In its final year of implementation, the SENATOR project is achieving successful pilots in Zaragoza and conducting insightful simulations in Dublin. The cities, designated as Urban Living Labs, are testing solutions in real-world environments with the aim of enhancing efficiency, replicability, and sustainability.

Despite initial challenges as a reult of the COVID-19 pandemic and new data protection regulations, SENATOR has navigated various obstacles that affected development timelines and is making significant progress in its final phase.

Navigating regulatory and technological challenges

The completion of the route optimisation algorithm by the University of Deusto and the implementation of the dashboard by DOTGIS at the beginning of the year have enabled the start of the project’s pilots and simulations, as well as the collection of initial data on the algorithm’s efficiency.

To address limitations such as data anonymisation, standardisation, and normalisation, the project has incorporated various additional technological developments to adequately integrate the information into the platform. These efforts, led by the technology teams from the University of Deusto and Correos, include everything from anonymising data and geolocating shipments to integrating real-time route information.

“Numerous technological developments were necessary to support the optimiser and launch the pilots, but we knew innovation is complex, and we are very grateful for the teams’ efforts,” explains Ángela Núñez, coordinator of SENATOR.

Success in route optimisation simulations in Zaragoza

Within the framework of the pilot in Spain, preliminary tests of the route optimisation system have confirmed the algorithm’s proper functioning, showcasing its significant ability to enhance logistics route management efficiency.

For the development of this pilot, various pre-established routes for temperature-controlled deliveries were compared with those generated by the SENATOR platform, considering different scenarios and various constraints, such as delivery orders, time slots, and delivery times.

“These results underscore the potential of SENATOR to enhance operational efficiency and productivity. Although it has not yet been tested in the daily operations of the logistics operator, the theoretical results are promising,” notes Núñez.

Following this theoretical phase of algorithm training, efforts are now focused on the ability to adjust and modify delivery routes in real time to address unforeseen changes in daily operations. This involves developing the functionality to incorporate additional orders into ongoing routes as part of a dynamic re-planning of delivery routes.

Digital transformation of urban infrastructure in Dublin

In Dublin, the pilot project for virtual kerbside management, which started in October 2022, has been selected as one of the 35 exemplar transport projects under Ireland’s National Pathfinder Programme by the Department of Transport. This programme plays a key role in the implementation of the National Sustainable Mobility Policy Recommendations.

Led by Dublin City Council (DCC) as part of SENATOR Project, the pilot involves creating a digital and dynamic map of kerbside assets, including city’s loading and unloading zones. The SENATOR platform now has an inventory of more than 15 unique assets with 4000+ data points for 60+ kerb kilometres.

Additionally, as a part of the pilot project on digital loading bays and following recommendations from the city’s transport and An Post teams, DCC has installed 49 sensors in nine strategically identified locations in congested loading and unloading areas, offering real-time availability updates via a web platform and mobile application. This technology allows delivery drivers to head towards available points, leading to a reduction in traffic caused by vehicles looking for space and, thereby, also air pollution.

The Dublin pilots (kerbside management and urban consolidation centres) have now also been included as the case studies in the National Demand Management Strategy (Moving Together Strategy) by the Department of Transport.

Progress and future directions in SENATOR implementation

In the coming months, the development of the pilots will continue, along with the analysis of results and the calculation of the necessary indicators to evaluate the SENATOR technology and its value in improving the cities of Dublin and Zaragoza.

As part of the Zaragoza pilots, Correos and Correos Express are preparing to conduct the real-world pilot in Zaragoza. This will allow for the efficiency of the collaboration between the two networks in daily operations to be measured. The process will assess the impact on operational times and efficiency, as well as address challenges related to information integration and real-time management.

In Dublin, as the pilots continue, An Post and Dublin City Council, both of which are SENATOR consortium members, plan on streamlining the theoretical trials using available data sets on city infrastructure (kerbside maps), parcels deliveries (data from An Post) and route optimisation to test multiple scenarios. This will provide an opportunity to test out different scenarios in an urban environment on the SENATOR Platform.

The SENATOR project has brought together multiple stakeholders in the logistics sector in both Zaragoza and Dublin, and has thereby provided an opportunity to work for these actors to work together towards a common goal of having a greener city.

Author: Mónica Pérez

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