Low-Altitude Logistics with Physical Internet

Shenle Pan ()
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Shenle Pan: Centre for Management Science, I3 - UMR CNRS 9217, PSL University, Mines Paris

A chapter in Proceeding of the 19th International Congress on Logistics and Supply Chain Management Systems, 2026, pp 87-98 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This paper explores the integration of Low-Altitude Logistics (LAL), primarily enabled by drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), within the Physical Internet (PI) paradigm to address the evolving demands of city logistics. LAL offers rapid and flexible last-mile delivery capabilities, while PI aims to restructure logistics networks through modularity, openness, and hyperconnectivity. Although both concepts have garnered increasing attention independently, their combined application remains underexplored. Based on recent literature, this study identifies the operational, regulatory, and infrastructural challenges involved in deploying delivery drones and evaluates how PI principles and key components, such as PI-containers, PI-hubs, and PI-routing protocols, can mitigate these barriers. Several use cases and implementation scenarios are presented to illustrate how PI-based infrastructure can facilitate the effective integration of drones and strengthen the resilience of urban logistics networks. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for further research on the deployment strategies, digital infrastructure, and policy frameworks required to support this convergence.

Keywords: low-altitude economy; low-altitude logistics; logistics operations; physical internet; smart cities; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-981-95-7700-2_7

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DOI: 10.1007/978-981-95-7700-2_7

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