IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2023i12p4656-d1169041.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sustainability Aspects of Drone-Assisted Last-Mile Delivery Systems—A Discrete Event Simulation Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Boglárka Eisinger Balassa

    (Department of Corporate Leadership and Marketing, Faculty of Economic Sciences, Széchenyi István University, Egyetem tér 1, 9026 Győr, Hungary)

  • Réka Koteczki

    (Vehicle Industry Research Center, Széchenyi István University, Egyetem tér 1, 9026 Győr, Hungary)

  • Bence Lukács

    (Vehicle Industry Research Center, Széchenyi István University, Egyetem tér 1, 9026 Győr, Hungary)

  • László Buics

    (Department of Corporate Leadership and Marketing, Faculty of Economic Sciences, Széchenyi István University, Egyetem tér 1, 9026 Győr, Hungary)

Abstract

The goal of this article is to examine the advantages and disadvantages of the application of drones in last-mile delivery systems from a sustainability point of view regarding CO 2 emissions and energy consumption. As commercial drones are developing rapidly, the application of such tools in the field of last-mile delivery and transportation can offer many opportunities to increase service flexibility, reduce delivery time and decrease CO 2 emissions and energy consumption. In this article, a discrete event simulation is applied to examine how the assistance of drones in parcel delivery services can influence the sustainability aspects of such services regarding CO 2 emissions and energy consumption in an urban environment. Based on factory parameters, a vehicle-based delivery scenario is compared to a drone-assisted scenario under ideal conditions. According to the results, within the simulation parameters with the assistance of drones, a decrease in CO 2 emissions and energy consumption is possible in last-mile delivery services, but more environmental, technological and financial limitations should also be addressed and incorporated to determine whether such a development is worthwhile from a last-mile delivery company’s point of view.

Suggested Citation

  • Boglárka Eisinger Balassa & Réka Koteczki & Bence Lukács & László Buics, 2023. "Sustainability Aspects of Drone-Assisted Last-Mile Delivery Systems—A Discrete Event Simulation Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:12:p:4656-:d:1169041
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/12/4656/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/12/4656/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Outay, Fatma & Mengash, Hanan Abdullah & Adnan, Muhammad, 2020. "Applications of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in road safety, traffic and highway infrastructure management: Recent advances and challenges," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 116-129.
    2. Osakwe, Christian Nedu & Hudik, Marek & Říha, David & Stros, Michael & Ramayah, T., 2022. "Critical factors characterizing consumers’ intentions to use drones for last-mile delivery: Does delivery risk matter?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    3. Patricio Gallardo & Rua Murray & Susan Krumdieck, 2021. "A Sequential Optimization-Simulation Approach for Planning the Transition to the Low Carbon Freight System with Case Study in the North Island of New Zealand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-24, June.
    4. Shiva Ilkhanizadeh & Mahmoud Golabi & Siamand Hesami & Husam Rjoub, 2020. "The Potential Use of Drones for Tourism in Crises: A Facility Location Analysis Perspective," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-13, October.
    5. Yong Liu & Zhicheng Yue & Yong Wang & Haizhong Wang, 2023. "Logistics Distribution Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Window under Pallet 3D Loading Constraint," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-25, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Anna Kwasiborska & Anna Stelmach & Izabela Jabłońska, 2023. "Quantitative and Comparative Analysis of Energy Consumption in Urban Logistics Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Selected Means of Transport," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-27, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alrawad, Mahmaod & Lutfi, Abdalwali & Alyatama, Sundus & Al Khattab, Adel & Alsoboa, Sliman S. & Almaiah, Mohammed Amin & Ramadan, Mujtaba Hashim & Arafa, Hussin Mostafa & Ahmed, Nazar Ali & Alsyouf, , 2023. "Assessing customers perception of online shopping risks: A structural equation modeling–based multigroup analysis," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    2. Shahzad, Khuram & Zhang, Qingyu & Zafar, Abaid Ullah & Ashfaq, Muhammad & Rehman, Shafique Ur, 2023. "The role of blockchain-enabled traceability, task technology fit, and user self-efficacy in mobile food delivery applications," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    3. Schmidt, Sebastian & Saraceni, Adriana, 2024. "Consumer acceptance of drone-based technology for last mile delivery," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    4. Isabel Andrade & Johann Land & Patricio Gallardo & Susan Krumdieck, 2022. "Application of the InTIME Methodology for the Transition of Office Buildings to Low Carbon—A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-17, September.
    5. Yinggui Zhang & Lining Sheng, 2023. "Optimization of Simultaneous Pickup and Delivery Vehicle Routing with Three-Dimensional Balanced Loading Constraints," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, June.
    6. Sham, Rohana & Chong, Han Xi & Cheng-Xi Aw, Eugene & Bibi Tkm Thangal, Thahira & Abdamia, Noranita binti, 2023. "Switching up the delivery game: Understanding switching intention to retail drone delivery services," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    7. Florian Ahrens & Johann Land & Susan Krumdieck, 2022. "Decarbonization of Nitrogen Fertilizer: A Transition Engineering Desk Study for Agriculture in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-24, July.
    8. Sikai Chen & Shuya Zong & Tiantian Chen & Zilin Huang & Yanshen Chen & Samuel Labi, 2023. "A Taxonomy for Autonomous Vehicles Considering Ambient Road Infrastructure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-27, July.
    9. Jiang, Yi & Lai, Po-Lin & Yang, Ching-Chiao & Wang, Xinchen, 2023. "Exploring the factors that drive consumers to use contactless delivery services in the context of the continued COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    10. Jaeho Yoo & Yunseon Choe & Soo-i Rim, 2022. "Risk Perceptions Using Urban and Advanced Air Mobility (UAM/AAM) by Applying a Mixed Method Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-14, December.
    11. Aleksandra Kuzior & Dariusz Krawczyk & Paulina Brożek & Olena Pakhnenko & Tetyana Vasylieva & Serhiy Lyeonov, 2022. "Resilience of Smart Cities to the Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Context of Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-22, October.
    12. Krzysztof Bogusławski & Mateusz Gil & Jan Nasur & Krzysztof Wróbel, 2022. "Implications of autonomous shipping for maritime education and training: the cadet’s perspective," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 24(2), pages 327-343, June.
    13. Cui, Shaohua & Yang, Ying & Gao, Kun & Cui, Heqi & Najafi, Arsalan, 2024. "Integration of UAVs with public transit for delivery: Quantifying system benefits and policy implications," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    14. ElSayed, Mo & Foda, Ahmed & Mohamed, Moataz, 2024. "The impact of civil airspace policies on the viability of adopting autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles in last-mile applications," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 37-54.
    15. Adu-Gyamfi, Gibbson & Song, Huaming & Nketiah, Emmanuel & Obuobi, Bright & Wu, Qin & Cudjoe, Dan, 2024. "Refueling convenience and range satisfaction in electric mobility: Investigating consumer willingness to use battery swap services for electric vehicles," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    16. Yang, Hye-jeong & Fang, Mingjie & Yao, Jinge & Su, Miao, 2023. "Green cooperation in last-mile logistics and consumer loyalty: An empirical analysis of a theoretical framework," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    17. Shuya Zong & Sikai Chen & Majed Alinizzi & Samuel Labi, 2022. "Leveraging UAV Capabilities for Vehicle Tracking and Collision Risk Assessment at Road Intersections," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, March.
    18. Ata Allah Taleizadeh & Ebrahim Salehi Darabi & Park Thaichon, 2024. "Optimizing online selling through an online-to-offline platform: strategic ramifications for local n stores," Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 23(6), pages 554-574, December.
    19. Wang, Ning & Mutzner, Nico & Blanchet, Karl, 2023. "Societal acceptance of urban drones: A scoping literature review," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    20. Choi, Shinwon & Lee, Minseo & Park, Hyejin & Han, Jinil, 2024. "Mathematical programming-based heuristic for highway patrol drone scheduling problem," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:12:p:4656-:d:1169041. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.