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Journal ArticleDOI

Shared public transport within a physical internet framework: Reviews, conceptualization and expected challenges under COVID-19 pandemic

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the major trends in the theory and practice of shared transport systems, in terms of passengers and freight, and suggest a physical internet conceptual framework to check if we could promote such logistics.
Abstract: Traffic congestion, dominated by private mobility, reveals not only negative impacts on road safety and the environment, but also on community cohesion. With the global COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2COVID-19 (COVID-19) epidemic, there is an urgent need for social isolation and the use of individual private transport as per the approved health guidelines. Urban transport, especially public transportation (PT), is among the primary sectors affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, novel alternatives for competitive PT services still have to be provided to remain meeting the socio-economic and ecological PT challenges. In this respect, sharing PT vehicles carrying passengers (shared freight-PT) could exploit a significant residual capacity as absorptive capacity is actually reduced. However, such use is based on a large-scale mutualization. The idea of integrating freight in passenger transit networks could be efficient within a Physical Internet (PI or π) framework for improving system monitoring, operational performance and, user comfort. This paper explores the major trends in the theory and practice of shared transport systems, in terms of passengers and freight, and suggests a PI conceptual framework to check if we could promote such logistics. In exploring the PI approach, a number of proposals appear providing answers and advance researches towards shared freight-PT.
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TL;DR: A state-of-the-art review of the field of smart containers and a description of the physical and informational aspects associated to PI-containers in hyperconnected logistics are provided.
Abstract: The aim of the innovative Physical Internet (PI) concept is to reverse the unsustainability situation existing in current logistic systems, to meet the increasingly demanding services required by the users and to increase the global logistic performance. In the PI approach, the goods are encapsulated in modularly dimensioned, reusable or recyclable, and smart containers, called PI-containers. This paper focuses on the informational context of such containers and more particularly on their associated activeness. This capability allows the PI-container to have an active role in achieving its mission and in the PI management and operation. After a presentation of the physical and informational aspects associated to PI-containers in hyperconnected logistics, a state-of-the-art review of the field of smart containers is provided. The limitations of actual solutions for fulfilling the informational requirements are highlighted. The notion of activeness is detailed and a descriptive framework is introduced. Finally, a grouping application of containers in a PI-hub is used to illustrate the proposed framework.

61 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on urban deliveries in the Belo Horizonte metropolitan region, Brazil were analyzed using the Lee index and the Local Indicator of Spatial Association.
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed lifestyles, with consequent impacts on urban freight movements. This paper analyzes the impacts of COVID-19 on urban deliveries in the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region, Brazil. The Lee index and the Local Indicator of Spatial Association were calculated using data on urban deliveries (retail and home deliveries) and COVID-19 cases. The results confirmed the negative impacts on retail deliveries and the positive impacts on home deliveries. The spatial analysis demonstrated that the most interconnected cities presented more similar patterns. At the beginning of the pandemic, consumers were considerably concerned about the virus spread, and the changes in consumption behavior were slow. The findings suggest the importance of alternative strategies to traditional retail. In addition, the local infrastructure should adapt to the increased demand for home deliveries during pandemics.

5 citations

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28,685 citations


"Shared public transport within a ph..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Over time, researches have based on planners' previous knowledge and local communities' requirements to investigate PT travel behavior [7,9], operations of demand-responsive [6,8], and scheduling the fleet size that connects metropolitan and residential areas [4,5]....

    [...]

01 Jan 2015

12,972 citations


"Shared public transport within a ph..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Matching drivers and riders in real-time has been reviewed in [39] to illustrate the operational requirements of ride-sharing systems....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is inferred that epidemics are already growing exponentially in multiple major cities of China with a lag time behind the Wuhan outbreak of about 1–2 weeks, and that other major Chinese cities are probably sustaining localised outbreaks.

3,938 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results of a simulation study that opens some new research tensions on the impact of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) on the global SCs are presented and an analysis for observing and predicting both short-term and long-term impacts of epidemic outbreaks on the SCs along with managerial insights are offered.
Abstract: Epidemic outbreaks are a special case of supply chain (SC) risks which is distinctively characterized by a long-term disruption existence, disruption propagations (i.e., the ripple effect), and high uncertainty. We present the results of a simulation study that opens some new research tensions on the impact of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) on the global SCs. First, we articulate the specific features that frame epidemic outbreaks as a unique type of SC disruption risks. Second, we demonstrate how simulation-based methodology can be used to examine and predict the impacts of epidemic outbreaks on the SC performance using the example of coronavirus COVID-19 and anyLogistix simulation and optimization software. We offer an analysis for observing and predicting both short-term and long-term impacts of epidemic outbreaks on the SCs along with managerial insights. A set of sensitivity experiments for different scenarios allows illustrating the model's behavior and its value for decision-makers. The major observation from the simulation experiments is that the timing of the closing and opening of the facilities at different echelons might become a major factor that determines the epidemic outbreak impact on the SC performance rather than an upstream disruption duration or the speed of epidemic propagation. Other important factors are lead-time, speed of epidemic propagation, and the upstream and downstream disruption durations in the SC. The outcomes of this research can be used by decision-makers to predict the operative and long-term impacts of epidemic outbreaks on the SCs and develop pandemic SC plans. Our approach can also help to identify the successful and wrong elements of risk mitigation/preparedness and recovery policies in case of epidemic outbreaks. The paper is concluded by summarizing the most important insights and outlining future research agenda.

1,282 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: COVID-19 differs from SARS in terms of infectious period, transmissibility, clinical severity, and extent of community spread, but even if traditional public health measures are not able to fully contain the outbreak of CO VID-19, they will still be effective in reducing peak incidence and global deaths.
Abstract: Summary The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 resulted in more than 8000 cases and 800 deaths. SARS was eventually contained by means of syndromic surveillance, prompt isolation of patients, strict enforcement of quarantine of all contacts, and in some areas top-down enforcement of community quarantine. By interrupting all human-to-human transmission, SARS was effectively eradicated. By contrast, by Feb 28, 2020, within a matter of 2 months since the beginning of the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), more than 82 000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported with more than 2800 deaths. Although there are striking similarities between SARS and COVID-19, the differences in the virus characteristics will ultimately determine whether the same measures for SARS will also be successful for COVID-19. COVID-19 differs from SARS in terms of infectious period, transmissibility, clinical severity, and extent of community spread. Even if traditional public health measures are not able to fully contain the outbreak of COVID-19, they will still be effective in reducing peak incidence and global deaths. Exportations to other countries need not result in rapid large-scale outbreaks, if countries have the political will to rapidly implement countermeasures.

738 citations

Trending Questions (1)
What are the ecological benefits of using public transport compared to private vehicles?

The paper does not specifically mention the ecological benefits of using public transport compared to private vehicles. The paper focuses on exploring the integration of freight in passenger transit networks within a Physical Internet framework.