Smart freight TranspOrt and logistics Research Methodologies

Freight transport and logistics are in a period of transformation where the increased availability of digital technologies is rapidly transforming market structures and logistics business models, and the legislative and policy frameworks are moving towards the minimization of the environmental impact of transport. The rapid structural, organisational, and behavioural changes of the sector make existing data, models, and tools lag behind current developments. In response, the STORM project aims to study transformation and structural changes in freight and logistics business structures from different perspectives, focusing on the future challenges and needs of the sector by developing new methods and tools to support digitalization, sustainability transition, and future policy needs. STORM will create a unique platform for dialog with all relevant stakeholder groups to identify key elements for future horizons and directions for freight and logistics research, business and polices. The project will develop new generation, beyond current state-of-the-art transport data analytics, models and solutions through industry use cases and contribute to sector innovations and competitiveness. STORM output will be a toolbox bringing together tools and methods centring on Big Data, data fusion, and agent-based modelling applied to electrified freight transport concepts and new collaborative, digitised logistics systems. It responds to the emerging needs of transport researchers, planners, and policy makers and it will generate knowledge for the implementation of innovative transport policies. STORM will provide advanced methods and tools to enable new opportunities and business models for the sector through targeted information and knowledge sharing with structured support and collaboration in research, policy analysis, and transport planning, to fulfil the ultimate goal of facilitating the sustainable transformation for the business and future public policies.