Presenting the LEAD Platform: Simplifying Complex Urban Logistics Decision-Making

The urban logistics sector plays a relevant role in the global economy, guaranteeing the efficient movement of goods. Nonetheless, optimising logistics operations, especially in the last-mile delivery sector is not without challenges. This is where the LEAD Platform comes into play, offering a powerful solution to assess, simulate, and improve logistics scenarios. In this article, we explain the LEAD Platform and how it helps logistics professionals and city authorities simplify complex urban logistics decision-making processes.

What is the LEAD Platform?

The LEAD Platform is a sophisticated tool designed to assist in the optimisation of last-mile logistics operations, developed within the scope of the LEAD project. It provides an environment for simulating complex logistics scenarios, simplifying the evaluation process of several strategies, interventions, and policy decisions to promote sustainable last-mile deliveries.

What are it’s key features and benefits?

Impact Assessment: The LEAD Platform allows users to simulate complex logistics scenarios, making it possible to assess the impact of different interventions on operations. For example, it can help determine how changes in fleet vehicles, last-mile network configurations, or delivery methods affect efficiency.
City Logistics Strategies: City authorities can use the platform to evaluate alternative logistics strategies tailored to their urban environments. This includes optimising routes, delivery hubs, and vehicle types to reduce congestion and the environmental impact.
Data-Driven Decision-Making: The platform empowers decision-makers with well-informed insights. Users can explore "what-if" scenarios, such as changes in demand, handling times, or network configurations, to make informed choices that improve logistics efficiency.

How can you use the LEAD Platform?

To use the LEAD Platform, models must be integrated into the system. This is achieved by creating ad-hoc software containers based on the Docker technology[1] for each model, and by creating clear standardised specifications of their inputs, outputs, and metadata. The LEAD Platform enables users to connect multiple models in scenario workflows, facilitating data exchange between them. Users can configure simulations by specifying scenarios and input data, which can be uploaded or selected from existing datasets created by the LEAD project’s Living Labs. Once the simulation configuration is completed, the platform executes the simulation, providing users with graphical representations of the results.

Simplifying last-mile logistics, one simulation at a time

The LEAD Platform is a powerful tool that simplifies logistics decision-making by offering a robust environment for simulating and evaluating complex scenarios. It empowers logistics professionals and city authorities to optimise last-mile logistics operations, reduce costs, and minimise environmental impact. By harnessing the LEAD Platform's capabilities, users can make data-driven decisions that enhance the efficiency of logistics networks. The platform is a valuable resource for logistics professionals and city authorities seeking data-driven insights to enhance their operations.

Want to learn more?

We have prepared a series of tutorial videos to guide you through the process of using the LEAD platform. This includes real-world examples, as implemented in the LEAD Living Labs. You can find these here (please see MOOC playlist videos, as of The LEAD Platform: Quick walkthrough).

All information related to the LEAD Platform, including the models, is available on the project’s Github page, available here.

You can access the platform here.

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[1] Docker framework website, https://www.docker.com/