Impacts of innovations and policies on sustainability within road freight transport
using a system thinking lens
Time: Tue 2024-12-03 10.15
Location: F3 (Flodis), Lindstedtsvägen 26 & 28, Stockholm
Video link: https://kth-se.zoom.us/j/66583637885
Language: English
Subject area: Machine Design
Doctoral student: Claudia Andruetto , Maskinkonstruktion (Inst.), Integrated Transport Research Lab, ITRL, Integrated Transport Research Lab
Opponent: Dr Gillian Harrison, Department for Transport, UK
Supervisor: Docent Anna Pernestål Brenden, Integrated Transport Research Lab, ITRL; Professor Jonas Mårtensson, Integrated Transport Research Lab, ITRL, Reglerteknik
Abstract
Road freight transport systems are complex socio-technical systems where freight services are provided through various technological solutions, with the involvement of several stakeholders. Despite the benefits of road freight transport to the economy and society, it also has substantial drawbacks for our current and future society, such as greenhouse gas emissions, congestion, air pollution, noise and poor working conditions. Therefore, several transport concepts and policies, such as electric vehicles and carbon taxes, are being explored and implemented within the private and public sectors to mitigate the externalities of road freight transport systems and achieve more sustainable systems.
Understanding sustainability transitions requires a holistic approach that includes multiple dimensions of sustainability and the perspectives of various stakeholders. Therefore, this thesis uses a System Thinking lens to achieve a system-level understanding of sustainability. Moreover, the dynamics and feedback structures of sustainability transitions are considered in order to identify leverage points and avoid policy resistance.
This thesis aims to understand the impacts of transport concepts and policies on the sustainability of road freight transport systems. A mixed-method approach, including surveys, interviews, and System Dynamics modelling is used to study the impacts of COVID-19 regulations, electric trucks, city hubs, cargo bikes, automation and off-peak hour deliveries. Moreover, policies impacting the adoption of electric trucks and city hubs are explored.
This thesis's results indicate that collaboration is required to achieve sustainability. However, collaboration is complex since stakeholders often have conflicting goals. Applying System Dynamics as a modelling method allows for understanding the right place and time to implement various policies. In this thesis, the simulation of different policy scenarios enables the consideration of the consequences of these policies from both short- and long-term perspectives. This knowledge benefits decision-makers in the private and public sectors in making decisions that shift road freight transport systems towards sustainability.