A Methodology to Anticipate the Activity Level of Collaborative Networks: The Case of Urban Consolidation Centers

Abstract

This article presents a methodology relative to the assessment of a particular measure in city logistics: Urban Consolidation Centers (UCCs). We identify that this kind of collaborative network is, often, poorly evaluated and thus operates in a way that is neither sustainable nor efficient. By mobilizing several fields of knowledge, such as operational research, game theory, and transportation studies on real cases, we propose a solution to anticipate the activity level of a UCC and determine the condition under which it generates benefits for carriers. The aim is to provide a suitable aid to public decision makers in territorial management. The study concludes by an application of the method on the test case of the city of Saint-Etienne, France.