Transportation Planning and Technology

After decades of ‘logistics sprawl’, or migration ever further away from urban centres, many global cities are now experiencing a return of logistics facilities in their dense, mixed-use areas. Termed 'proximity logistics', local logistics real estate is considered essential in the urban environmental sustainability transition. Not only do they have the potential to reduce overall transport distances, urban logistics facilities also enable the use of alternative vehicle types and transport modes. Both of these changes are vital for urban logistics to meet climate change objectives and improve local quality of life.

Yet a wide array of constraints hinder the development of urban logistics facilities. These constraints can be of a societal, spatial, operational, architectural and economic nature. Moreover, some studies suggest that even when urban logistics facilities are in place, they do not necessarily reduce transport distances or create shifts to alternative vehicles and modes. For local logistics real estate to contribute to the environmental sustainability transition, it seems necessary for urban administrations to be actively involved. There is a dearth of literature relating to structural policies and solid practices that can support cities in effectively planning and producing logistics real estate.

This Special Issue of Transportation Planning and Technology focuses on urban logistics and its facilities. It aims to explore the impacts of urban logistics facilities in terms of environmental and/or societal sustainability, related real estate developments and innovations, and the urban planning policies and practices which may be put in place to support them. Potential topics include (but are not limited to):

• Logistics sprawl and proximity logistics
• Planning policies and practices for urban logistics facilities
• Stakeholder management for urban logistics facilities
• (Comparative) case studies on urban logistics facilities
• Real estate developments/innovations for urban logistics facilities
• Environmental sustainability assessments of urban logistics facilities, including noise nuisances, air pollution, traffic congestion
• Societal sustainability assessments of urban logistics facilities, including on workers, neighbours, consumers

As with any paper submitted to Transportation Planning and Technology, all papers should demonstrate an actual or potential practical contribution to the planning of improved transport systems or the use of technology to improve the functioning of transport systems. All papers should also be based on robust empirical evidence, as papers which are primarily based on the authors' opinions without presenting a clear framework of analysis will not be considered.

Abstracts (maximum 500 words) should be submitted to the special issue editors: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected] no later than the abstract deadline above. Notification of an accepted abstract will be by November 15 2023. Select “Special issue Urban logistics facilities” when submitting your paper via the journal's Submission Portal.

For any queries please contact the special issue editors at at [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]. The expected print publication date of this special issue is November 2024 but papers that have passed peer-review will be published online as soon as they have been accepted and completed the production process.

Instructions for AuthorsSubmit an Article