locker Facilities in Logistics Last Mile Delivery," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-22, January.
    3. Jan Mikula & Miroslav Kulich, 2022. "Solving the traveling delivery person problem with limited computational time," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 30(4), pages 1451-1481, December.
    4. Russo, Francesco & Comi, Antonio, 2011. "A model system for the ex-ante assessment of city logistics measures," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 81-87.
    5. Matthias Prandtstetter & Clovis Seragiotto & Johannes Braith & Sandra Eitler & Bernhard Ennser & Georg Hauger & Nina Hohenecker & Reinhold Schodl & Matthias Steinbauer, 2021. "On the Impact of Open Parcel Lockers on Traffic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    6. Ido Orenstein & Tal Raviv & Elad Sadan, 2019. "Flexible parcel delivery to automated parcel lockers: models, solution methods and analysis," EURO Journal on Transportation and Logistics, Springer;EURO - The Association of European Operational Research Societies, vol. 8(5), pages 683-711, December.
    7. Schaefer, Jaclyn S. & Figliozzi, Miguel A., 2021. "Spatial accessibility and equity analysis of Amazon parcel lockers facilities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    8. Musolino, Giuseppe & Rindone, Corrado & Polimeni, Antonio & Vitetta, Antonino, 2019. "Planning urban distribution center location with variable restocking demand scenarios: General methodology and testing in a medium-size town," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 157-166.
    9. dos Santos, André Gustavo & Viana, Ana & Pedroso, João Pedro, 2022. "2-echelon lastmile delivery with lockers and occasional couriers," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    10. Lachapelle, Ugo & Burke, Matthew & Brotherton, Aiden & Leung, Abraham, 2018. "Parcel locker systems in a car dominant city: Location, characterisation and potential impacts on city planning and consumer travel access," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 1-14.
    11. Hwang, Jinsoo & Kim, Jinkyung Jenny & Lee, Kwang-Woo, 2021. "Investigating consumer innovativeness in the context of drone food delivery services: Its impact on attitude and behavioral intentions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    12. Hyun Sang An & Arim Park & Ju Myung Song & Christina Chung, 2022. "Consumers’ adoption of parcel locker service: protection and technology perspectives," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(1), pages 2144096-214, December.
    13. Shichang Pan & Lele Zhang & Russell G. Thompson & Hadi Ghaderi, 2021. "A parcel network flow approach for joint delivery networks using parcel lockers," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 59(7), pages 2090-2115, April.
    14. G. B. Dantzig & J. H. Ramser, 1959. "The Truck Dispatching Problem," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 6(1), pages 80-91, October.
    15. Yael Deutsch & Boaz Golany, 2018. "A parcel locker network as a solution to the logistics last mile problem," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(1-2), pages 251-261, January.
    16. Yuen, Kum Fai & Wang, Xueqin & Ma, Fei & Wong, Yiik Diew, 2019. "The determinants of customers’ intention to use smart lockers for last-mile deliveries," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 316-326.
    17. Lin, Yunhui & Wang, Yuan & Lee, Loo Hay & Chew, Ek Peng, 2022. "Profit-maximizing parcel locker location problem under threshold Luce model," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    18. Moccia, Luigi & Laporte, Gilbert, 2016. "Improved models for technology choice in a transit corridor with fixed demand," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 245-270.
    19. Fessler, Andreas & Cash, Philip & Thorhauge, Mikkel & Haustein, Sonja, 2023. "A public transport based crowdshipping concept: Results of a field test in Denmark," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 106-118.
    20. Ghaderi, Hadi & Zhang, Lele & Tsai, Pei-Wei & Woo, Jihoon, 2022. "Crowdsourced last-mile delivery with parcel lockers," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    21. Francesco Russo & Antonio Comi, 2020. "Investigating the Effects of City Logistics Measures on the Economy of the City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-11, February.
    22. Toth, Paolo & Vigo, Daniele, 1999. "A heuristic algorithm for the symmetric and asymmetric vehicle routing problems with backhauls," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 113(3), pages 528-543, March.
    23. Tang, Yuk Ming & Chau, Ka Yin & Xu, Duo & Liu, Xiaoyun, 2021. "Consumer perceptions to support IoT based smart parcel locker logistics in China," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    24. Schwerdfeger, Stefan & Boysen, Nils, 2020. "Optimizing the changing locations of mobile parcel lockers in last-mile distribution," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 285(3), pages 1077-1094.
    25. Gabriele Iannaccone & Edoardo Marcucci & Valerio Gatta, 2021. "What Young E-Consumers Want? Forecasting Parcel Lockers Choice in Rome," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-16, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Rafael Villa & Marta Serrano & Tomás García & Gema González, 2023. "To Green or Not to Green: The E-Commerce-Delivery Question," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-21, August.
    2. Francesco Russo & Antonio Comi, 2023. "Urban Courier Delivery in a Smart City: The User Learning Process of Travel Costs Enhanced by Emerging Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-12, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Leung, Abraham & Lachapelle, Ugo & Burke, Matthew, 2023. "Spatio-temporal analysis of Australia Post parcel locker use during the initial system growth phase in Queensland (2013–2017)," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    2. Kahr, Michael, 2022. "Determining locations and layouts for parcel lockers to support supply chain viability at the last mile," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    3. Leise Kelli de Oliveira & Isabela Kopperschmidt de Oliveira & João Guilherme da Costa Braga França & Gustavo Wagner Nunes Balieiro & Jean Francisco Cardoso & Tiago Bogo & Diego Bogo & Marco Adriano Li, 2022. "Integrating Freight and Public Transport Terminals Infrastructure by Locating Lockers: Analysing a Feasible Solution for a Medium-Sized Brazilian Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-16, August.
    4. Mancini, Simona & Gansterer, Margaretha & Triki, Chefi, 2023. "Locker box location planning under uncertainty in demand and capacity availability," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    5. Grazyna Chaberek, 2021. "The Possibility of Reducing Individual Motorised Traffic through the Location of Collection Points Using the Example of Gdańsk, Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-12, September.
    6. Zang, Xiaoning & Jiang, Li & Liang, Changyong & Fang, Xiang, 2023. "Coordinated home and locker deliveries: An exact approach for the urban delivery problem with conflicting time windows," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    7. Nils Boysen & Stefan Fedtke & Stefan Schwerdfeger, 2021. "Last-mile delivery concepts: a survey from an operational research perspective," OR Spectrum: Quantitative Approaches in Management, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research e.V., vol. 43(1), pages 1-58, March.
    8. Lin, Yunhui & Wang, Yuan & Lee, Loo Hay & Chew, Ek Peng, 2022. "Profit-maximizing parcel locker location problem under threshold Luce model," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    9. José M. González-Varona & Félix Villafáñez & Fernando Acebes & Alfonso Redondo & David Poza, 2020. "Reusing Newspaper Kiosks for Last-Mile Delivery in Urban Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-27, November.
    10. Sergio Maria Patella & Gianluca Grazieschi & Valerio Gatta & Edoardo Marcucci & Stefano Carrese, 2020. "The Adoption of Green Vehicles in Last Mile Logistics: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-29, December.
    11. Lin, Yun Hui & Wang, Yuan & He, Dongdong & Lee, Loo Hay, 2020. "Last-mile delivery: Optimal locker location under multinomial logit choice model," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    12. Liu, Yubin & Ye, Qiming & Escribano-Macias, Jose & Feng, Yuxiang & Candela, Eduardo & Angeloudis, Panagiotis, 2023. "Route planning for last-mile deliveries using mobile parcel lockers: A hybrid q-learning network approach," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    13. Ranjbari, Andisheh & Diehl, Caleb & Dalla Chiara, Giacomo & Goodchild, Anne, 2023. "Do parcel lockers reduce delivery times? Evidence from the field," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    14. Gabriele Iannaccone & Edoardo Marcucci & Valerio Gatta, 2021. "What Young E-Consumers Want? Forecasting Parcel Lockers Choice in Rome," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-16, August.
    15. Schwerdfeger, Stefan & Boysen, Nils, 2020. "Optimizing the changing locations of mobile parcel lockers in last-mile distribution," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 285(3), pages 1077-1094.
    16. Roberta Alves & Renato da Silva Lima & Leise Kelli De Oliveira & Alexandre Ferreira de Pinho, 2022. "Conceptual Framework for Evaluating E-Commerce Deliveries Using Agent-Based Modelling and Sensitivity Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, November.
    17. Nima Pourmohammadreza & Mohammad Reza Akbari Jokar, 2023. "A Novel Two-Phase Approach for Optimization of the Last-Mile Delivery Problem with Service Options," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-25, May.
    18. Chen, Liuyan & Wu, Pengkun & Dou, Yudan & Wu, Yuanyuan, 2023. "Investigating senders’ switching intention to smart lockers: An extension of push-pull-mooring model," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    19. Ut-Tha Veenarat, 2023. "Pioneering Eco-Cart: Carbon Reduction Solutions for Thai Online Shoppers," Management & Marketing, Sciendo, vol. 18(4), pages 515-536, December.
    20. Schaefer, Jaclyn S. & Figliozzi, Miguel A., 2021. "Spatial accessibility and equity analysis of Amazon parcel lockers facilities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:9:p:7535-:d:1139309. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.