INNOVATEX - I3X - 19
Innovating towards Restorative and Regenerative Urban
Mobility and Logistics
Initiating Partner: University of Siena (UNISI), Italy
Initiating Partners' Contact: Elena Pessot, Associate Professor, Department of Information Engineering and Mathematics, Department of Business and Law, Department of Social, Political and Cognitive Sciences
Research Groups / Units:
Department of Information Engineering and Mathematics (DIISM). UNISI is one of European oldest Universities (founded in 1240) and has been involved in more than 150 research projects financed within the 7th Framework Program, Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, and others with both roles of coordinator and partner. UNISI is also experienced, among 8 MSCA Individual/Post-doctoral Fellowships, 12 MSCA ITN/DN, 6 MSCA RISE/SE and 5 MSCA NIGHT/CITIZENS projects. UNISI achieved the “Human Resources Strategy for Researchers-HRS4R” EC label. Research at the Department of Information Engineering and Mathematics combines fundamental research and development of new technologies, with the aim of applying them to problems of considerable social and economic impact. The research areas span the whole field of information engineering: computer science, control systems, electrical engineering, electromagnetics, electronics and measurements, telecommunications. A research group dealing with atomic physics and laser spectroscopy is also present. Technology transfer activities are aimed at creating synergies between the research carried out at DIISM and the needs of private and public companies, with specific attention to those of the Tuscany region. Participation in industrial districts and competence centers, technology scouting and assessment, diffusion of innovation, creation of spin-off and startup companies, promotion of the scientific and technological culture, are all objectives of the DIISM activities.
What are the desired outcomes of I3X-19?
The University of Siena is looking for interdisciplinary collaboration to develop innovative solutions that integrate urban mobility and city logistics into more resilient, restorative and regenerative urban systems.
The objective is to explore how digital technologies, collaborative governance and sustainable planning can transform the interaction between the movement of people and goods, creating cities that are more liveable, climate-resilient and socially inclusive.
This I3X aims to develop new planning approaches, governance models and decision-support tools that enable municipalities, logistics providers, mobility operators, businesses and citizens to co-design integrated regenerative urban ecosystems. Particular emphasis is placed on AI-enabled Digital Twins, data-driven decision making, walkability, accessibility, sustainable last-mile logistics and public-private collaboration.
The I3X seeks also approaches to generate practical frameworks, innovative business models and participatory approaches that support the transition towards urban mobility and logistics systems delivering environmental, social and economic value while strengthening resilience, restoration and regeneration in cities.
R&I Stage: Idea / Conceptualization & Pilot / Proof of Concept & Early Implementation.
What skills and capabilities (across disciplines) would be beneficial for I3X-19?
Cities are currently undergoing profound transformations driven by climate change, digitalization, changing mobility behaviors and the rapid expansion of e-commerce, on-demand services and urban deliveries. While considerable progress has been made in promoting active mobility, low-emission transport and Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs), the increasing demand for last-mile deliveries often competes with the objectives of creating walkable, liveable and climate-resilient urban environments. Achieving the twin – i.e. digital and green – transition of urban mobility and logistics requires competences in logistics optimization, urban planning and design, data science and GIS, environmental modelling, business model innovation and public-private partnerships, with a stronger collaboration among municipalities, logistics providers, mobility operators, technology developers, researchers, citizens and policy-makers to co-create integrated socio-technical approaches capable of balancing environmental sustainability and social value.
Examples of Challenges that need to be addressed for I3X-19?
Since future cities require a fundamental rethinking of how urban mobility and logistics can evolve from parallel systems into mutually reinforcing components of regenerative urban ecosystems, the key research challenges that can be addressed through this I3X, include:
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Integrating urban mobility and city logistics into common (dual-purpose) planning and governance frameworks
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Improving methods for collecting and analyzing integrated spatial data on pedestrian mobility and freight transports considering accessibility, walkability and safety
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Developing AI-enabled Digital Twins capable of simulating dynamic interactions among passenger mobility, freight transport, environmental conditions, public space use and urban infrastructure to support evidence-based decision-making
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Defining new business models and new performance indicators measuring not only transport efficiency but also resilience, restoration, regeneration, public health, environmental quality, social inclusion, accessibility and overall urban liveability.
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Rethinking existing solutions in mobility and logistics and elaborate future scenarios for climate adaptation, restoration and regeneration
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Building participatory, multi-stakeholders’ studies and open innovation labs (e.g. living labs) to study impacts on the overall value chain, from manufacturers to final users and policy.
I3X-19 Alignment to R3 - Resilience, Restoration, Regeneration
Resilience
Increasing cities' capacity to adapt urban mobility and logistics systems to climate, technological and societal disruptions.
Restoration
Reducing the environmental and social impacts of freight transport and mobility in cities while rehabilitating public spaces for people and walkability.
Regeneration
Envisioning the synergy between urban logistics (goods) and mobility (people) as a catalyst for healthier, more inclusive, more sustainable and more livable neighborhoods that integrate mobility services and community well-being.
Related Keywords:
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Urban mobility; twin transition; last-mile logistics; digital twins; open innovation ecosystems; circular economy.