Understanding transport properties of e-commerce.

The research project SNAPSHOT aims to understand transport properties of e-commerce, by mapping the effects that online shopping and home delivery have for the entire transport system by compiling methods for collecting and analysing data from both consumers and transporters, in order to understand more of the goods' journey from online shopping to the consumer. By focusing on how the goods are moved, we get a holistic approach to the problem, instead of a limited focus on consumers or transporters. Seen in the light of the current focus on climate emissions from transport, it is important to make arrangements for both passenger and goods transport to be carried out in as efficient and climate-friendly a manner as possible. Especially in cities, where increased transport can have major effects. SNAPSHOT has looked at how local authorities can better plan and regulate this development with the aim of gaining more knowledge about data needs related to online shopping and city logistics. The starting point for SNAPSHOT was to establish a framework for data collection and analysis, to prepare guidelines for including online shopping in planning processes, and to establish different arenas to exchange experiences from different case studies. SNAPSHOT was organized with 4 work packages where two were related to planning and planning processes (WP1 and WP4) and two related to data collection and data analysis (WP2 and WP3). The research questions were to answer; 1) what knowledge do the authorities need about online shopping, 2) what data do the authorities need, 3) what data is available and 4) what data can be shared and turned into knowledge. In the start-up period, we saw a need to define the problem and find relevant use cases for urban municipalities to demonstrate the challenges through examples. For each use case, a procedure was adapted for the process of collecting data, analyzing data, and extracting relevant knowledge for use in planning processes. In SNAPSHOT, 3 use cases where identified to show examples of how data on goods mobility can be included in urban planning: Parcel machine, Public Procurement and E-groceries. Data from the use cases have helped to exemplify how online shopping can be strengthened in the municipalities' spatial planning work in the early phase and clarify what knowledge and data needs the planning work requires with a view to incorporating urban logistics. Knowledge of the processes that are used as a basis in selected municipalities can be transferred to other municipalities. By being aware of the development trends that affect our shopping and travel habits, we can facilitate new mobility solutions in the early phase of spatial planning, which in sum can reduce the environmental impact. The question is whether local authorities are prepared to put themselves in the driver's seat to coordinate the work, enter into partnerships with private actors to offer consumer-friendly solutions and make available space for flexible joint use (such as charging infrastructure, car sharing and micro-mobility instead of traditional car parking). SNAPSHOT has been carried out in close collaboration with city municipalities and authorities that have participated in the project, through the establishment of arenas with a focus on exchanging experiences from various case studies. Several user seminars have been held as webinars, with good participation from city municipalities, public authorities and consultants (around 20 participants per webinar). The purpose of the user seminars has been to show examples of how data on goods mobility can be included in urban planning. The topic of the user seminars has been: Planning and use case, Data collection and data analysis and Participation in planning processes. The arenas have emphasized that facilitating goods mobility requires coordinated efforts among public authorities on spatial planning, public procurement, transport planning in conjunction with business development. The E-commerce conference 2022 was held in Trondheim 16.-17. of June. Two days were filled with many exciting presentations that provided knowledge about how online shopping affects the transport system and how local authorities can integrate online shopping into urban planning. The conference contained several sessions: (1) Policy and planning, (2) System design, (3) Data models and data sharing and (4) Stakeholders and supply chain. In addition, invited guests from CLOSER and ASTER provided information about the many initiatives that are underway in our neighbouring country. In the "Data Logistic Lab" session, the participants exchanged experiences from Paris and Rome. The conference is linked to Research in Transport Economics (Elsevier) with a special issue on the theme "Integrating e-commerce in urban mobility planning¨ which addresses the need for knowledge about planning, tools and data on local conditions. The publication is planned to June 2023.

SNAPSHOT has looked at how local authorities can better plan and regulate this development with the aim of gaining more knowledge about data needs related to online shopping and city logistics. SNAPSHOT, identified three use cases and some selected conditions (italics) were defined to show examples of how data on goods mobility can be included in urban planning: Parcel machine (space and ownership), Public Procurement (transport and trafic work) and E-groceries (development over time). Data from the use cases have helped to exemplify how online shopping can be strengthened in the municipalities' spatial planning work in the early phase and clarify what knowledge and data needs the planning work requires with a view to incorporating urban logistics. Knowledge of the processes that are used as a basis in selected municipalities can be transferred to other municipalities. By being aware of the development trends that affect our shopping and travel habits, we can facilitate new mobility solutions in the early phase of spatial planning, which in sum can reduce the environmental impact. The question is whether local authorities are prepared to put themselves in the driver's seat to coordinate the work, enter into partnerships with private actors to offer consumer-friendly solutions and make available space for flexible joint use (such as charging infrastructure, car sharing and micro-mobility instead of traditional car parking).

The past years have witnessed a continuous growth in e-commerce and a parallel growth in research on impacts it might have on mobility systems. However, research mainly investigates effects on personal travel and have been unable to provide a holistic understanding of the impacts of e-commerce on entire mobility systems. Balancing this deficit is the main motivation behind this project. SNAPSHOT will improve the decision-making of authorities through increased knowledge about the mobility of e-commerce shipments. Identifying shipment mobility and understanding the role of e-commerce in mobility systems requires data on the mobility of goods and consumers. In cooperation with transport companies, SNAPSHOT will collect, fuse and analyse freight and consumer data within the scope of use cases defined by the user partners. Active user engagement is essential for defining strategies that enable authorities to incorporate holistic knowledge about e-commerce into planning, regulation and operation of mobility systems. In identifying the mobility of shipments, regardless of whether they are transported by professional transport providers or individual consumers, SNAPSHOT takes a new approach to studying e-commerce. This approach provides new knowledge about impacts of e-commerce and freight as well as impacts on entire mobility systems. Data fusing therefore produces a wealth of potential empirical knowledge which can improve public and private decision making and allow Norwegian research to take a lead position in international research on e-commerce and transport. The SNAPSHOT consortium consists of SINTEF and Molde University college (research partners,), the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, and the cities of Oslo and Bodø (user partners). In addition, two large transport companies have confirmed willingness to provide data. The project will be conducted in 2020-2021, and closes with an international research conference on e-commerce and transport.