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DOCUMENT CONTROL SHEET

Project MOSCA – Decision Support System For Integrated Door-To-Door

Delivery: Planning and Control in Logistic Chains

Title Deliverable 11 – Final Report

Nature R : Report

Available languages E : English

Dissemination level P : Public

Version Final

Date 25th July 2003

Number of pages 40

Electronic reference MOS_ Del 11 Final

Editor / Authors Luca Lucietti, FIT

Contributors

Paola Cossu, FIT

Massimo Marciani, FIT

Claudia Glücker, PTV

Revision Giuseppe Pinna – Italmondo srl

Rosangela Radaelli – Geotechnical Service srl

Synopsis Summary and conclusions on MOSCA project

Keywords

User requirements, demand, supply, modules, system architecture,

testing, evaluation, assessment, dissemination, exploitation, outlook

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Table of Contents

0. Executive summary ...................................................................................................................3

1. Project presentation ..................................................................................................................4 1.1 Abstract .........................................................................................................................................4 1.2 Objectives ......................................................................................................................................4 1.3 Description of the work................................................................................................................5 1.4 Milestones......................................................................................................................................5 1.5 Expected Results...........................................................................................................................5 1.6 Project Participants......................................................................................................................6

2. Methodology and approach ......................................................................................................7 2.1 Information system specification (Workpackage 2)..................................................................8 2.2 Supply-oriented system components (Workpackage 3) ............................................................9 2.3 Demand-oriented system components (Workpackage 4)........................................................11 2.4 Test-sites (Workpackage 5) .......................................................................................................13 2.5 Evaluation of information system and the test sites (Workpackage 6)..................................14 2.6 Dissemination and exploitation (Workpackage 7)...................................................................14 2.7 Peer-review of MOSCA deliverables ........................................................................................15

3. Results and achievements .......................................................................................................16 3.1 The MOSCA system architecture .............................................................................................16 3.2 The testing of the MOSCA-modules .........................................................................................17

3.2.1 Stuttgart....................................................................................................................17 3.2.2 Chemnitz ..................................................................................................................21 3.2.3 Padova......................................................................................................................22 3.2.4 Lugano .....................................................................................................................23 3.2.5 Key results of the MOSCA-modules testing phase .................................................25 3.2.6 Recommendations for future research .....................................................................25

3.3 The evaluation of the MOSCA modules...................................................................................26 3.4 Technical and commercial feasibility assessment....................................................................28

4. Deliverables and other outputs ...............................................................................................30 4.1 MOSCA Deliverables and other documents/publications ......................................................30

5. Project management and co-ordination aspects ....................................................................35

6. Conclusion and outlook..........................................................................................................36 6.1 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................36 6.2 Outlook........................................................................................................................................37

7. Project data and contact details..............................................................................................39

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0. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The MOSCA project – co-funded by the European Commission IST – aims at finding new ways of supporting transport planning and management in cities and agglomerations. MOSCA stands for: Decision Support System for Integrated Door–to-Door Delivery: Planning and Control in Logistic Chains. Common planning tools are improved by modules which allow overcoming the lack of integration of business traffic and freight transport in existing tools and which consider the changing needs of the users of the urban infrastructure networks.

MOSCA main challenge is an improvement of the complex situation of business traffic and freight transport in European metropolitan areas and as a consequence an improvement of the negative impacts for the environment and the citizens. Starting points are booking and reservation procedures for loading/unloading areas, vehicle routing as well as transport modelling.

Supply side is represented by local authorities, responsible for traffic infrastructure, while demand side is constituted by production and transportation companies.

This document summarizes all the specifications, results, achievements, outputs, conclusions of the MOSCA project. The reader of this document can find a summary of all the information on the project and on its outcomes.

The document is structured in the following sections:

Project presentation: gives project overview

Methodology and approach: describes the methodology and approach used to set-up the project

Results and achievements: this chapter describes the main achievements and test results

Deliverables and other outputs: lists the deliverables produced and other outputs

Project management and co-ordination aspects: describes the project management aspects

Conclusion and outlook: reports the key conclusions on the project.

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1. PROJECT PRESENTATION 1.1 Abstract

MOSCA addresses the objectives of KA I and Action Line I.5.1 of IST 2000 Programme. Key applications developed in MOSCA are tools for integrated planning and control of production and transportation processes supporting sustainable development. MOSCA aims at highly reducing several problems affecting freight distribution in European metropolitan areas, such as booking and reservation procedures, vehicle routing, loading/unloading areas reservations, emergency management support.

The vision of the project is to provide a sophisticated technology that allows the actors involved to collaborate on urban freight distribution. Each local authority or company, influencing traffic by its decisions on traffic regulations, road maintenance and transport, is considered to be both a sender and a receiver of traffic–related information.

From the technological point of view, MOSCA is designed for future added value services with several modules (short path, tour planner, on-line routing, shop delivery planning) being implemented on this project. Core concept is based on state-of-the-art technologies with open interfaces to other services.

1.2 Objectives

The basic motivation of the MOSCA scientific approach is the hypothesis that all organisations, institutions and citizens affected by urban traffic will benefit from sharing knowledge and information. Exploiting information which is only locally available yields some myopic profits, but in the long run, co-operative strategies pay off better.

Key objective of the MOSCA project is to provide a set of tools for improving efficiency of door-to-door transport of goods in urban areas by collaboratively providing demand and supply side information in one single environment/system. Starting with this idea a number of modules was developed which try to answer the main problems and needs of the cities‘administrations and transport operators which are:

• Freight transport models and analysis of the traffic system

• Impact measurement: (freight) transport and social costs

• Optimization of freight transport

• Customer services

• Integration of information

• Location planning

• Restricted access to city centres

• Too few unloading areas

• Traffic congestion

• Few/small parking areas

• B2C customer not available

The objectives of the supply-oriented system components are therefore to provide more precise transport models which allow the supply side, represented by local authorities, to do more specific planning with regard to business traffic and freight transport. Furthermore a more precise estimation of social costs should be possible. By use of information from the demand side (tours), represented by the production and transportation companies, the models can be improved to quite some extent.

The demand-oriented system components allow to improve the knowledge of the loading/unloading situation at shops or private customers (e.g. time windows, time patterns) but also the use of dynamic information is foreseen (e.g. changing traffic situation, new incoming orders).

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1.3 Description of the work

Technical work has been organised according the following activities:

Information system specification: based on user requirements, the technological specification was developed by decomposing the system into modules for communication, storage, application logic, and user interface designed in open standards (e.g. XML, CORBA, etc.) for communication.

Supply-oriented system components: transport demand model for urban commercial transport that reflects the real traffic demand and allows an assignment together with passenger transport matrices and a sustainability assessment module which allow the assessment of noise related measures.

Demand-oriented system components are basically implementations of innovative operations research algorithms. These algorithms are provided as dynamic libraries of code which will be possible to embed in end-user applications.

Test-sites supported the local user requirements, assessment criteria together with information system performance and acceptance. The resulting MOSCA subsystem has been evaluated in the German, Swiss and Italian sites, at different degrees, according to existing situation and data availability.

Evaluation of information system and test-sites is based on the results of the test sites and is focused on the technical approach, on user acceptance, and on performance in terms of logistics metrics and sustainability.

Dissemination & Exploitation have been carried out in synergy with public authorities, industries and interested transport companies as well as the national follower groups and relevant EC research initiatives (e.g. Thematic Networks).

1.4 Milestones

All project Milestones have been successfully achieved and reported:

M1 - Functional and technical specification of MOSCA system (Deliverable 2)

M2 - MOSCA Prototype of an integrated supply-oriented traffic and transport model together with user-oriented DSS (Deliverable 4 and Deliverable 5)

M3 - Validated prototype for demand services (Deliverable 6)

M4 - Test sites report of the results achieved from the development and installation of the prototype in each test site (Deliverable 7)

M5 - Validated prototype at the end of the evaluation process, providing documents specifying the evaluation results and the methodology to transfer MOSCA approach to other sites (Deliverable 8)

M6 - TIP Plan (included in the Deliverable 9)

M7 - Final Report (Deliverable 11)

1.5 Expected Results

The project results are expected tools for improving the efficiency of door-to-door transport of goods in urban areas by providing both demand and supply side information in a system. Criteria are logistics service degrees on demand side and sustainability as well as bettered information on real traffic flows on supply side. Results are seen in modules enabling and supporting planning decision both for private and public operators where tours, network structure, traffic regulation measures, etc, are concerned.

This set of tools implements services for shortest path finding, vehicle route planning, on-line vehicle routing planning, urban shop delivery planning, etc. Main project outcome are therefore validated prototypes for demand services and integrated supply-oriented traffic and transport model together with user-oriented decision support system (DSS).

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1.6 Project Participants

Partic. Role*

Participant name Participant short name

Country

C PTV Planung Transport Verkehr AG PTV DE

C FIT Consulting srl FIT I

P Universitaet Karlsruhe (TH) UNIKARL DE

P Istituto Dalle Molle di Studi sull’Intelligenza Artificiale

IDSIA CH

P The Chancellor, Masters and Schoolares of the University of Cambridge

UCAM-JIMS UK

A Interporto di Padova spa INTERPD I

A ENEA - Ente per le nuove tecnologie, l’energia e l’ambiente

ENEA I

A Commissione Regionale dei Trasporti del Luganese – Piano dei Trasporti del Luganese

CRTL-PTL CH

C = Coordinator ; P = Principal contractor; A = Assistant contractor

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2. METHODOLOGY AND APPROACH The design of the MOSCA system has been performed starting with the user requirements identification of both supply and demand side. From the user requirements, a set of suitable applications has been selected. For these applications, necessary modules have been identified and developed. Once MOSCA tools have been implemented and tested, the results have been analysed and then evaluated.

The work has been organised in seven work packages (WP), as briefly presented in the table below:

WP Title and short description

WP1 Project management

To operate the project work-plan and ensure work progress according to the plan

To liaise with the EC and ensure appropriate co-operation with related projects

To act as technical safeguard for the project

To develop and apply sound quality management procedures

To manage contractual and financial matters

WP2 Information system specification

To develop a formal specification of the information system for urban door-to-door distribution based on user requirements from demand and supply side and on technology assessment

WP3 Supply-oriented system components

To integrate freight transport in available urban transport models

To integrate sustainability assessment modules in available urban transport models

To develop algorithms and interfaces to be used as DSS for urban goods transport policies

To integrate announced freight transports into the transport model (MOSCA model)

WP4 Demand-oriented system components

To develop both service architecture and dedicated systems for integrated production and transport planning with sustainability support

WP5 Test-sites

To relate the MOSCA developments to the practical situation in four cities by integrating and evaluating part of the real applications in Stuttgart, Chemnitz, Lugano and Padova

WP6 Evaluation of information system and the test sites

To validate the findings of both test-sites and modules developed

WP7 Dissemination and exploitation

To promote the projects results

To transfer MOSCA results to operators

To improve the acceptance and subsequent exploitation of the project results by users

To ensure that the project is exploited to its full potential

To manage User Forum activities

Table 2-1: Overview of MOSCA work packages

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2.1 Information system specification (Workpackage 2)

This Workpackage 2 (WP2) is composed by three tasks: User Requirement, Functional Specification and Technical Specification. The first step was the definition of the user requirements by carrying out a survey in parallel in Germany, Italy and Switzerland by dedicated questionnaires. This fundamental task has been the basis for the MOSCA system architecture design starting from what is needed for a proper integration of local freight platforms. As a result of the interviews with potential end users a catalogue of requirements, available technical equipment, objectives and measurement criteria has been carried out according to the EU CODE Project Guidelines. The list of user requirements, of both supply and demand side, is reported below:

Needs of cities and Institution Needs of production and transport operators

Freight transportation models and analysis of

the traffic system On-trip control

Optimisation of freight transport Carrier-customer information exchange

Customer services Customer access: problems found when

approaching the point of service

Integration of information City access: administrative regulations of city

access with freight transport vehicles

Impact measurement: (Freight) transport and

social cost

Location planning

Table 2-2: User Requirements

The user requirements have been translated into the functional and technical specification of the MOSCA system.

In the second task, functional specifications of MOSCA information system have been developed (based on the survey results) by splitting the system into modules referring to communication, storage and user interface. MOSCA modules and functionalities are designed as solutions to the needs and problems of both the supply and demand side. A modular structure was chosen where a rough distinction between supply side and demand side modules has been done. Figure 2.1 gives a summary of how the user requirements (external circle) impact the applications (middle circle), which are in turn mapped into the MOSCA modules (inner circle).

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Figure 2-1: Relation between MOSCA modules and user requirements

From the technical point of view, MOSCA system consists of several modules with simple input-output relations.

2.2 Supply-oriented system components (Workpackage 3)

The main objective of Workpackage 3 (WP3) is to develop models and supply-oriented system components based mainly on urban road networks, on demand models and on road based shipments. These models and systems are developed for usage as a DSS for city planners with direct focus on the urban and regional freight transport, thereby allowing a sustainability assessment, which is an important criterion for assessing the environmental and social impact of traffic planning.

The current environmental legislation and laws and the relative implementation in European cities and which software tools exist for estimation of environmental effects in urban areas have been analysed. Then the structure for a sustainability module and its use within a defined example has been designed. A Decision Support System (DSS) for environmental assessment is the result of this task. The result of this task is therefore a sustainability assessment module (MOSCA-SUSTAIN which allows the assessment of every measure concerning noise, (change of the traffic flows, active noise reduction measures, etc.). Data and information, available at city-level, have been used in this module. Based on the important meaning of traffic noise, the module allows user to assess noise reduction measures in a monetary way.

On trip control

Carrier-customercollaboration

Customer access

City access

Demand side

freight transportationmodels and analysisof the traffic system

impact measurement:(Freight) transportand social costs

Optimisation offreight transport

Customer services

Integration ofinformation

Location planning

Supply side

Traffic information Parking information

MOSCA-SHORT

MOSCA-LINE

MOSCA-TOUR

MOSCA-NET

MOSCA-SHOP

Sustainability Assessment

external information systems

supply modules demand modules

Dock access management

B2C delivery planning

Vehicle routing

Dynamic route calculationMOSCA modules

Applications

Impact assessment

Traffic ModelFreight traffic model

Userrequirements

Freight Traffic Model

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Figure 2-2: Screenshot MOSCA-SUSTAIN (source [Glücker et al. 2003]).

Within WP3 schematic concept of the software assistant, which can help cities to assess evaluated active (e.g. road closing) and passive (e.g. road surface) noise reduction measures has been developed, and several scenarios have been calculated too.

Another output of WP3 is the integration of freight transport in available urban transport models.

The freight transport flows are a subpart of the general flow patterns. Within this task it was planned to enlarge the existing models (the available products or prototypes of PTV) towards the consideration of typical urban freight transport infrastructures, their attributes and their influence and integration within the transport flows.

The MOSCA-FREIGHT module (VISEVA-W) for modelling of urban business traffic and freight transport demand has been developed. VISEVA-W is now integrated into the overall model structure of the VISEVA model for passenger transport demand and the VISUM model for traffic assignment. A “user manual” showing how to set up an urban business traffic and freight transport demand model by use of VISEVA has been produced.

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Figure 2-3: Screenshot MOSCA-FREIGHT (source [Glücker et al. 2003]).

Furthermore the integration and modelling of specific issues for freight transport policy managers and also the integration of individual transport in the MOSCA-FREIGHT module as DSS have been analysed.

2.3 Demand-oriented system components (Workpackage 4)

The objective of Workpackage 4 (WP4) is the development of services for logistics and production allowing users to access the information system in order to store and retrieve traffic related data. Service architecture and dedicated systems for integrated production and transportation planning with sustainability support have been developed.

MOSCA demand side modules are software tools which can be provided to the private end-users of the MOSCA integrated environment (transport operators, B2C-clients, shops, etc.) for information exchange and processing.

These modules are:

MOSCA-SHORT: an algorithm which finds a “robust” path within a city if variable traffic conditions are given. MOSCA-SHORT can calculate convenient (reliable) paths between two points in the case of a dynamic urban traffic network in the situation where travel times along the network arcs are not known in advance with certainty. The results can either be just information on the length/duration of a path or be a list of location identifiers that allows to re-construct the route calculated by MOSCA-SHORT.

MOSCA-TOUR: an algorithm to plan delivery tours for a vehicle fleet if variable traffic conditions are given. MOSCA-TOUR is embedded into logistics application software, which must invoke it providing data of the orders to be serviced, the objective function, and the characteristics of the vehicles’ fleet. Distances and travel times can either come from MOSCA-SHORT or a traffic model. Customer time window and location information is input from MOSCA-NET. After receiving all input data, the algorithm calculates the most efficient vehicle routes. The result is a set of optimized routes that is output back to the logistics application software.

MOSCA-LINE: an algorithm to plan online deliveries, in front of unexpected events such as a new customer request or a traffic jam. MOSCA-LINE is able, given the current position of vehicles, the road network situation and the list of orders to be processed, to reorganize the next

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stops on the basis of the available information. The module can also gather information about the traffic conditions from the incoming communications from vehicles and it can use this information to produce better plans, taking into account new traffic situations.

MOSCA-NET: a web service to manage preferred delivery locations for recipients of freight consignments. MOSCA-NET receives information about delivery locations, delivery profiles and time windows from B2C, i.e. private customers. Customers store the information on the module’s database using the user interface while being connected online to it. The information on delivery location and time windows is given upon request to logistic application software, if it queries MOSCANET using the query interface application. Its primary objective is therefore to serve as an information hub for delivery data, accessed by private customers and logistics service providers. (Figure 2-4 pictures a screenshot taken from MOSCA-NET)

Figure 2-4: Screenshot MOSCA-NET (source [Glücker et al. 2003]).

MOSCA-SHOP: a web service to schedule the reservation of ramp access for urban freight deliveries. MOSCA-SHOP provides information on free dock access and allows booking of access time slots. It is used by carriers to plan their service anticipating waiting times at the shops’ loading dock. On the input side the carrier enters shipment data and requests dock access bookings. Shops give their accessibility information and instructions for carriers to MOSCA-SHOP. Using MOSCA-SHOP functionality, dock reservations and delivery instructions are passed to the carrier and incoming requests are sent to the shop. Additional functionality can recommend access times to carriers. A quality feedback function allows carriers to assess the quality with which shops adhere to their access guarantees and at the same time gives shops the possibility to assess the quality of service of the carriers concerning dock access regulations. Figure 2-5 pictures a screenshot taken from MOSCA-SHOP.

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Figure 2-5: MOSCA-SHOP – Reservation for Parcheggio Piazza Luini (Lugano)

2.4 Test-sites (Workpackage 5)

Four test sites (Stuttgart, Chemnitz, Padova and Lugano) have been selected in order to test the MOSCA modules in a real environment. The four test sites present rather different situations with regard to the number of inhabitants of the city and surrounding areas, the geographical situation, traffic conditions and measures taken. Therefore the test environment and the implementation of the different modules are of very high interest. According to the specific problems described for the four MOSCA test sites, the following modules have been chosen and tested respectively:

Stuttgart Chemnitz Lugano Padova

MOSCA-FREIGHT X

MOSCA-SUSTAIN X

MOSCA-SHORT X X (X)

MOSCA-NET X

MOSCA-LINE X

MOSCA-SHOP X X

MOSCA-TOUR X

Table 2-3: Modules implemented in MOSCA test sites

For the testing of the modules in most of the cases different scenarios (only a specific area, different measures, etc.) had to be defined. By help of these scenarios the use of the model could be tested and analysed. The tests did not include a further evaluation. This was done in Workpackage 6.

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2.5 Evaluation of information system and the test sites (Workpackage 6)

The objective of Workpackage 6 (WP6) is to validate the findings of all MOSCA project outcomes. Based on the user needs surveyed at the beginning of the project and the experiences recorded during the project, the effects of the MOSCA-system and prototyped technologies were evaluated. The effects of the modules are quantified in terms of costs, utilization, lateness, traffic flow, travel time, trip number, etc. The evaluation has been done closely to the CONVERGE guidelines (EC-founded projects in the transport sector of the telematic applications programme of DGXIII should be evaluated according to these guidelines).

The evaluation process has been done considering project expectations as well as based on experiences of the User Forum activities. The main output is the evaluation of the MOSCA-modules and MOSCA test-sites. The Relaxed Cost-benefit analysis (relaxed CBA) is a evaluation method which can cope with several inputs and outputs. It is a sensitivity analysis which can find best solutions if the cost levels e.g. for noise exposure vary and was used for comparison of the different MOSCA-modules and at test-site level. Performance values for each module and test-site were calculated with this evaluation method.

The evaluation has therefore been divided into two main parts. The first part includes the evaluation of the MOSCA-modules and the second part includes the evaluation of the MOSCA test-sites.

2.6 Dissemination and exploitation (Workpackage 7)

MOSCA dissemination activities are aimed at promoting the project, thereby improving access to useful inputs from other relevant projects and organisations, and at improving the acceptance and subsequent exploitation of the project results by end-users.

The specific objectives of both awareness raising and dissemination activities are to:

identify the target with whom MOSCA need to have links;

initiate and carry out activities which increase awareness of the MOSCA system among the target audience;

provide an interface between MOSCA and other interested actors;

establish the dissemination of the results for the freight transport operators to use and for the information of transport decision makers;

establish the dissemination of the results for a wider community than those directly interested and concerned with the topic of the project.

The dissemination activities involved all partners contributing to the project and included:

Designing and implementing the project website (www.idsia.ch/mosca) – see Figure 2-6.

Project brochure describing the overall objective, the work carried out, the benefits and the consortium.

Project newsletters (3 issues) on progress made within the project at key stages (user requirements, modules, test sites)

Two User Forum Workshops during the project lifetime to present the different results (Rome, 11th September 2001 – Padova, 11th October 2002)

Final Conference to present MOSCA achieved outcomes and potential impact of its approach on the urban goods transport sector (Dresden, 16th June 2003)

Clustering activities with related project and liaisons with similar/complementary research projects (e.g. EC projects such as eDRUL, CITY FREIGHT, BESTUFS, etc.)

Publications in both national and international magazines

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Participation in relevant International events (congresses, seminars, conferences, etc.) to promote project progress and results.

Figure 2-6: MOSCA Web Site Interface/Home Page

2.7 Peer-review of MOSCA deliverables

All deliverables produced within the project were peer reviewed either by external experts or by partners’ experts not directly involved in the production of the document. Comments were fruitful and supportive to the quality of the work performed in MOSCA. Project partners are thankful to all peer-reviewers for supporting the project work and recognising its importance.

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3. RESULTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS 3.1 The MOSCA system architecture

The design of the MOSCA system was performed starting by defining the user requirements of both supply and demand side. From the user requirements, a set of suitable applications has been selected. For these applications, necessary modules have been identified and developed.

The MOSCA system therefore consists of several modules that communicate with each other and further external systems. The MOSCA modules were designed as solutions to the needs and problems of both supply and demand side. A modular structure was chosen where a rough distinction between supply side and demand side modules was done. The figure 3-1 shows the communication flows between the modules in MOSCA and the external traffic information module.

Figure 3-1: The MOSCA information system

As MOSCA-LINE, MOSCA-SHORT, and MOSCA-TOUR are algorithms that are being called from application software, they are shown as being internal to the software. MOSCA-NET and MOSCA-SHOP communicate via user interfaces to human end users. In addition, MOSCA-NET also has a communication link to application software and in particular to MOSCA-TOUR. Traffic information is not used directly in MOSCA but through the traffic model as interface.

MOSCA-SUSTAIN

MOSCA-TOUR MOSCA-SHORT

Relaxed CBA

MOSCA-LINE

MOSCA-NET

MOSCA-FREIGHT

SHOPS/CUSTOMERS CITY

FREIGHT OPERATORS

Traffic volumes

Delivery constraints

Time windows

Online-orders

Parking constraints

Traffic conditions

MOSCA-SHOP

Offline toursOnline tours

Offline-orders

Shop accessibility

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3.2 The testing of the MOSCA-modules

Seven modules have been developed and tested under different circumstances in the MOSCA test sites Stuttgart, Chemnitz, Padova and Lugano. Regarding the trials performed in the four test sites as described in the next sub chapters, it is possible to get the main results for each specific module.

Chemnitz

Stuttgart

Lugano Padova

Figure 3-2: MOSCA test sites

3.2.1 Stuttgart

According to the current situation in the city of Stuttgart the following modules were tested:

MODULE Technical objective

MOSCA-SUSTAIN

Set up of noise registers.

Modelling of scenarios (e.g. different pavement quality) and estimation of effects with regard to noise.

MOSCA-SHOP

Booking of loading/unloading areas.

MOSCA-NET

Provision of information on time patterns of private customers to parcel services.

MOSCA-SHORT

Most robust shortest path algorithm.

Table 3-1: Modules tested in Stuttgart

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MOSCA-SUSTAIN

Description of test environment

For the testing of MOSCA-SUSTAIN half of the city centre of Stuttgart and the respective main circular road around the centre were chosen (see figure below).

Test area:Inhabitants: ~ 80.000Blocks of houses: ~ 600Roads: ~ 250

Prototype(D 4)

Figure 3-3: Test area for MOSCA-SUSTAIN in Stuttgart

The data, which have been collected in site inspections or bought from the authorities, were imported to MOSCA-SUSTAIN (a MS Access database), re-organised and complemented with additional information (especially output from the transport model). Then the data sets have been exported to an external exposure noise computation programme (SoundPLAN). After the computation the exposure levels have been exported in form of tables back to the MOSCA-SUSTAIN database. In the database the results of the computation have been assessed with predefined cost-rates (e.g. health costs, property costs) and the distributed inhabitants. Several (test) scenarios have been defined which presume changes of either the traffic volumes on the regarded road network or of other circumstances (e.g. a different paving). These scenarios were the following:

Scenario

Description Scenario 0 Current situation without any measures.

Scenario 1 Speed limit (30 km/h)

In a huge area around the city centre the speed limit is implemented and the changes in the traffic flows of the test area are measured.

Scenario 2 Access restriction in the city centre for all HGV with more than 7.5 t (total weight).

Scenario 3 Close down of one important main road for all HGV.

Scenario 4 Passive noise reduction: Noise decreasing paving for the entire city.

Table 3-2: MOSCA-SUSTAIN traffic scenarios

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Main results achieved

The assessments of the calculated noise exposure were done with health and property costs. Noise reduction, which can be achieved by active or passive noise reduction measures, can be easily displayed with this cost assessment method. The performance of noise reduction can be shown as noise building maps or as calculated table sheets. Differences between scenarios can be displayed in form of ratios for each part of the city or for the whole area under investigation. MOSCA-SUSTAIN can calculate very exactly the noise exposure for each house in the city centre of Stuttgart. The following figure shows the results of the test site implementation of MOSCA-SUSTAIN in Stuttgart. Each scenario is compared to the actual situation (scenario 0).

-40%

-30%

-20%

-10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

Scenario 0 Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3 Scenario 4

Figure 3-4: Results of the test site implementation of MOSCA-SUSTAIN in Stuttgart

MOSCA-SHOP

Description of test site environment

Time-patterns of stores located in the inner-city of Stuttgart were collected (see Figure 3-5). By testing the module, its functionality with regards to connectivity and database performance was tested.

Figure 3-5: Shop addresses for MOSCA-SHOP in Stuttgart

The data of the shops (opening times, capacity, average duration of loading and unloading, average number of arrivals per day) were integrated in the MOSCA-SHOP data base via the MOSCA-SHOP web page.

Main results achieved

It was demonstrated that in MOSCA-SHOP the integration of shop related data is possible. The test showed that carriers benefit mostly from this module, because they can increase their rate of successful first-time deliveries and decreasing their waiting time at incoming-goods-ramps.

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MOSCA-NET

Description of test environment

For a reasonable generation of time patterns, groups with homogeneous behaviour in Stuttgart, as they exist in the traffic model, were analysed. The potential delivery locations "at home", "work place", "service station" and "pick-point" (public transports) were considered and according addresses in the Stuttgart area were selected (see figure below).

HH

H

HH

H

H

H

H H HH

HH

HH

H H H

H

H

H

WW

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

WWW

SS

S

S

S

S

S

P

P

P

P

H

W

S

P

HomeWorkService stationPublic transport

Figure 3-6: Addresses for MOSCA-NET in Stuttgart

The test scenarios correspond to the “average” circumstances of the groups and subgroups with homogeneous behaviour. For each group time patterns were developed and integrated in the MOSCA-NET web application (systematic input of the prepared time-patterns).

Main results achieved

The active tests showed that people seem to be reluctant to specify time-patterns for more than one week. The problem is to commit oneself to specific time patterns as the exact course of the day cannot always be planned ahead. A backup address like a pick-point or a service station where the goods can be delivered to would be ideal. The delivery addresses allow to reach the customer for 5 up to 21 hours a day, requiring a 24 hours a day commitment from the parcel services. The number of hours when the customer can be reached decreases considerably when the parcel service's usual operating times are born in mind. This also shows the great advantages pick-points or service stations can provide as delivery stations.

MOSCA-SHORT

Description of test environment

The tests were carried out on a directed graph representing an aggregated version of the road network of Stuttgart. The results obtained by the exact algorithm developed within the MOSCA-SHORT module with the results obtained by another solution technique presented in the literature for the robust shortest path problem were compared.

Main results achieved

The tests carried out on the aggregated version of the road network of the city of Stuttgart demonstrate that the exact algorithm developed within the MOSCA-SHORT module is very efficient on problems based on real road networks.

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3.2.2 Chemnitz

According to the current situation in the city of Chemnitz the following modules was tested:

MODULE Technical objective

MOSCA-FREIGHT

(VISEVA-W)

Set up of a detailed freight transport and business traffic demand model.

Modelling of scenarios (e.g. priority to business vehicles) and estimation of effects on the transport network.

Table 3-3: Module tested in Chemnitz

MOSCA-FREIGHT

Description of test environment

The main goal of the testing was first to develop a consistent business traffic and freight transport demand model for the city of Chemnitz (origin-destination matrices) and second to successfully assign all passenger transport (already available), business traffic and freight transport matrices by use of VISUM. In order to check the plausibility of the model outcome comparisons were done with other available information on business traffic and freight transport in cities, e.g. comparison of the total number of trips per day with specific values from literature (according to Machledt-Michael “Fahrkettenmodell für den städtischen und regionalen Wirtschaftsverkehr”1).

Main results achieved

The testing of the MOSCA-FREIGHT (VISEVA-W) model shows that the set up of a demand model for urban business traffic and freight transport is possible and useful. For the Chemnitz example the efforts for data collection were rather high but could easily be reduced by an aggregation of the used industry sectors (both origin and destination industry sectors) and by adapting the data collection concept to the specific data availability in a city. In any case it is fair to conclude that the MOSCA-FREIGHT (VISEVA-W) demand model for urban business traffic and freight transport works well and meets the requirements of the City of Chemnitz. The result of the work is a complete reflection of the urban traffic demand (business traffic matrices (number of trips) for four vehicle types and their assignment on the network (Figure 3-7)).

Total number of vehicles Car

Small delivery vehicleMedium delivery vehicle

HGV

Figure 3-7: Number of vehicles per link for each vehicle type

1 “Model for transport chains of the urban and regional business traffic”.

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3.2.3 Padova

According to the current situation in the city of Padova the following modules were tested:

MODULE Technical objective

MOSCA-TOUR

Generation of an efficient set of routes (sequences of stops with distance and times).

City access: To provide real-time information in order to optimize deliveries as well as to decrease congestion.

(MOSCA-SHORT)

Most robust path. Table 3-4: Modules tested in Padova

MOSCA-TOUR (and MOSCA-SHORT)

Description of test environment

For testing this module and to analyze the benefits of this new approach, statistical calculation has been carried out on various instances (different customer data sets). The scenarios used were 9 test problems of a 30 customers’ sample out of the 60 unique customers of the data set. The performance in this model was measured in total travel time, which is the total travelling time, to complete the given set.

Main results achieved

The test showed that the MOSCA-TOUR performs an optimization of the total travel time needed to serve all customers requiring a delivery. The main features of this model are a TDVRP (time dependent vehicle routing problem) integrated with an RSP (robust shortest path) algorithm to deal with a complete graph, represented by the data available. With the MapViewer software, the TD (time dependent) solution coming from the test site can be visualized (Figure 3-8).

Figure 3-8: MOSCA-TOUR –TD-solution, for (the same) 22 customers

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3.2.4 Lugano

According to the current situation in the city of Lugano the following modules were tested:

MODULE Technical objective

MOSCA-SHORT

An algorithm which provides the shortest and the most robust path connecting two points.

A software application providing a user friendly interface to the MOSCASHORT algorithm.

MOSCA-LINE

An improved and efficient set of routes (sequences of stops with distance and times) with respect to the sequence of online (urgent) orders which have been entered in the system by the user.

A software application providing a user friendly interface to the MOSCALINE algorithm.

MOSCA-SHOP

Tool for the assignment of parking spaces.

A web site demonstrating the possibility of booking the parking space via the internet and also using WAP technologies with mobile phones.

Table 3-5: Modules tested in Lugano

MOSCA-SHORT

Description of test site

To evaluate the module was run the heuristic algorithm through the graphic user interface. The tests concerned the comparison of paths for some given pairs (origin, destination).

Figure 3-9: MOSCA-SHORT – Test situation

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A very interesting situation is presented in the figure above coming from the test. Here the robust path between a given (origin, destination) pair (green) is compared with the shortest path on the low traffic network (blue) and the shortest path on the high traffic network (red).

The robust path partially overlaps with both the two shortest paths (which do not overlap with each other). This means that the path suggested when interval travel times on arcs are known, and no information about the current state of the network is available is different from the paths chosen by a very optimistic user (i.e. low traffic expected) and the one followed by a very pessimistic user (i.e. high traffic expected).

Main results achieved

The results presented demonstrate that the heuristic algorithm for the robust shortest path problem developed within the MOSCA-SHORT module is very suitable to be applied to real problems.

MOSCA-LINE

Description of test environment

The MOSCA-LINE architecture works by dividing the working day into time-slices, and new orders received during a time-slice are postponed until the end of it. In such a way the dynamic problem is decomposed into a sequence of static problems. Some tests were carried out in order to understand what the number of time-slices is in which the day is divided, which guarantees the best possible performance on a case study.

Main results achieved

The tests of MOSCA-LINE carried out for the city of Lugano confirmed that the architecture developed is able to work on real problems. The tests reported also give an idea on good values for the number of time-slices in a real problem. In particular the results obtained suggest that a number between 10 and 50 (e.g. 25) represents the best compromise between too short run for the heuristic algorithm on static-like problems and not enough up to date information.

MOSCA-SHOP

Description of test environment

The same test environment as for MOSCA-SHOP in Stuttgart is valid with only a few adaptations with regard to the user interfaces. All information on the parking spaces was integrated into the MOSCA-SHOP data base.

Main results achieved

The test showed as carriers benefit mostly from this module, because they can increase their rate of successful first-time deliveries and decreasing their waiting time at incoming-goods-ramps. By doing so an optimal vehicle route is calculable under given time restrictions.

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3.2.5 Key results of the MOSCA-modules testing phase

For each specific module the following results coming from the test sites can be summarised as showed in the Table 3-6. The final use of the different modules (in combination or separately) depends on the aims of the potential users.

MODULE Main results

MOSCA-FREIGHT

The module allows the calculation of business traffic and freight transport demand matrices of a city or region. The effort for data collection/processing depends on the availability of behavioural data and the definition of business traffic classes (VISEVA supports individual definitions of business traffic classes). The module can be integrated in an overall model structure including a passenger transport demand model (VISEVA) and a network/assignment model (VISUM). Based on this model detailed analyses of the commercial transport in connection with the passenger transport are possible.

MOSCA-SUSTAIN

The module allows the calculation of noise emissions and the according social costs. A rather high number of data input is necessary but as a result good estimations of the real noise levels are possible.

MOSCA-SHORT

The heuristic algorithm for the robust shortest path is very suitable to be applied to real problems. The concept of robust path, applied here for the first time to a road network problem, can be very useful. The results of the tests suggest that it is the fastest algorithm available at present to solve robust shortest path problems, at least on road networks.

MOSCA-NET It is possible to integrate personal time windows which can then be used by transport operators.

MOSCA-LINE

The architecture developed is able to work on real problems. The tests reported give an idea on good values for the number of time-slices in a real problem. In particular the results obtained suggest that a number between 10 and 50 (e.g. 25) represents the best compromise between too short run for the heuristic algorithm on static-like problems and not enough up to date information.

MOSCA-SHOP

Both the integration of shop related data and the integration of information on parking spaces in the MOSCA-SHOP data base via the internet is possible.

MOSCA-TOUR

The model includes a TDVRP (time dependent vehicle routing problem) integrated with a RSP (robust shortest path) algorithm to deal with a complete graph, represented by the data available.

The time dependent VRP is suitable for an application to real world situations, like in an urban context, where traffic data are available and where traffic conditions can not be neglected for an accurate optimization/planning.

Relaxed CBA The relaxed CBA is an evaluation method which can cope with several inputs and outputs. It is a sensitivity analysis which can find best solutions if the cost levels (e.g. for noise exposure) vary.

Table 3-6: Main results per module

3.2.6 Recommendations for future research

For MOSCA-TOUR an improvement of the features of the module might be accomplished by considering also the dependence of path on time. In this test the vehicles’ capacity optimization has not been considered, if different sized vehicles are used. Furthermore, the optimization of the tour starting time was not looked at, for the complexity of the problem in the time dependent context. Here further research is necessary.

For MOSCA-FREIGHT additional research is necessary especially with regard to the available data and integration of specific “business” cases into the model. For many specific questions the module derives the basis for the calculation of the demand matrices but the necessary primary data (e.g. with regard to the behaviour of certain industry sectors) are not available. Therefore up to now these business cases are not integrated in the model.

For MOSCA-SUSTAIN further adaptations and work has to deal with the special situation in different cities with regard to the data availability in order to reduce the high effort for manual data editing. More detailed information about the cost rates (health- and property cost) or other cost rates to be examined might also be integrated in future.

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3.3 The evaluation of the MOSCA modules

The aim of the evaluation is to document MOSCA project efforts with users in real-life situations. Based on the user needs surveyed at the beginning of the project and the experiences recorded during the project, the effects of MOSCA System and prototyped technologies were evaluated. Whether the prototypes are successfully fulfilling the user requirements was accounted in the evaluation process. The evaluation of MOSCA modules is mainly based on the input of the MOSCA module developer and on the results of the test site implementation.

The evaluation of the MOSCA modules was done with relaxed cost-benefit analysis, developed during the MOSCA project. For this evaluation a virtual test site has been created, where the impacts of the different modules can be easily documented.

The virtual test site

The facts of this virtual test site are described below:

< 45 dB 30.00045-< 50 dB 8.00050-< 60 dB 10.00060-< 65 dB 5.000< 65 dB 2.000car 58.753.800HGV 10.368.000car 1.175.076HGV 259.200

distance [km]

travel-time [h]

noise exposure [persons]

Table 3-7: Facts of the virtual test site for the evaluation of MOSCA-modules

For this “virtual” test site six main scenarios have been calculated:

current situation (basis for comparison);

implementation of MOSCA-NET;

implementation of MOSCA-SHORT;

implementation of MOSCA-LINE;

implementation of MOSCA-SHOP;

implementation of MOSCA-TOUR in combination with MOSCA-SHORT (MOSCA-TOUR is only available in combination with MOSCA-SHORT, so it would be senseless to assess MOSCA-TOUR on its own).

For each main scenario four sub-scenarios have been calculated:

only the module/actual data;

speed limit (set up of a speed limit - 30 km/ h - in the virtual test site);

HGV access restriction (access restriction in the city centre for all HGV with more than 7.5t (total weight);

road closing (close down of one important main road for all HGV).

Data used for the evaluation of the MOSCA modules is based on the impacts of each module on the virtual test site, which were given by the module developer or calculated in parts with MOSCA-SUSTAIN. With MOSCA-SUSTAIN it is possible to give answer about the inhabitants, which were concerned about noise. So it is not possible to assess MOSCA-SUSTAIN on its own, because this module is part of the evaluation process.

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It is also not possible to assess MOSCA-FREIGHT, because this module delivers the data input for most of the modules in form of information about travel times, traffic network, etc. So it is accounted in context of the evaluated modules.

Figure 3-10 visualises the calculated efficiency scores for all MOSCA modules in combination with the pre-defined sub-scenarios. The calculation was done with the Relaxed-CBA method. The relaxation steps are 2.5%, which means, starting from fixed prices, the margin increases at each relaxation step ± 2.5%.

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11Relaxation steps in steps of

2.5%

Scor

eCurrentSpeed limitHGV restrictionRoad closingNetNet + Speed limitNet + HGV r.Net +Road closing.ShortShort +Speed limitShort + HGVShort + Road closingLineLine + Speed limitLine + HGVLine + Road closingShopSh S d li it

Figure 3-10: Relaxed-CBA for all MOSCA-modules in combination with four sub-scenarios

To see the different efficiency scores for the MOSCA modules more clearly, Figure 3-11 shows some result-lines from Figure 3-10 more detailed. The results-lines, which can be found in Figure 3-11, are the efficiency scores for MOSCA-NET, MOSCA-SHORT, MOSCA-LINE, MOSCA-SHOP and MOSCA-TOUR in combination with MOSCA-SHORT. The depict results depending on the calculated results, documented in Figure 3-10.

0,86

0,88

0,9

0,92

0,94

0,96

0,98

1

1,02

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11Relaxation steps in steps of 2.5%

Scor

e

NetShortLineShopTour + Short

Figure 3-11: Detailed depiction of the stand-alone modules

(Part of the Relaxed-CBA for all MOSCA-modules in combination with four sub-scenarios)

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Main results

By the previous diagrams, it is possible to see as MOSCA-TOUR has got in comparison to the other MOSCA modules and MOSCA modules in combination with the four sub-scenarios, all time the highest efficiency score (100%). MOSCA-LINE and MOSCA-SHOP accomplish the highest efficiency score after a few relaxation steps.

3.4 Technical and commercial feasibility assessment

Technical Assessment

The assessment of MOSCA modules is mainly based on the input of the MOSCA-module developer and on the results of the test site implementation. It is possible therefore to identify the technical assessment for each MOSCA module:

MODULE Technical Assessment MOSCA-SUSTAIN MOSCA-SUSTAIN works in combination with a traffic network model and a

noise computation program. The assessment and the management (Storage) of all necessary data is a stand-alone database. The module is compatible with every noise computation software and to all possible traffic network models, which are able to deliver detailed traffic data. The module is realised as a user friendly database, which can be used by traffic and city planners for the assessment of different traffic scenarios.

MOSCA-FREIGHT Compared to existing tools for freight transport the MOSCA-FREIGHT (VISEVA-W) module is not a stand-alone solution but follows the structure of the VISEVA model which is dedicated to the generation of demand matrices for passenger transport. Therefore the MOSCA-FREIGHT module is completely compatible and a complete transport model can be generated.

MOSCA-TOUR Existing tools for vehicle routing do not take variable traffic conditions into account (that is: time dependent, TD) at all, as far as we know. Routes that are optimal in a non TD model always result sub-optimal in a TD model, which is more realistic and accurate.

MOSCA-LINE No other tool is currently available with the same functionalities.

MOSCA-SHOP The module fulfils all technical requirements and expected objectives. So far no comparable tool exists. Overall performance cannot be simulated and has to be tested.

MOSCA-NET The module fulfils all technical requirements and expected objectives. So far no comparable tool exists. Overall performance cannot be simulated and has to be tested.

MOSCA-SHORT MOSCA-SHORT is better than existing tools on road network problems.

Table 3-8: MOSCA- modules technical assessment

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Commercial Assessment

MOSCA aims at exploiting project outputs supporting applications in existing and newly developed information systems. The information system development was market-led from the very beginning involving both transport operators and relevant service providers in extricating their needs. The final results of the MOSCA project are several software tools and methods which are now available at different levels with regard to the future exploitation:

The MOSCA-FREIGHT prototype can easily be led towards a new product

The prototypical application MOSCA-SUSTAIN can easily be passed towards a consulting application

MOSCA-TOUR, MOSCA-SHORT and MOSCA-LINE are scientific prototypes which can be led to customisable applications for products

MOSCA-SHOP and MOSCA-NET finally represent first examples which can be developed towards first scientific prototypes.

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4 DELIVERABLES AND OTHER OUTPUTS 4.1 MOSCA Deliverables and other documents/publications

MOSCA produced several outputs such as a total of eleven Deliverables and two Internal Reports, respectively for task 3.3 and 3.4, namely: “Standard issues for freight transport Policy Managers” and “Consideration of individual transport”. Furthermore, the MOSCA project dissemination activities and presentations at relevant International events of papers/publications are considered as project outputs.

All deliverables, main conferences/workshops attended and paper/articles published are listed in the following tables:

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Deliverable number and title Dissemination level Brief description D1 - MOSCA project brochure

Public

The project brochure provides basic information about the project and its Consortium.

D2 - Functional and technical specification based on survey results

Restricted

This document provides to supply a documentation of the user requirements and the process of developing a formal specification of the information system for urban door-to-door distribution.

D3 - Dissemination and Use Plan

Internal

This document provides a description of the plans for both the dissemination of knowledge gained during the project and the basis for future exploitation of the MOSCA results by each individual participant.

D4 - Sustainability assessment of urban freight transport

Restricted

This document provides a description of the current situation on the European level in regard of: environmental legislation and laws, how these laws are executed in European cities and which software tools exist for estimation of environmental effects in urban areas. In regard of this situation the structure for a sustainability module and its use within a defined example are given. As result a Decision Support System (DSS) for environmental assessment is provided.

D5 - Supply urban freight transport system

Restricted

This document represents a “user manual” which shows how to set up an urban business traffic and freight transport demand model by use of VISEVA. This is a software tool used for modelling of the total traffic demand of a city or region including business traffic and freight transport as well as passenger traffic.

D6 - Demand urban freight transport system

Restricted

This document reports on the design, implementation and testing of the MOSCA modules for the demand side. In this document is possible to find information on the data required to run each module, on their functionalities, and, in the Technical Annexes, further details on their algorithms and implementation architectures.

D7 - Test-sites Report

Public

This document describes the testing of the MOSCA module prototypes within the test sites Stuttgart, Chemnitz, Padova and Lugano.

D8 - Evaluation Report

Public

This document provides to evaluate both the MOSCA-modules and the MOSCA test-sites. The evaluation is done with the developed Relaxed Cost-benefit analysis (CBA).

D9 - Exploitation and TIP Plan

Internal

This document describes the dissemination and exploitation plans for the MOSCA partners. Into this document is included the Technological Implementation Plan (TIP).

D10 - MOSCA Workshops and User Forum Reports

Public

This document provides a clear overview of considerable results and benefits achieved through MOSCA User Forum Workshop and the Final Conference.

D11 - Final Report

Public

The present report summarizes the specifications, results, achievements, outputs, conclusions of MOSCA project.

Table 4-1: MOSCA deliverables

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Table 4-2: Conferences in which MOSCA has been presented

Date Title Notes

30th May 2002 ECCO XV - Conference of the European Chapter on Combinatorial Optimisation

Organised and presented by IDSIA

7th -9th June 2002 EU - Thematic Network “Stella” – Focus Group 1

Minutes can be downloaded on www.stellaproject.org

presented by FIT

14th June 2002 Telematica e Sostenibilità del trasporto urbano

The conference was organised by ENEA and TTS Italia. About 40 participants most of which were from Universities, Industries and Transport companies.

10th July 2002 Presentation done by PTV staff at University of Karlsruhe, faculty of civil engineering

Presentation of work on European research projects: example MOSCA

Members of the institute for Traffic planning of the University of Karlsruhe (professor and assistants), Students (future civil engineers), other civil engineers

25th-28th September 2002 TRAMAG “International Exhibition for Handling, Logistics, Transport, Multimodal systems”- Padovafiere (Padova)

MOSCA project was promoted by distributing the brochure and the newsletter (more than 400 exhibitors participated). Interporto di Padova was the main interface.

19th November 2002 SOMEDIA Logistica Industriale e Distribuzione delle Merci nelle aree urbane

Conference on logistics and urban freight transport which took place in Milan. MOSCA was presented as Information System aiming at improving urban freight delivery at EU level presented by FIT and IDSIA.

26th November 2002 ACCESS Conference 2002 - Barcelona

Paper on “Freight Urban Transport” and MOSCA solutions presented by FIT and IDSIA.

3rd and 4th February 2003 6th Framework starting event in Germany

Presentation of the MOSCA project by use of a poster (PTV)

7th February 2003 Internal PTV workshop Presentation of the MOSCA-FREIGHT module (VISEVA-W) and the work in the test site Chemnitz to 20 interested colleagues of PTV

17th -18th March 2003 Integaire project workshop (Rome) ENEA presented the MOSCA achieved results

27th March 2003 La valutazione dei costi esterni della mobilità urbana (Rome)

ENEA presented the MOSCA achieved results

27th -30th May 2003 ODYSSEUS, Palermo (Italy) A new algorithm for a Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem based on Ant Colony System – presented by Roberto Montemanni , IDSIA

19th - 20th June 2003 INRETS, Avignon (France) Environment and Transport workshop

25th -28th June 2003 Third International conference on city logistics (Madeira-P)

ENEA presented the MOSCA achieved results

Foreseen (after the project end)

6th-10th July 2003 EURO/INFORMS, Istanbul (Turkey) Time Dependent Vehicle Routing Problem with an Ant Colony System – presented by Alberto V. Donati, IDISIA

29th – 31st July 2003 CIMSA 2003, Lugano (Switzerland) Integration of a Robust Shortest Path Algorithm with a Time Dependent Vehicle Routing Model and Applications - presented by Alberto V. Donati, IDISIA

2nd-3rd September 2003 AIRO, Venezia (Italy) A branch and bound algorithm for the robust shortest path problem with interval data – presented by Roberto Montemanni, IDSIA

2nd -4th October 2003 SMAU, Milano MOSCA project will be presented at the largest ICT and consumer electronics events in Europe.

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The main articles published, press coverage and development web site are listed in the following tables:

Date and Type Details

January 2002, abstract/link on web page Short description available on FIT Web Site (www.fitconsulting.it)

May 2002, article “MOSCA distribuisce in città” by Salvatore Ippolito, published on Mark-Up

June/July 2002, Link on web page Preparation and implementation of link on the BESTUFS (Best Urban Freight Solutions, thematic network on urban freight transport) web page (www.bestufs.net)

June/July 2002, Link on web page Preparation of MOSCA short description with link to MOSCA web page to be implemented on PTV web page (www.ptv.de)

March 2002, publication VDI Materialfluss Kongress München

June 2002, publication Lecture on Logistics

May 2002, conference paper, presented at ECCO 02

R. Montemanni, L.M. Gambardella: A branch and bound algorithm for the robust spanning tree problem with interval data

May 2002, conference paper, presented at ECCO 02

A.V. Donati, L.M. Gambardella: Ant Colony System for Time Dependent Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows

April 2002, press article “Anche la città di Lugano inserita in una ricerca europea”, Il Corriere del Ticino

January 2002, press article “Mosca, il progetto per migliorare il traffico nelle città”, Il Giornale di Milano, Edizione Canton Ticino, page 41.

June 2002, link of Web Page Preparation of an abstract to be implemented on Interporto Web Site (www.interportopd.it)

July 2002, Link on web page Preparation and implementation of link on the BESTUFS (Best Urban Freight Solutions, thematic network on urban freight transport) web page (www.bestufs.net)

July 2002, Link on web page Preparation of MOSCA short description with link to MOSCA web page implemented on PTV web page (www.ptv.de)

October 2002, Publication Publication of MOSCA outcomes on the Newsletter of TTS Italia (National Association on Transport and Telematics)

November 2002, scientific paper Time Dependent Vehicle Routing Problem with an Ant Colony System - (A. V. Donati., L. M. Gambardella, N. Casagrande, A. E. Rizzoli, R. Montemanni)

January 2003, article I progetti Telematici Europei, published on Italmondo Logistica ed Intermodalità - (Massimo Marciani)

February 2003, News on web page Publication on web site www.tsf.it of MOSCA activities

February 2003, scientific publication An exact algorithm for the robust shortest path problem with interval data - (R. Montemanni, L.M. Gambardella) Accepted by “Computers and Operations Research”

February 2003, scientific paper A branch and bound algorithm for the robust shortest path problem with interval data - (R. Montemanni, L.M. Gambardella, A.V. Donati)

February 2003, scientific paper A branch and bound algorithm for the robust spanning tree problem with interval data – (R. Montemanni, L. M. Gambardella)

February 2003, scientific paper A new algorithm for a Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem based on Ant Colony System – (R. Montemanni, L. M. Gambardella, A. E. Rizzoli, A. V. Donati)

February 2003, scientific paper Integration of a Robust Shortest Path Algorithm with a Time Dependent Vehicle Routing Model and Applications – (A. V. Donati., R. Montemanni, L. M. Gambardella)

May 2003, article 2 full pages dedicated on MOSCA project were published on ONDAVERDE, published by ACI (Italian traffic information provider)

June 2003, Link on Web Page The MOSCA Final Conference were promoted directly through EC channels on CORDIS WIRE.

Table 4-3: MOSCA publications and web site

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The MOSCA User Forum

The MOSCA User Forum is an open panel of key actors allowing the establishment of an effective bridge between research and production/transportation operators on ground reality. These groups worked at different stages of the project, accordingly to project activities as follows:

Start Up – User Forum representatives were invited to the kick-off meeting and involved in the start up of main project aspects;

Step I – User requirements: they gave their input in the identification of system components (modules) and data collection for the definition of the user requirements in order to setting up of MOSCA system technical and functional specifications;

Step II – Test sites: User Forum representatives were directly involved during the test site activities. In particular they provided information and data for implementing MOSCA Test sites, supporting also measuring performance and acceptance of MOSCA system;

Step III - Evaluation: User Forum members provided their feedback also for the MOSCA system and modules evaluation.

The MOSCA User Forum has been established with representatives of national/local key actors from, at least, each site and was the primary network to announce the three MOSCA dedicated workshops in order to offer a time to get feedback from experts on the overall project output, to study the deployment potential of the MOSCA results and to discuss intermediary and final results.

MOSCA User Forum representatives are:

Local Authorities (i.e. City Administrations and Planners)

Couriers/Forwarders/Shippers

Postal Companies (i.e. logistic department and information system responsible)

Traffic Information providers

Public-private transport agencies

Press

Trade association

National Association for Transport Telematics and Safety

Transport Telematics Consultancies

The Supply Group is composed of representatives of local and national bodies involved in the urban transport process. The Demand Group is composed by freight transport operators, postal companies, shipping/forwarding agencies, good distribution actors, national associations, SMEs, representing the business/commercial transport interest in the urban transport delivery system.

Continuous information exchange and calibration of the project progress were achieved throughout the MOSCA User Forum preferred channel. Some of the member of this board have been themselves promoter of MOSCA outcomes and added value partner in the synergy between National initiative (e.g. in Italy ARTIST) and EC R&D projects.

Thanks to the involvement of the User Forum Members, including both city administration from different European cities, and selected logistic operators, the MOSCA working steps have been examined and approved for the further development activities.

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5 PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND CO-ORDINATION ASPECTS The objective of the central activity was to provide sound internal project management with an efficient interface to Commission services and to ensure that the project was capable of reaching its objectives.

The day-to-day management was undertaken by the Project Manager who was assisted by the work-package leaders and, at local level, by the test site leaders along with User Forum Members and under the supervision of a Management Committee:

Figure 5-1: MOSCA Project Structure

The Project Management Committee, which includes all project contractors, was responsible for all contractual issues and decisions. The Project Management was responsible for the project management, detailed monitoring of the project’s progress and the formulating/consolidating recommendations about the project.

Quality Management

At the operational level, the management was based on the Quality Plan developed at the beginning of the project. All partners used this internal document as a reference, which ensured the quality of all MOSCA deliverables. The Quality Plan includes:

Contractual references

Project objectives

Project organisation and responsibilities

Project documentation guidelines for management/progress reports, cost statements and deliverables

Peer review process and template forms

Activity quality procedures

Description of the project filing system

Project Coordinator Massimo Marciani (FIT)

Project Manager Paola Cossu (FIT)

Project Management Committee (one representative of each contractor)

Matthias Stickel and Andreas Cardeneo (UNIKARL)

Christoph Gringmuth (UNIKARL) Dieter Wild (PTV)

Luca Maria Gambardella (IDSIA) Stefan Scholtes (UCAM)

User Forum Manager (FIT)

WP Leader UF

Manager FIT

Exploitation and Financial Manager

PTV

Task Leader

External Peer review Giuseppe Pinna (Italmondo)

Rosangela Radaelli (Geotechnical Service)

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6 CONCLUSION AND OUTLOOK 6.1 Conclusions

The MOSCA objectives were achieved by development, implementation, testing and evaluation of the different MOSCA modules which can be used in combination or separately depending on the aims of the potential users.

It was demonstrated that the MOSCA tools are able to improve the management of logistic process promoting a mutual exchange of information between logistic operators and city.

The combination of the new software tools, information exchange platforms and algorithms with already existing models and planning software will improve the working and information basis of all users (e.g. traffic planners, citizens, transport operators).

The MOSCA project therefore has successfully provided software tools to assist authorities to plan, assess and control freight transport tailored on their needs and production/transportation operators in better planning their transport services.

MOSCA Tools are summarized below:

MOSCA - FREIGHT for modelling of urban commercial transport demand

MOSCA - SHOP for the integration of loading- and unloading time windows of shops in an open Internet platform where slots can be booked by transport operators

MOSCA - NET for the integration of time patterns of citizens in an open Internet platform where delivery services can get these information for better planning of their delivery tours

MOSCA - SUSTAIN for the assessment of noise reduction measures (in cities) in a monetary way

MOSCA - SHORT for the calculation of convenient paths between two points in the case of a dynamic urban traffic network in the situation where travel times along the network arcs are not known in advance with certainty

MOSCA - LINE for the re-planning of vehicle tours in presence of unexpected events such as a new customer request or a traffic jam

MOSCA - TOUR for the planning of delivery operations for a given customers set, given a fleet of fixed capacity trucks and road network conditions - time dependent vehicle routing problem

Relaxed cost benefit analysis as a sensitivity analysis which can find the best solution/ alternative if the cost levels (e.g. for noise exposure) vary.

Possible interactions between the modules have been evaluated:

MOSCA-FREIGHT delivers data on traffic flows for MOSCA-SUSTAIN but it is also able to estimate the effects on the transport network if e.g. MOSCA-SHOP or MOSCA-NET were implemented in the city. The relaxed cost benefit analysis allows an overall and standardised comparison of different measures in a city which were modelled and assessed by use of MOSCA-FREIGHT and MOSCA-SUSTAIN. The MOSCA-SHORT, MOSCA-LINE and MOSCA-TOUR modules represent algorithms which improve the tour planning of transport operators.

They make use of the output of a transport model in the wider sense and vice versa the information on the tours can be used in a transport model like MOSCA-FREIGHT for calibration.

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6.2 Outlook

The software tools and methods are now available at different maturity stages and the experiences from their implementation in the test sites show the potential for this future exploitation.

The MOSCA-FREIGHT prototype will become a new product and also the prototypical application MOSCA-SUSTAIN will be used as a consulting application. MOSCA-TOUR, MOSCA-SHORT and MOSCA-LINE are scientific prototypes to become customisable applications for products. MOSCA-SHOP and MOSCA-NET finally represent first examples to be further developed towards first scientific prototypes. The method of the relaxed cost benefit analysis is implemented as software application. For the future further improvements are foreseen. The aim is to establish the relaxed cost benefit analysis as a widely used evaluation method.

Legal Framework

In future planning and control of traffic and transport will gain more and more importance. In view of a better efficiency and routes optimisation, the MOSCA goal is the promotion of new approaches introducing more intelligence in the transport infrastructure planning and use. This is in line with the EC policies regarding INTELLIGENT INFRASTRUCTURE and GOODS URBAN TRANSPORT.

MOSCA puts particular emphasis on the use of telematics in “mobility chains” for freight, promoting competitiveness, economic growth and employment, safety and operational efficiency. Transportation and the mobility of goods will be facilitated by the MOSCA information and communication system modules providing traffic management and other transport planning services.

The MOSCA-SUSTAIN module, for example, fulfils requirements of the new EC Noise Directive (2002/49/EC). The aim of this EC-directive is to define a common approach for all member states to avoid, prevent or reduce harmful effects, including annoyance, due to the exposure of environmental noise. This new regulation should be the basis for all European governments when developing noise reduction measures. One part of the Directive requires that all cities with more than 250.000 inhabitants have to create strategic noise maps and action plans until midyear 2007. This part can be covered by MOSCA-SUSTAIN but the requirements are rather high and detailed input-data are necessary like e.g. traffic flows according to different vehicle types. These data have to be provided by high level and integrated transport models. The MOSCA-FREIGHT module represents an important step towards the set up of such high level and integrated transport models as it allows to regard both the passenger, the freight and the commercial transport in urban areas. It delivers traffic flows according to selected vehicle types which might have e.g. different levels of emissions.

The MOSCA-FREIGHT module allows also making an estimation of the effects on the transport network if new kinds of measures are realised like e.g. the implementation of the new MOSCA-SHOP or MOSCA-NET modules. In future it will become more and more important to carry out plausible estimations of the effects of all kinds of transport related measures. Especially the effects on the facilities of industry or trade in combination with the living conditions of the citizens are of high interest.

In this context also the evaluation and assessment of potential measures to be implemented will get more and more extensive. A method like the relaxed cost benefit analysis realised as a software tool facilitates the decision of the city planners between alternative measures. It represents therefore a very valuable decision support tool.

Operational Framework

The prototypical MOSCA developments and algorithms will flow into new products developments to harmonize freight related urban transport planning (e.g. optimisation from public side) and might also lead to an improvement of transport planning tools for private operators. MOSCA is a new approach offering advantages due to the growing interest of cities in goods movements and to the expected e-business caused structural changes within city delivery. Thus an increasing demand for urban planning and modeling tools is expected leading to an increase of turnover and market gain in the next years.

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The MOSCA outcomes will be used at the policy planning level, in order to evaluate the impact of alternative structural and managerial decisions, enabling a more efficient and sustainable development of urban goods delivery systems all over Europe.

Not only the city planners will work with better and more detailed reflections of their traffic networks but also the transport operators will ask for more detailed and up-to-date traffic information. Up to now online traffic information or new urgent orders are not (or only rarely) integrated in the tour planning of the transport operators. In future the more difficult traffic conditions but also the higher service requirements of the clients will ask for a more precise and flexible transport organisation. The new algorithms (MOSCA-SHORT / MOSCA-LINE / MOSCA-TOUR) developed within MOSCA project can make use of these information and allow the transport operators to immediately integrate special events like e.g. traffic jam or construction sites in their tour planning systems. Also time-patterns of the shops or private clients (MOSCA-SHOP / MOSCA-NET) can be integrated which allow a more efficient pick-up and delivery planning. These abilities will certainly contribute in the competitiveness of the transport operators.

It can be concluded that not only the more difficult traffic conditions but also the new legislation and customer requirements will ask for a wide use of new transport planning and assessment tools in the future. The MOSCA modules are therefore important tools to meet the future challenges in European cities and regions.

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7. PROJECT DATA AND CONTACT DETAILS

Project Data

Contract: IST-2000-29557

Starting date: 1st July 2001 Duration: 24 months

Total Cost: 1.880.459 EURO EC Contribution: 956.857 EURO

Project web site URL: http://www.idsia.ch/mosca

Project Participants: modules and test sites

Participant name Module and

Test site

Participant short name

Country

PTV Planung Transport Verkehr AG

MOSCA-FREIGHT

Stuttgart, Chemnitz

PTV DE

FIT Consulting srl Padova FIT I

Universitaet Karlsruhe (TH) MOSCA-SUSTAIN MOSCA-NET MOSCA-SHOP

Stuttgart, Padova, Lugano

UNIKARL DE

Istituto Dalle Molle di Studi sull’Intelligenza Artificiale

MOSCA-SHORT MOSCA-TOUR MOSCA-LINE

Stuttgart, Padova, Lugano

IDSIA CH

The Chancellor, Masters and Schoolares of the University of Cambridge

Relaxed CBA UCAM-JIMS UK

Interporto di Padova spa Padova INTERPD I

ENEA - Ente per le nuove tecnologie, l’energia e l’ambiente

Padova ENEA I

Commissione Regionale dei Trasporti del Luganese – Piano dei Trasporti del Luganese

Lugano CRTL-PTL CH

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Contact details

Project Co-ordinator: Massimo Marciani

Project Manager: Paola Cossu

Organisation: FIT Consulting srl

Address: Vai dei Calefati, snc - 01028 Orte (VT), Italy

Tel: +39 0761 490026

Fax: +39 0761 403054

E-mail: info@fitconsulting.it