Research and innovation

COFRET / Carbon footprint of freight transport 
The European Commision 7th Framework programme project. Duration 2011-2013. The high level objective of projectare to produce a complete carbon emissions estimation methodology and framework in the context of complex supply chains, related to an EU context. This estimation methodology and framework shall cover the shipment level, the transport relation level, the company level and the more aggregated transport and logistics sector level. CO2 is in the focus of the project but if that would be applicable project team we will also consider other greenhouse gases in a quantitative or in a qualitative manner. Global Warming Potential (GWP) coming from the so called ‘F-gases’ in temperature controlled transport and warehousing processes will also be considered, as well as emissions caused by terminal processes, warehousing and other components of the supply chain. In specific circumstances data availability will not allow quantitative results then qualitative explanation will be given. Project aims to demonstrate the methodology for estimating these emissions using case studies from the industry (as part of their supply chains) and governance: i.e. by the shipping industries, transport service providers and governments / policy makers.

 

 

 

CLOSER/ Connecting Long and Short-distance networks for Efficient transport 
The European Commision 7th Framework programme project. Project duration 2010-201. The purpose of CLOSER is to build upon existing research and practice, developing innovative tools for the analysis of interfaces, check these tools in a number of case studies, and make specific recommendations to stakeholders in order to get more systematic approach to the whole project cycle of interfaces (from planning to design and operation). Projects improves mechanisms for funding those concepts with a higher degree of integration (including EU funding schemes) and in-depth involves of stakeholders, particularly transport operators. CLOSER deals with the development and analysis of new mobility schemes and related organisational patterns at the interface and interconnection between long distance transport networks and local/regional transport networks of all modes. Project coordinator - CEDEX / Centro de Estudios y Experimentación de Obras Públicas (Madrid).

 

 

 

BESTUFS II / Best urban freight solutions II 
The European Commision 6th Framework programme project. Project duration 2005-2008. BESTUFS II was regarded as a follow up project to the successful 5th FP project BESTUFS. Building on the structure and experience gained from this project, BESTUFS II is augmented mainly for achieving a broader geographic coverage of the existing BESTUFS network on urban freight, including the identification and dissemination of project results and best practices of City Logistics Solutions (CLS). BESTUFS II provided and disseminated urban freight transport guides translated in many EU languages as well as organised seminars in national language. Project coordinator PTV AG (Germany).

 

 

INLOC / Integrating Logistics Centre Networks in the Baltic Sea Region 
Baltic Sea Region Interreg III B NP project, which aims at improving the competitiveness and attractiveness of the Baltic Sea region in relation to other European regions through transnational co-operation on spatial planning and improvement of transport and communication links. The project period is 2004 - 2007. The InLoC project involves 35 partner organisations from nine Baltic Sea countries. The main objective of the project is to improve the networking and operation of ports, logistics centres and other logistics operators. Project coordinator University of Turku.

 

 

 

INTRASEA / Inland Transports on Sea Routes 
Baltic Sea Region Interreg III B NP project carried in 2003-2006. INTRASEA is an interregional project developing the inland waterways in the Baltic Sea region. The INTRASEA project focusing on: developing the EU transport policy regarding inland waterways; develop tools for economical and environmental justifications for infrastructure projects; developing the integration of spatial planning; networking for international sub-regional/European inland waterway cooperation; developing and disseminating possibilities to use inland waterways for tourism. INTRASEA analyse future infrastructure investments in the Inland Waterways network in the Baltic Sea Region for maximum utilisation. The existing tourist and logistic Inland Waterways in the Baltic Sea Region is evaluated within the INTRASEA project. The multi and intermodal transportation chains is evaluated to identify operational and organisational structure problems. The potential modal shift from road to inland waterway in an environmentally friendly way is also an important task on the INTRASEA agenda. The project aims now to carry the INTRASEA VISION2020+ forward, using the INTRASEA Strategy set up for this fulfilment as guidance for future success.

 

 

PROMIT 
PROMIT is a European Coordination Action (CA) for intermodal freight transport initiating, facilitating and supporting the coordination and cooperation of national and European initiatives, projects, promotion centres, technology providers, research institutes and user groups related to this most complex transport form. The strategic PROMIT objective is to contribute to a faster improvement and implementation of intermodal transport technologies and procedures and to help promoting intermodal logistics and mode shift by creating awareness on innovations, best practices and intermodal transport opportunities for potential users as well as for politicians and for the research community. The project implementation covers a 3-year period, where 3 Intermodal Innovation Day Conferences and at least 15 cluster Workshops will be organised in addition to the dissemination via brochures, newsletter and Internet homepage. PROMIT will raise synergies in the European intermodal community and contribute to policy initiatives on national and European level supporting the shift of transports from road to Intermodal transport modes.

 

 

MOTOS / Transport Modeling: Towards Operational Standards in Europe 
The European Commision 6th Framework programme project (2006). The high level objective of the MOTOS project isto support transport policy in Europe, by defining common good practice principles for national and regional transport modelling that satisfy immediate needs of model developers in the new Member States and contribute to the establishment of a standardized approach for transport modelling in the European Union. The MOTOS project puts considerable effort into determining user needs from model developers and policy makers. This user needs analysis is reinforced by targeted workshops in the new member states. In continuation, MOTOS identifies and describes best practices and common pitfalls in setting up, enhancing and linking national and regional transport models. Common best practice principles are defined for the most important processes identified in the user needs analysis. User involvement is central in the MOTOS approach. At the start of the project a Steering Group of users is established. This groupprovides feedback on draft versions of the project outputs. Project coordinator Goudappel Coffeng BV (Netherlands).