The Future of Automated Freight Transport Concepts, Design and Implementation

This book explores the many challenges faced by the development and implementation of automated freight transport systems. It offers a unique overview of current applications, developments and future perspectives. The subject of automation is not covered extensively in the existing literature on freight transport and this book aims to fill the gap.

In view of the increasing difficulties in coping with growing transport volumes in an efficient and sustainable way, the development of new automated freight applications could be a viable alternative. The first chapters of the book are devoted to an overview of concepts and current research developments in automated transport, outlining the opportunities, barriers and threats for further development paths for different transport modes. The authors then go on to focus on innovative tools to design and evaluate these new transport developments. The book closes with a detailed and critical analysis of what is, probably, the most critical part of system innovation; that is the implementation of automated systems.

Written from a multi-disciplinary perspective, which reflects the diversity of the relevant issues needing consideration when designing, developing and implementing such systems, this book will be an invaluable source for scholars and researchers of innovation and transport studies. In addition, the book will be useful to policymakers and practitioners involved in the design, development and implementation of new technologies for freight transport. It may also appeal to wider readers with an interest in the future of freight transport systems.

Edited by Rob Konings, Senior Researcher, Freight Transport Systems, OTB Research Institute for Housing, Urban and Mobility Studies, Delft University of Technology, Hugo Priemus, Professor Emeritus of System Innovation and Spatial Development, Delft University of Technology and Peter Nijkamp, Professor Emeritus, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the Centre for European Studies, Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza din Iasi, Romania and the School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, China