A statistical analysis for micro-simulation of UDC operativity

An Urban Distribution Center (UDC) is a useful City Logistics policy instrument. A UDC is a logistic site dedicated to decompose and consolidate freight directed to the city, by planning the routes and service time, restricting the traffic of trucks and increasing the load factor of feeder vehicles. A UDC can produce interesting impacts on the dynamics of urban freight distribution, but its success depends on many factors: an appropriate location; a well-balanced presence of spaces and equipment; an efficient and effective organization of internal services; a connection with the surrounding area and with the related transport services; a management structure that meets different and complementary requirements; a capacity to support itself. The paper proposes an analysis of the functional organization of a UDC through a "what if" micro-simulation approach aimed at the UDC efficiency control. After a review of the state of the art, a procedure to implement a discrete-event micro-simulation model is described. Probability functions concerning the times of UDC activities are proposed. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of APAAS