Transforming the last-mile deliveries

City logistics is undergoing a profound transformation. Emerging IoT and AI technologies are entering the market to revolutionise the supply and delivery of goods within our urban landscapes. The Physical Internet Observatory offers new ways to decarbonise and optimise last-mile logistics through a combination of physical and digital innovations. 

What is the Physical Internet Observatory? 

The concept of the 'physical internet' is a visionary approach, drawing inspiration from the way information flows on the internet while setting new benchmarks for global supply chain and last-mile logistics. The vision entails the creation of a highly interconnected and efficient physical network of transportation and logistics infrastructure, enabling greater flexibility, scalability, and sustainability for transporting goods. To do this, warehouses, transportation operators and logistics companies will need to share information and work together. The first step to making the physical internet a reality is by digitalising all available data. As the digitalisation of our physical world continues, it brings both opportunities and risks that demand proactive urban preparedness. 

The URBANE project is an initiative dedicated to addressing these challenges, by guiding and facilitating exchange between city managers, logistics firms, and transport visionaries. On the Mobility Innovation Marketplace, URBANE offers an observatory platform providing expert insights on market trends, regulatory dynamics, and innovative solutions poised to shape the future of urban logistics. 

Best Practices

Learn from cities’ success stories contributing to the deployment of the Physical Internet
Image for Leuven: Reimagining the curbside
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Leuven: Reimagining the curbside
Cities curbs, being the interface between roads and sidewalks, are more contested than ever due to the growth of urban logistics, active mobility, and new mobility.
Image for Madrid: Urban Consolidation Center supported by a Digital Twin
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Madrid: Urban Consolidation Center supported by a Digital Twin
Madrid is an important logistics hub, located within the Atlantic and the Mediterranean TEN-T corridors. Since the pandemic outbreak, the city experienced a substantial increase in
Image for Prague: Implementing cargo bicycle hubs
2 minutes reading time
Prague: Implementing cargo bicycle hubs
Delivery vans occupy the historical centre of town Bicycles are not very well used in the city and cargo bikes were almost unheard of by citizens before this scheme The terra

Products

Check out the technologies supporting the deployment of the Physical Internet.
Image for Cargo-bike Parcels Box
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Cargo-bike Parcels Box

Minimizing the time required to transfer high volumes of parcels at cargo-bike hubs is crucial for establishing new sustainable logistics chains.

Image for FlexCurb Driver by Urban Radar
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FlexCurb Driver by Urban Radar

Equip drivers with better access to loading zones. Reduce emissions. Double parking. Improve city's understanding of curb needs.

Image for FlexCurb Planning by Urban Radar
1 minutes reading time
FlexCurb Planning by Urban Radar

Streamline decision making on curb planning. Digitize curb and parking regulations in a central inventory. Identify and balance curb supply to city goals. Communicate curb regulations effectively.