Digital Twins: A Critical Discussion on Their Potential for Supporting Policy-Making and Planning in Urban Logistics

Edoardo Marcucci, Valerio Gatta, Michela Le Pira, Lisa Hansson and Svein Bråthen
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Edoardo Marcucci: Faculty of Logistics, Molde University College, 6410 Molde, Norway
Valerio Gatta: Faculty of Logistics, Molde University College, 6410 Molde, Norway
Michela Le Pira: Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Lisa Hansson: Faculty of Logistics, Molde University College, 6410 Molde, Norway
Svein Bråthen: Faculty of Logistics, Molde University College, 6410 Molde, Norway

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 24, 1-15

Abstract: Poor logistics efficiency, due to low load factors caused by high demand fragmentation, will have relevant negative consequences for cities in terms of pollution, congestion and overall city liveability. Policy-makers should equip themselves with appropriate tools to perform reliable, comprehensive and timely analyses of urban logistics scenarios, also considering upcoming (i) technological changes, (ii) business model evolutions and (iii) spatial-temporal changes these innovations will produce. This paper discusses the Digital Twin (DT) concept, illustrating the role it might play and clarifying how to properly conceive it with respect to urban freight transport policy-making and planning. The main message is that without a sound theory and knowledge with respect to the relationships linking contextual reality and choice/behaviour, it is not possible to make sense of what happens in the real world. Therefore, the joint use of behavioural and simulation models should characterise a DT within a Living Lab approach so to stimulate effective, well-informed and participated planning processes, but also to forecast both behaviour and reactions to structural changes and policy measures implementations.

Keywords: digital twins; urban freight; living lab; behavioural models; policy; planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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