Environmental impact and costs of externalities of using urban consolidation centres: a 24-hour observation study with modelling in four scenarios

The literature presents a considerable number of practical experiences of urban consolidation centres (UCCs) and some estimates for vehicle reduction. Still, there is limited knowledge about the potential reduction of the environmental impact and the related externality costs. This paper evaluates the environmental impacts of consolidation in four scenarios of different consolidation set-ups. It aims to estimate and discuss how the transport-related externalities in these set-ups can be included in the financial evaluation of city logistics. A modelling framework is used to fulfil these aims. The research validates this modelling framework with empirical data from a city logistics case in Sweden, and then analyses the scenarios. The research presented extends the understanding of the costs of externalities related to UCCs by quantifying the reduction in these costs in the scenarios. The different scenarios provide insights into the transport and environmental effects of different consolidation set-ups.