Some observations
regarding the
digital future
of freight transportation
Per Olof Arnäs, PhD
Chalmers University of Technology
Service Management and Logistics
per-olof.arnas@chalmers.se
about.me/perolofarnas
Slides: slideshare.net/poar
@Dr_PO
OKIMG_5751 by taymtaym on Flickr (CC-BY)

Doing some Sisyphus work by Kalexanderson on Flickr (CC-BY,NC,SA)
5
GLOBAL
TRENDS
Source: PWC (google: pwc megatrends 2014)

Crowd by James Cridland on Flickr (CC-BY)
Megatrend #1
Demographic
and social
change
Source: PWC (google: pwc megatrends 2014)

Four Storms And A Twister by JD Hancock on Flickr (CC-BY)
Megatrend #2
Shift in
economic
power
Source: PWC (google: pwc megatrends 2014)

Boston Downtown at Night by Werner Kunz on Flickr (CC-BY,NC,SA)
Megatrend #3
Rapid
urbanisation
Source: PWC (google: pwc megatrends 2014)

¡Rayos! by José Eugenio Gómez Rodríguez on Flickr (CC-BY,NC,SA)
Megatrend #4
Climate
change and
resource
scarcity
Source: PWC (google: pwc megatrends 2014)

Megatrend #5
Technological
breakthroughsSource: PWC (google: pwc megatrends 2014)

Demographic
and social
change
Shift in
economic
power
Rapid
urbanisation
Technological
breakthroughsClimate
change and
resource
scarcity
5
GLOBAL
TRENDS

Things are happening outside the
freight industry
(and have been for some time)

Things are happening outside the
freight industry
(and have been for some time)
1957

Things are happening outside the
freight industry
(and have been for some time)
Image: Richard Hancock, twitter.com/CanaryWorf
2015

Gartners Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies
Source: Gartner July 2016
Could affect transportation
and logistics

MobileWorldCongress2016byKārlisDambrānsonFlickr(CC-BY)
Increased use of
digital technology
Digitalization:
Make analogue
information digital
Digitization:
Both are important! (and interesting)

http://www.dhl.com/en/about_us/logistics_insights/dhl_trend_research/trendradar.html
Several of these trends require
digital development

Integration of digital and physical worlds
http://www.sygic.com/gps-navigation/addon/head-up-display

Say hi to the new sensors
http://mobsentech.com

”New” modes of
transport
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50sv4M4rgBM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG76DcXySuw

More automation

The sharing economy hits freight transport
(again and again…)

Servitization
Move up in the
value chain
Upgrade drop points
Consumer services
Expose data
Mall of Scandinavia
http://www.smartcompany.com.au/growth/innovation/41765-online-retailer-offers-
a-courier-that-waits-at-your-door-fashion-advice-not-included.html
https://www.amazon.com/dashbutton
https://www.shyp.com

The Action of New York City by
Trey Ratcliff on Flickr (CC-BY,NC,SA)
Real-time (data driven)
decision making
Data collection
Data processing
Data exploitation
http://mindconnect.se/
http://waze.com
https://mydrive.tomtom.com/

Smart access/guidance control

Smart access/guidance control

Smart access/guidance control

Smart access/guidance control

3 mountaintops to climb…

3 data types
Mountaintop #1
Collection of data in real-time
Fixed Historical Snapshot

Mountaintop #1
Collection of data in real-time
5 data domains
Vehicle CargoDriver Company
Infrastructure/
facility
at least…

Length
Weight
Width
Height
Capacity
+ other PBS-criteria
Emissions
Fuel consumption
Route
Position
Speed
Direction
Weight
Origin
Destination
Accepted ETA
Temperature
+ other state variables
Temperature + other state
variables
Education/training
Speed (ISA)
Rest/break schedule
Traffic behaviour
Belt usage
Alco lock history
Schedule status (time to
next break etc.)
Contracts/
agreements
Previous interactions Backoffice support
Fixed Historical Snapshot
Vehicle
Cargo
Driver
Company
Infrastructure
/facility
Map
+ fixed data layers
Traffic history
Current traffic
Queue
Availability
DATA MATRIX

Mountaintop #2
Processing of data in real-time

Mountaintop #3
Exploiting data in real-time

CASES
(MANY)

CASES
(MANY MORE)

Bitcoin, bitcoin coin, physical bitcoin, bitcoin photo by Antana on Flickr (CC-BY,SA)
Block chain
technology
Records transactions and
data among actors that
do not trust each other
Fully
decentralized
Actors that do not trust each other
= your typical supply chain

http://www.coindesk.com/how-bitcoins-technology-could-make-supply-chains-more-
transparent/
May 31, 2015

http://www.coindesk.com/how-bitcoins-technology-could-make-supply-chains-more-
transparent/
May 31, 2015
https://news.bitcoin.com/future-use-cases-blockchain-technology-parcel-tracking-
regardless-courier/
August 7, 2015

http://www.coindesk.com/how-bitcoins-technology-could-make-supply-chains-more-
transparent/
May 31, 2015
https://news.bitcoin.com/future-use-cases-blockchain-technology-parcel-tracking-
regardless-courier/
August 7, 2015
October 15, 2015

Wave (wavebl.com) Electronic Bill of Lading
Stored in a blockchain

http://www.coindesk.com/how-bitcoins-technology-could-make-supply-chains-more-
transparent/
May 31, 2015
https://news.bitcoin.com/future-use-cases-blockchain-technology-parcel-tracking-
regardless-courier/
August 7, 2015
October 15, 2015
https://news.bitcoin.com/nimber-disrupts-logistics-system-blockchain-matters/
October 31, 2015
October 31, 2015

http://www.coindesk.com/how-bitcoins-technology-could-make-supply-chains-more-
transparent/
May 31, 2015
https://news.bitcoin.com/future-use-cases-blockchain-technology-parcel-tracking-
regardless-courier/
August 7, 2015
October 15, 2015
https://news.bitcoin.com/nimber-disrupts-logistics-system-blockchain-matters/
October 31, 2015
October 31, 2015
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shipping-giant-maersk-tests-blockchain-powered-bills-
lading-1585929
October 12, 2016

http://www.coindesk.com/how-bitcoins-technology-could-make-supply-chains-more-
transparent/
May 31, 2015
https://news.bitcoin.com/future-use-cases-blockchain-technology-parcel-tracking-
regardless-courier/
August 7, 2015
October 15, 2015
https://news.bitcoin.com/nimber-disrupts-logistics-system-blockchain-matters/
October 31, 2015
October 31, 2015
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shipping-giant-maersk-tests-blockchain-powered-bills-
lading-1585929
October 12, 2016
http://www.coindesk.com/europe-biggest-port-blockchain-logistics/
November 29, 2016

http://www.coindesk.com/how-bitcoins-technology-could-make-supply-chains-more-
transparent/
May 31, 2015
https://news.bitcoin.com/future-use-cases-blockchain-technology-parcel-tracking-
regardless-courier/
August 7, 2015
October 15, 2015
https://news.bitcoin.com/nimber-disrupts-logistics-system-blockchain-matters/
October 31, 2015
October 31, 2015
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shipping-giant-maersk-tests-blockchain-powered-bills-
lading-1585929
October 12, 2016
http://www.coindesk.com/europe-biggest-port-blockchain-logistics/
November 29, 2016March 5, 2017

Oct 2015
Oct 2016
Mar 2017
Oct 2013
Apr 2012 Oct 2015
Oct 2016
Mar 2017”Blockchain”
”Blockchain
supply chain”
Just 18 months!

So…
What are we doing
about it then?!

Architecture for EurOpean Logistics Information eXchange
Budget: 16 M€ from the Commission
36 months, Sep 2016 - Aug 2019
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon
2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 690797

Develop necessary interfaces for an integrated syncromodal freight
transport system.
Deploy C-ITS services for freight and logistics by specifying, using and
fostering interoperable and complementary communications technologies.
Promote the potential of new innovative trends such as big data, Internet of
Things and automation for Freight and Logistics
Develop user awareness and promote the use and benefits of ITS and
their associated monetary benefits (business models) to logistics
stakeholders
1
2
3
4

innovation areasInter-
operability Technical Legal Business Communities
Interfaces with
any logistics
information
systems
Distributed open
system through
configurable
plugin APIs
Data access,
privacy
identification,
authentication
Enable low-
complexity and
low-cost
connectivity
Open to all
stakeholders
across modes,
within and
across related
supply chains
Support
continued
development of
standardized
formats
Demand driven
from users
rather than
supply driven
Secure,
Resilient and
Trusted
environment
procedures
Business
models and
public-privater
governance
Towards a
Single European
Transport Area

Dr Per Olof Arnäs Associate professor
Dan Andersson
Associate professor
Gunnar Stefansson
Professor
Stig Franzén
Professor
MariAnne Karlsson
Per Wide. MSc
Doctoral student
Postdoctoral researcher
under recruitment
Postdoctoral researcher
under recruitment
Service Management and Logistics Design & Human Factors
The team at Chalmers
Linda de Vries. Lic Eng
Doctoral student

Engagement

1. Co-creation
2. Active user involvement
3. Real-life setting
4. Multi-stakeholder participation
5. Multi-method approach
Living labs
http://openlivinglabs.eu

•Thessaloniki-Balkans & central Europe via rail/road
•Gothenburg-Hamburg, Bratislava load control
centre, Trieste to three TEN-T corridors
(Scandinavian-Mediterranean, Mediterranean,
Baltic-Adriatic)
•Urban Bordeaux & Atlantic Corridor
•UK - Continental EU - China logistics
•Bucharest-Vienna: Inland waterway
Multi/syncromodalTransport
•Sea ports: Hamburg, Gothenburg, Bordeaux, Trieste
•Railway hubs: Hamburg ,Trieste Northamptonshire
•Inland waterway (barge) terminals:
Bucharest Vienna
•Cities: Bordeaux, Gothenburg
•Virtual freight centres: Thessaloniki Industrial Area
Intelligent Hubs
•The whole logistics network, incl. ports, inland
transport (road, train, barge) in The Netherlands,
Germany and Spain
•All sites that will cover multi/ synchromodal
transport
Network Optimisation

Consortium

Standardisation Bodies: CEN, ETSI, GS1
Networks : ITS Germany, TTS Italy, ITS UK, ITS HELLAS, ITS Germany, ITS
Sweden, CLECAT, Wolfsburg, Cluster Canario (CCTL), TLF, Logistik- och
transportstiftelsen LTS
Users: a-PAK, Road Cargo Sweden, Tjörns Bilservice AB, Greenery Zuid
Europa, Gecoinsa, Movelco Mobility, LTS, CABLERIAS Group, ECUS
Technological companies: XEROX, Go Swift, R-IPS, Portbase, Consenso,
Kaleido Ideas & Logistics, Little Electric Car España, Exla Plásticos, Mymo
Addons, Cargospace 24
Public Authorities: US/DOT, French Ministry of Transport, German Ministry of
Transport, Italian Ministry of Transport, Romanian Border Police, Romanian
Naval Authority (RNA), Business Region Göteborg, Hessen Traffic
Management, City of Hamburg, Port of Gothenburg, Port of Vienna, Swedish
Maritime Administration, Trieste Marine Terminal, Transporte Augusto,
Swedish Customs, Swedish Transport Administration, VINNOVA
Research Centres and test facilities: Transport planning and research
Institute (MOT) China, VIGOTEC
Associatedpartners *Swedish

DREAMIT
Digital REal-time Access Management in Intermodal Transportation
Collection
and
processing
of data…
…in real-time
to enable
better decision
making and
thereby a
more
sustainable
transportation
system
Management of the process
where actors are given
access to resources to
perform activities
Example: Collect a container
in port. It will be made
available at the right time, to
the right haulier, in the right
condition etc.
Intermodal transportation systems are
particularly exposed to the effekts of
poorly coordinated actors, resources
and activities in links and nodes.
A cost intensive business as this, with
low operating margins and large
investment levels, need to - to be able
to compete long-term - exploit modern
technology as much as possible .

DREAMIT
Digital REal-time Access Management in Intermodal Transportation
Dr Per Olof Arnäs Associate professor
Gunnar Stefansson
MSc Stefan Jacobsson
Doctoral student
Funded by VINNOVA 2017-2020

Partners DREAMIT
Tjörns bilservice

The future of freight
transportation is digital
Are we?

Some observations
regarding the
digital future
of freight transportation
Per Olof Arnäs, PhD
Chalmers University of Technology
Service Management and Logistics
per-olof.arnas@chalmers.se
about.me/perolofarnas
Slides: slideshare.net/poar
@Dr_PO
OKIMG_5751 by taymtaym on Flickr (CC-BY)
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