Spatial impacts of underground logistics

Hugo Priemus, TU Delft, Netherlands

One of the most persistent arguments to introduce underground logistics is a lack of space. This suggests that there is a close relation between underground freight transportation, capsule pipelines, tube and tunnel systems on the one hand and spatial policies on the other hand. Nevertheless we observe a lack of awareness among spatial planners about the impacts of underground logistics on spatial planning. In this paper we elaborate the opportunities for spatial planning with two illustrations.

(1) The spatial challenges of underground urban freight transportation (on an urban and regional scale) and (2) The spatial challenges of the system of underground pipelines for the transportation of mainly oil and oil derivates in the Netherlands (on a national level).

We give an overview of the network configuration of urban freight transport, developed in a number of local studies in the Netherlands, and indicate the synergy which is needed between underground network systems and the spatial configuration of traditional traffic infrastructure and real estate development. If an underground urban freight transport system is designed as a stand-alone system, we know pretty sure that the advantages of such a system will not be captured. The same applies for the national pipelines network for oil and oil derivates which is strongly related to the location of the two Dutch mainports: the Rotterdam harbour including a strong chemical headquarter, and Amsterdam-Schiphol airport, which is a heavy consumer of kerosine. At the national level as well, the pipelines system has to be integrated into a wider spatial context which relates underground and surface developments.

Keywords: urban freight transportation, underground logistics, pipelines network, spatial planning.