Synopses & Reviews
Mobility is called the engine of our economy. The increase of the Gross Domestic Product relates closely to free mobility. Although freight transportation today offers a highly efficient organisation, there are some serious problems and risks arising. According to the EU, the imbalance in the development of the different modes, the congestion on the main overland routes and in cities and furthermore the major impact which transport is having on the environment and on citizens' health must be solved. Hence, major efforts and investments must take place to optimize and improve freight transportation individually and as a system.
Innovative Technologies and Logistic Services can be considered the main components of the innovation processes required. However, utilising systematic innovation management is needed for compliance and global optimization.
The technological transportation innovations have to be socially and environmentally attractive to reduce the external costs. They have to be economically attractive to improve the development of European economy. Finally the new technology itself has to be attractive in order to be competitive to other already existing transportation systems.
Within this book, a systematic approach to innovation in transport and logistics is given. The approach is illustrated by seven case studies, offering a broad and comprehensive up-to-date view concerning the European freight transportation as examples. These case studies demonstrate how implementations of innovations may be performed successfully.
Synopsis
Serious problems and risks can be observed in European freight transportation development. However, the transport and logistics sector shows a lack of tradition in utilising systematic innovation management to overcome these problems. Hence, this volume puts forward a specific and comprehensive Systemic Migration-Oriented Innovation Management Method. Within the scope of this research, seven case studies of European freight transport innovations have been conducted using this method. They offer a broad, comprehensive and up-to-date view concerning different carriers, degrees of automation, and corridors across Europe. These case studies demonstrate how implementations of innovations may be performed successfully.
About the Author
For several years, Eva Savelsberg was head of a research group on large-scale logistics projects at the RWTH Aachen University in Germany. During this time, she also received her PhD in Mechanical Engineering (2002) and was subsequently awarded the title of "Privatdozent" at the same university in 2007. Since 2006 she has been working for the Logistics Systems Division of INFORM GmbH in Aachen. Here she is presently involved in research and development on complex automated systems, specifically the automation of large container terminals.
Table of Contents
Introduction.- Significant aspects of the land-based long-distance freight market.- Systemic, migration oriented method of innovation management.- Detailed presentation of supportive tools.- Case studies - Part I: Innovative technologies in European freight transport.- Case studies - Part II. Innovations to improve the intermodal transport chain.- Case studies - Part III: Logistic service innovations.- Conclusions and perspectives.- Summary.- Bibliography.