Business Management - Next generation urban logistics for a carbon-zero city of the future

Supervisor: Professor Tolga Bektas

Bio: I received a PhD in Industrial Engineering from Bilkent University in 2005 and subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at CIRRELT at the University of Montreal in Quebec. Prior to joining the University of Liverpool Management School in September 2018, I was Professor of Logistics Management and Head of Department of Decision Analytics & Risk at the Southampton Business School, where I worked for 11 years.

My research interests are in the application of mathematical modelling and optimisation techniques to problems arising in freight transportation and distribution planning, and in supply chain networks, with a particular focus on improving the environmental performance of such systems. I have been investigator in a number of externally funded projects on railway timetable optimisation, maintenance planning in sea vessels and last-mile distribution in cities. Most of the projects I have been involved in were multi-disciplinary in nature, and carried out in collaboration with disciplines such as mathematics, engineering, computer science, urban planning and transport studies. Within the University, I am interested in the research themes on sustainable and resilient cities, digital and heritage. I am also interested in linking up with businesses, particularly local SMEs, to collaborate on projects looking to optimise performance and efficiency using analytical approaches.

Email: T.Bektas@liverpool.ac.uk

School: Management

Department: Business Management

Module code: ULMS201

Suitable for students of: Data Science and Analytics, Industrial Engineering, Business Analytics, Management Science, Operational Research.

Desired experience or requirements: Computer programming

Places available: 1

Start dates: 16 June 2025 only

Virtual option: No - hybrid and in-person only

Project length: 8 weeks

Project description:

Conventional logistics and distribution models in urban areas, relying on heavy and light goods vehicles, contribute significantly to traffic congestion, kerbside space consumption, noise, and air pollution due to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon. These impacts harm public health and quality of life, and are exacerbated by the growing consumer demand for same-day delivery services. Urban areas often witness multiple couriers making hundreds of daily deliveries with partially loaded vehicles, leading to inefficiencies and competition for limited parking spaces. While transport management and planning have traditionally focussed on promoting sustainable travel and public transport, the operation of goods and service logistics systems in urban environments, their interaction with other transport activities and the existing infrastructure require greater attention. The vision of carbon-free urban logistics by 2030 underscores the need for innovative solutions. This project aims to contribute to this vision by exploring new business models for urban freight, and employing quantitative tools, such as data analytics, optimisation and simulation to improve the economic, environmental, and social performance of urban logistics systems.

Additional Requirements: N/A