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21st Century Operations Using 21st Century Technologies
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United States - European Commission Urban Freight Twinning Initiative: Compendium of Project Summaries, Volume II
Overview of 2018-2019 International Urban Freight Roundtables

Public-Private Partnership to Develop a New Generation of Urban Freight Leaders

The United Parcel Service (UPS) partnered with Washington, D.C. DOT (DDOT) and Georgetown University to develop a data-based research exchange program wherein students leverage real-world data from UPS and DDOT to reduce urban congestion, implement new technologies, and enhance quality of life in cities. For example, student projects explored the viability of universal delivery lockers to reduce second delivery attempts, reduce traffic congestion, and consolidate deliveries to a central location. Another student project highlighted potential areas of existing inefficiency within traditional route-planning algorithms, raising important questions about how to deliver in urban environments. As a result of these efforts, the project was named a GovTech and MetroLab Network innovation of the year in 2017.

Project Type

Research.

Period of Performance

Summer 2017.

Project Site

Washington, D.C., USA.

Contact

Thomas Madrecki
Director of Urban Innovation and Mobility
UPS
Washington, D.C., USA
TMadrecki@ups.com
(773) 416-3002

Topics Addressed

  • Air quality/environment.
  • Building/road design.
  • Curbside delivery and parking.
  • Economic competitiveness.
  • Land use interaction.
  • Last mile delivery.
  • Livability/quality of life.
  • Logistics/distribution.
  • Mobility/congestion.

Key Outcomes

More than 20 students from Georgetown University's Urban Planning and Data Science graduate programs joined forces to research last-mile delivery solutions and congestion mitigation strategies using real world data from UPS and DDOT. The research findings included:

  • A commercially viable and financially stable model for city government-managed universal locker delivery
  • Theoretical modeling around how to capture lost delivery efficiency by routing according to neighborhood typology and the built environment rather than just street geography
  • Time studies to show the potential effectiveness of cycle logistic models relative to traditional vehicle delivery modes
  • A low-cost pothole and collision detection data sharing proposal to create a new revenue stream for private carriers while providing better service to city governments

Stakeholder Involvement

Stakeholders included UPS, DDOT, and Georgetown University. The research effort took place as part of a summer studio class at Georgetown involving Urban Planning and Data Science graduate students.

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