Journal of Transport and Land Use

The relationship between commodity types, spatial characteristics, and distance optimality of logistics facilities

Takanori Sakai

Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology

Kazuya Kawamura

University of Illinois at Chicago

Tetsuro Hyodo

Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5198/jtlu.2018.1363

Keywords: urban freight distribution, land use, city logistics, logistics sprawl

---

Abstract

We analyze the relationship between the location of logistics facilities and the goods vehicle travel distances for the shipments associated with the facilities, using data from a large urban freight survey conducted in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area in 2013. Our analysis categorizes the logistics facilities into groups based on the type of commodity they handle. The analysis sheds light on the complex relationship between the location and “distance optimality gap,” defined as the gap between the minimum travel distance possible and the actual distance traveled by goods vehicles. The results indicate that, while the lack of available space for logistics land use near the urban center leads to significant distance optimality gaps for some logistics facility groups, such as those handling daily goods, these same locations may not be advantageous for others. Also, the logistics facilities in the exurbs are likely to have large distance optimality gaps because these locations are often far away from the origins and destinations of their shipments. In terms of land-use policy, the study reveals that simply concentrating logistics facilities near the urban core or suburbs may not reduce truck traffic. Detailed data on logistics facilities and shipments are crucial for formulating effective approaches to improve the distance optimality of logistics land use.

---

Author Biographies

Takanori Sakai, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology

Postdoctoral Associate

Kazuya Kawamura, University of Illinois at Chicago

Professor Department of Urban Planning and Policy

Tetsuro Hyodo, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

Professor Department of Logistics and Information Engineering

---

References

Aljohani, K., & Thompson, R. G. (2016). Impacts of logistics sprawl on the urban environment and logistics: Taxonomy and review of literature. Journal of Transport Geography, 57, 255–263.

Cidell, J. (2010). Concentration and decentralization: The new geography of freight distribution in US metropolitan areas. Journal of Transport Geography, 18(3), 363–371.

Dablanc, L., & Rakotonarivo, D. (2010). The impacts of logistics sprawl: How does the location of parcel transport terminals affect the energy efficiency of goods’ movements in Paris and what can we do about it? Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2(3), 6087–6096.

Dablanc, L., & Ross, C. (2012). Atlanta: A mega logistics center in the Piedmont Atlantic Megaregion (PAM). Journal of Transport Geography, 24, 432–442.

Dablanc, L., Ogilvie, S., & Goodchild, A. (2014). Logistics sprawl: Differential warehousing development patterns in Los Angeles, California, and Seattle, Washington. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2410, 105–112.

Heitz, A., & Beziat, A. (2016). The parcel industry in the spatial organization of logistics activities in the Paris Region: Inherited spatial patterns and innovations in urban logistics systems. Transportation Research Procedia, 12, 812–824.

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. (2010). National census. Retrieved from http://e-stat.go.jp/SG2/eStatGIS/page/download.html.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. (2008). National land numerical information (port). Retrieved from http://nlftp.mlit.go.jp/ksj/gml/datalist/KsjTmplt-C02.html

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. (2014a). National land numerical information (administrative zones). Retrieved from http://nlftp.mlit.go.jp/ksj/gml/datalist/KsjTmplt-N03.html

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. (2014b). National land numerical information (airport). Retrieved from http://nlftp.mlit.go.jp/ksj/gml/datalist/KsjTmplt-C28-v2_3.html

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. (2014c). National land numerical information (expressway time-series). Retrieved from http://nlftp.mlit.go.jp/ksj/gml/datalist/KsjTmplt-N06-v1_1.html

Raimbault, N., Andriankaja, D., & Paffoni, E. (2012). Understanding the diversity of logistics facilities in the Paris region. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 39, 543–555.

Richardson, B. C. (2005). Sustainable transport: Analysis frameworks. Journal of Transport Geography, 13(1), 29–39.

Sakai, T., Kawamura, K., & Hyodo, T. (2015). Locational dynamics of logistics facilities: Evidence from Tokyo. Journal of Transport Geography, 46, 10–19.

Sakai, T., Kawamura, K., & Hyodo, T. (2016a). Location choice models of urban logistics facilities and the impact of zoning on their spatial distribution and efficiency. Paper presented at the 95th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington DC.

Sakai, T., Kawamura, K., & Hyodo, T. (2016b). Logistics facility distribution in Tokyo Metropolitan Area: Experiences and policy lessons. Transportation Research Procedia, 12, 263–277.

Sakai, T., Kawamura, K., & Hyodo, T. (2017). Spatial reorganization of urban logistics system and its impacts: Case of Tokyo. Journal of Transport Geography, 60, 110–118.

Taniguchi, E., Thompson, R. G., & Yamada, T. (2016). New opportunities and challenges for city logistics. Transportation Research Procedia, 12, 5–13.

Todesco, P., Weidmann, U., & Haefeli, U. (2016). Logistics sprawl in the Region Zurich. Paper presented at the 16th Swiss Transport Research Conference. Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland.

Wagner, T. (2010). Regional traffic impacts of logistics-related land use. Transport Policy, 17(4), 224–229.

Woudsma, C., Jakubicek, P., & Dablanc, L. (2016). Logistics sprawl in North America: Methodological issues and a case study in Toronto. Transportation Research Procedia, 12, 474–488.