Optimal consolidation center to improve urban freight transport: a case of student accommodation in a higher education institution

Cities across the world are expanding as a result of urbanization, resulting in growing demand for goods and services, mainly through online sales. This has resulted in the need for an urban consolidation center (UCC) to minimize travel and optimize deliveries, particularly in student accommodation settings. In this paper, we examine how an optimal consolidation center can improve urban freight transport. We conducted a multi-method and in-depth case study of student halls of residence within a UK higher education institution. In addition, we analyzed a rich secondary dataset including location, parcel, and vehicle data. We developed and tested three scenarios to present an optimal urban consolidation scenarios model using a Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) solver; indicating the transportation costs, distance travelled, and CO₂ emitted. The operationalization of the optimal UCC as well as the limitations on direct and indirect cost, accessibility, and collaboration are discussed. Our findings show the impact of having an ideal pickup point that would give students the ability to collect their parcels effortlessly and make the return of goods easier for students. As such, we extend extant studies on the implications for urban consolidation center theory and practice.