Sustainable Freight Transport: Theory, Models, and Case Studies

This book presents the latest technologies and operational methods available to support sustainable freight transport practices. It highlights market requirements, cutting edge applications, and case studies from innovators in the logistics services industry. The goal is to help bridge the gap between advanced computational techniques and complex applied problems such as those in sustainable transport and logistics operations. Freight transport has traditionally focused on costs and service levels. However, it is no longer possible or socially responsible to neglect the environmental, social, climate, and energy implications of the freight moving globally. This book places sustainability at the forefront of the freight transport agenda.

Sustainable Freight Transport: Theory, Models and Case Studies is divided into three sections. Section I focuses on green freight transport policies for air and marine ports. Section II is devoted to using modelling techniques and optimization for achieving sustainable freight transport, while Section III examines policies to support sustainable freight transport practices in urban areas. The contributions come from authors from different areas, backgrounds, and countries to cover a global perspective.

Dr. Vasileios Zeimpekis is lecturing at the Department of Financial and Management Engineering at the University of the Aegean and is the Deputy Director of the DeOPSyS research lab. He has also been appointed as the Vice President of Operations in the Hellenic Logistics Association. His research interests focus on Supply Chain Management with emphasis on Sustainable Transport and Information Systems. He has published five edited volumes in the management of supply chains and more than 70 papers and studies in academic journals and conferences. During the last decade, he has participated in 30 research projects and more than 70 industrial projects. Vasileios acts also as an instructor in executive seminars and workshops in public organizations and private firms. He has been appointed as a transport expert by the United Nations, as well as the Greek Supply Chain Council, a governmental advisory body. He is also a reviewer at the Hellenic General Secretariat of Research & Development, as well as at the European Union (DG MOVE). Dr. Zeimpekis is member of the Technical Chamber of Greece, the Economic Chamber of Greece, and the European Technical Chamber (FEANI).

Dr. Emel Aktas is a Senior Lecturer in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Cranfield School of Management. She specializes in mathematical modelling and decision analysis with applications in the transport, retail, and manufacturing sectors. Her recent research focuses on food supply chain management, with one project (SAFE-Q) on minimizing waste in the food supply chains and another (U-TURN) on logistics collaboration practices for distribution of food in the cities. Her work has appeared in European Journal of Operational Research, International Journal of Production Economics, and Computers and Human Behavior.

Dr. Michael Bourlakis is a Professor in Logistics & Supply Chain Management and the Head of the Logistics, Procurement and Supply Chain Management Group at Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University (United Kingdom). Michael has generated more than 200 publications including 60 journal papers and two edited books. He is an Editorial Board Member of twelve academic journals and has acted as Editor-in-Chief for two journals. He is a leading expert in retail and food supply chains and he has been a member of senior Committees in the past including the European Technology Platform (Food for Life, European Commission) and DG Research and Innovation (European Commission) working with leading retailers on "Retail Innovation". Michael has been involved with 24 research and consulting projects and he is working closely (or has worked) with numerous multinational companies including Tesco, Metro, Carrefour, Sonae etc. He is a regular keynote speaker during various industry and academic events. 

Dr. Ioannis Minis is a Professor in the Department of Financial and Management Engineering of the University of Aegeansince 2002. His areas of expertise include supply chain management, as well as management and operations systems. Dr. Minis holds a Ph.D. degree from the University of Maryland in Mechanical Engineering, and has held the positions of Assistant and Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the same University (1988-1997).  He is conducting research in Operations and Supply Chain for over 28 years and has authored three edited volumes, several book chapters, 60 journal articles and over 50 articles in conference proceedings.  Dr. Minis has been the recipient of the 1993 Earl E. Walker Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME).  He is also the chairman of the Greek Supply Chain Council, a governmental advisory body.