IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i3p884-d1573721.html

A Combined Multi-Criteria Decision-Making and Social Cost–Benefit Analysis Approach for Evaluating Sustainable City Logistics Initiatives

Author

Listed:
  • Marko Veličković

    (Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 6, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia)

  • Đurđica Stojanović

    (Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 6, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia)

  • Vladimir Ilin

    (Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 6, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia)

  • Dejan Mirčetić

    (Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 6, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
    Institute for Artificial Intelligence Research and Development of Serbia, Fruškogorska 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia)

Abstract

Decision making in city logistics (CL) is complex due to the numerous concepts and alternatives, as well as the intricate relationships between measures and effects. This study introduces a novel approach to evaluating urban freight transport (UFT) by combining multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) and social cost–benefit analysis (SCBA). This combination aims to improve decision making for sustainable CL concepts, particularly in reducing externalities in last-mile delivery. The model assesses various CL initiatives and urban consolidation center (UCC) concepts for their impact on UFT externalities. It uses the MCDM for ex ante scenarios assessment and prioritization. Input data were collected through a survey of experts from various sectors, and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied in the case study of Novi Sad, Serbia. The prioritization highlighted the significance of implementing restrictive regulatory measures, alternative transport modes, and operational optimization within UCC concepts. By estimating capital, operational, and external costs, SCBA was applied to the prioritized UCC concepts, which were then further evaluated using the SCBA outputs. Sensitivity analysis was employed to assess the robustness of the proposed model. This paper offers valuable insights into the potential use of existing tools within a hybrid model to enhance decision making in CL.

Suggested Citation

  • Marko Veličković & Đurđica Stojanović & Vladimir Ilin & Dejan Mirčetić, 2025. "A Combined Multi-Criteria Decision-Making and Social Cost–Benefit Analysis Approach for Evaluating Sustainable City Logistics Initiatives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:3:p:884-:d:1573721
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/3/884/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/3/884/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yanxia Wang & Yisong Li & Changxiang Lu, 2023. "Evaluating the Effects of Logistics Center Location: An Analytical Framework for Sustainable Urban Logistics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-22, February.
    2. Michał Lasota & Aleksandra Zabielska & Marianna Jacyna & Piotr Gołębiowski & Renata Żochowska & Mariusz Wasiak, 2024. "Method for Delivery Planning in Urban Areas with Environmental Aspects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Adriano Alessandrini & Delle Site, Paolo & Francesco Filippi & Salucci, Marco Valerio, 2012. "Using rail to make urban freight distribution more sustainable," European Transport \ Trasporti Europei, ISTIEE, Institute for the Study of Transport within the European Economic Integration, issue 50, pages 1-5.
    4. Barfod, Michael Bruhn & Salling, Kim Bang, 2015. "A new composite decision support framework for strategic and sustainable transport appraisals," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 1-15.
    5. Konstantinos Athanasopoulos & Ioannis Chatziioannou & Argyro-Maria Boutsi & Georgios Tsingenopoulos & Sofia Soile & Regina Chliverou & Zoe Petrakou & Efstathios Papanikolaou & Christos Karolemeas & Ef, 2024. "Integrating Cargo Bikes and Drones into Last-Mile Deliveries: Insights from Pilot Deliveries in Five Greek Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-25, January.
    6. Christian Ambrosini & Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu & Florence Toilier, 2013. "A design methodology for scenario-analysis in urban freight modeling," European Transport \ Trasporti Europei, ISTIEE, Institute for the Study of Transport within the European Economic Integration, issue 54, pages 1-7.
    7. Sandra Alvarez Gallo & Julien Maheut, 2023. "Multi-Criteria Analysis for the Evaluation of Urban Freight Logistics Solutions: A Systematic Literature Review," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-24, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Park, Hyeongjun & Park, Dongjoo & Jeong, In-Jae, 2016. "An effects analysis of logistics collaboration in last-mile networks for CEP delivery services," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 115-125.
    2. Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu & Aurélie Mercier, 2013. "A combined people-freight accessibility approach for urban retailing and leisure planning at strategic level," Post-Print halshs-00919537, HAL.
    3. Emilian Szczepański & Renata Żochowska & Mariusz Izdebski & Marianna Jacyna, 2025. "Decision-Making Problems in Urban Transport Decarbonization Strategies: Challenges, Tools, and Methods," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-17, July.
    4. Indre Siksnelyte-Butkiene & Dalia Streimikiene, 2022. "Sustainable Development of Road Transport in the EU: Multi-Criteria Analysis of Countries’ Achievements," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-25, November.
    5. Daniel Kaszubowski, 2019. "A Method for the Evaluation of Urban Freight Transport Models as a Tool for Improving the Delivery of Sustainable Urban Transport Policy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-23, March.
    6. Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu & Pierre Basck & Eleonora Morganti, 2013. "Urban logistics solutions and financing mechanisms: a scenario assessment analysis," European Transport \ Trasporti Europei, ISTIEE, Institute for the Study of Transport within the European Economic Integration, issue 54, pages 1-11.
    7. Agnieszka Merkisz-Guranowska & Natalya Shramenko & Marcin Kiciński & Vladyslav Shramenko, 2023. "Simulation Model for Operational Planning of City Cargo Transportation by Trams in Conditions of Stochastic Demand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-20, May.
    8. Jiarong Chen & Jungwook Lee & Hyangsook Lee, 2025. "A Study on the Site Selection of Urban Logistics Centers Utilizing Public Infrastructure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-20, July.
    9. Iouri Semenov & Marianna Jacyna & Izabela Auguściak & Mariusz Wasiak, 2025. "Hybrid Human–AI Collaboration for Optimized Fuel Delivery Management," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-25, September.
    10. Raghad Almashhour & Mohamed AlQahtani & Malick Ndiaye, 2023. "Highway Transportation, Health, and Social Equity: A Delphi-ANP Approach to Sustainable Transport Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-38, November.
    11. Lo, Huai-Wei & Fang, Tzu-Yi & Lin, Sheng-Wei, 2024. "Integrating technological and strategic analysis: Evaluating the key determinants of transportation sustainability in taipei Mass Rapid Transit using the Rough-Fermatean DEMATEL approach," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    12. Piotr Pryciński & Mirosław Dusza & František Synák, 2025. "Comparative Analysis of Air Pollutant Emissions of Hybrid, Conventional, and Electric Vehicles Considering the Changing Electricity Production Sources in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-20, August.
    13. Nannan Hao & Yixiong Feng & Kai Zhang & Guangdong Tian & Lele Zhang & Hongfei Jia, 2017. "Evaluation of traffic congestion degree: An integrated approach," International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks, , vol. 13(7), pages 15501477177, July.
    14. Francis Marleau Donais & Irène Abi-Zeid & E. Owen D. Waygood & Roxane Lavoie, 2019. "A review of cost–benefit analysis and multicriteria decision analysis from the perspective of sustainable transport in project evaluation," EURO Journal on Decision Processes, Springer;EURO - The Association of European Operational Research Societies, vol. 7(3), pages 327-358, November.
    15. Valerio Antonio Pamplona Salomon & Luiz Flavio Autran Monteiro Gomes, 2024. "Consistency Improvement in the Analytic Hierarchy Process," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-13, March.
    16. Dean, M., 2021. "Participatory multi-criteria analysis methods: Comprehensive, inclusive, transparent and user-friendly? An application to the case of the London Gateway Port," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    17. Francesco Filippi, 2022. "A Paradigm Shift for a Transition to Sustainable Urban Transport," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-27, March.
    18. Magdalena Wojnarowska & Magdalena Muradin & Annarita Paiano & Carlo Ingrao, 2025. "Recycled Glass Bottles for Craft-Beer Packaging: How to Make Them Sustainable? An Environmental Impact Assessment from the Combined Accounting of Cullet Content and Transport Distance," Resources, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-23, January.
    19. Muñuzuri, Jesús & Muñoz-Díaz, María-Luisa, 2019. "Use of DEA to identify urban geographical zones with special difficulty for freight deliveries," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1-1.
    20. Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu, 2014. "Costs and benefits of railway urban logistics: a prospective social cost benefit analysis," Working Papers halshs-01056135, HAL.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:17:y:2025:i:3:p:884-:d:1573721. 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 The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (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.