Optimization of urban mobility of people and freight: models and algorithms to design policies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions

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Mobility in urban centers is the new logistics challenge affecting industries, governments, and citizens. Congestion and its consequences are the obstacles to overcome in a sustainable society. They stem from many logistics decisions that could be better optimized. Our project in urban mobility aims to develop innovative methodologies for integrated transportation beyond just evaluating what new technology enables but also by partnering with end-users (public and private partners, including a city administration, a nonprofit organization, and a freight carrier) capable of exploiting technology and our research results to their full extent. This project proposes new lines of research through the integration of modern technologies, breaking the interfaces between interdisciplinary domains, and developing advanced models and solution algorithms for different problems arising in the living environments that are urban centers.Our project is designed around three intertwined objectives and expected results: (i) optimizing freight transportation systems by collaboration, consolidation, and mutualization schemes, allowing for far greater efficiency and decreased costs for all parties;(ii) improving mobility for people (optimizing itineraries, considering the full cost of their commute, improving transit systems and services offered to the handicapped/elderly);(iii) leveraging the integration and opportunities for people to transport freight and for public transport systems to transport boxes during low-demand periods.