Integration of UAVs with public transit for delivery: Quantifying system benefits and policy implications

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2024

Subject Area

place - asia, place - urban, planning - integration, policy - congestion, policy - environment, policy - sustainable, technology - emissions, economics - revenue

Keywords

Unmanned aerial vehicles, Public transportation, Mode integration, Public transit revenue, System benefits

Abstract

The maturation and scalability of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology offer transformative opportunities to revolutionize prompt delivery. This study explores integrating UAVs with public transportation vehicles (PTVs) to establish a novel delivery paradigm that enhances revenue for public transit operators and improves transport system efficiency without compromising passenger convenience or operational efficiency. Employing hexagonal planning technology, this study identifies and quantifies the available spatio-temporal resources of PTVs for UAV integration. This involves aligning the spatio-temporal dynamics of prompt delivery orders with PTV ridership, based on field data from Beijing’s Haidian District. Utilizing these outputs, we quantitatively analyze the benefits of integrating UAVs with PTVs on increasing public transit revenue, and potentials of reducing carbon emissions and mitigating congestion. Furthermore, we quantify the long-term benefits of UAV-PTV integration by predicting future increases in delivery demand. Based on obtained quantitative results, this study discusses practical and policy implications to support the sustainable integration of UAVs with PTVs.

Rights

Permission to publish the abstract has been given by Elsevier, copyright remains with them.

Comments

Transportation Research Part A Home Page:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09658564

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