Author: Melania Mihalcea / Halmstad University

Co-creative filmmaking is an iterative design ethnographic method that we are developing within the GREEN-LOG user-centred Urban Living Lab approach. It involves collaborating with users on creating videos that integrate their perspectives into the design process in a way that offers more inclusive and accessible opportunities for self-representation.

A defining part of this method is the user involvement in the post-production process. This is an essential step, which not only ensures that the resulting video is considered an accurate representation, but also naturally invites a more detailed reflection on its contents, which provides additional insights and learnings derived from the process.

It creates communication channels between stakeholders, for example, between end users and technical developers of the solutions. For a multi-city EU project like GREEN-LOG, it is also a way for the Living Labs and follower cities to learn more about how GREEN-LOG solutions are being implemented in each other’s contexts by seeing it in action.

The Oxfordshire Living Lab – A Concrete Example

As the first demonstration round was unfolding in the Oxfordshire Living Lab, we engaged with stakeholders from various parts of the GREEN-LOG project through co-creative filmmaking.

A key area of Oxfordshire’s GREEN-LOG activities is the e-cargo bike Logistics Service Provider, Pedal & Post. Introducing a camera into the scene created an opportunity for engagement by acting as a first point of contact between the staff – be they couriers, mechanics, managers, or others- and the GREEN-LOG project.

The questions that naturally arose, like “Why a film?” “What would it be about?” and “Who is going to watch it?” were opportunities for them to find out more about the project, and also a chance to see themselves in relation to it. This contextualizes the changes that they are experiencing in their work environment – such as the introduction of the Micro-Consolidation Centre that has been actively in use since its installation during the demonstration round – and it also helps them see that it is not just the project that affects them, but they in turn have the capacity to affect the project, and as a result, the direction in which the changes in their work environment would go.

The Micro-Consolidation Centre has been in use since its installation on 8^th November 2024

The opportunity to film in itself also has a low barrier of entry; with the presence of a researcher with filmmaking experience on site, co-creative filmmaking becomes an easy and accessible experience. There was no need for interrupting their work either- in fact, many couriers and mechanics opted for recording a conversation as they worked. Reviewing the footage afterwards is equally convenient – it can be as simple as reacting to a draft created by the researcher, and making decisions on what should be kept, edited out, or added. In addition, the flexibility in format for co-creative filmmaking means that those who do have experience in handling a camera or editing, or those who simply have an interest in it, can engage further and take over as much of the technical parts of production as they’d like.

A courier and a mechanic engaging through co-creative filmmaking during their working day

As part of the main goal of integrating user perspectives into the design process, ensuring that their views reach the technical developers is an important step. In the Oxfordshire Living Lab, one of the demonstrations involved a presentation and discussion of GREEN-LOG’s day-to-day demand prediction component between one of the lead developers of the component, Dr Matthew Hocking, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Wolverhampton, and the CEO and founder of Pedal & Post, Christopher Benton.

Matthew and Christopher discussing the day-to-day demand prediction module in the office at the Pedal & Post depot

This meeting was recorded, and a draft of a video was created that integrated comments and insights from couriers relevant to the component being discussed. As such, when the footage was reviewed together with Christopher, Matthew, and Graham (Oxfordshire Living Lab Leader), they automatically also reviewed the couriers’ perspectives in the project. This is one of the many ways in which co-creative filmmaking closes the loop by ensuring that user voices reach and have a direct impact on the next iteration of the technology.

Author: Panagiotis Kanellopoulos / ACS

Urban logistics is evolving rapidly, with sustainability driving the shift towards greener, more efficient delivery systems. The GREEN-LOG project, a Horizon Europe initiative, is leading the way by reimagining last-mile logistics through innovative, real-world solutions. The Athens Living Lab provides a dynamic testing ground where logistics providers, city authorities, and technology partners come together to tackle pressing urban logistics challenges.

In Athens, ACS Postal Services has partnered with FedEx and DAEM (City of Athens IT Company) to explore solutions that improve delivery efficiency while minimising environmental impacts. A major focus of the collaborative efforts has been the deployment of a shared micro-consolidation center (MCC) and the integration of smart lockers for last-mile delivery. These innovations reduce vehicle trips, alleviate urban congestion, and offer customers greater flexibility in receiving their packages.

One of our pilot’s standout features is the use of a white-label electric vehicle, shared between ACS and FedEx. This shared resource represents a significant step forward in promoting zero-emission delivery modes while fostering collaboration between logistics service providers. By utilising the MCC as a local hub, we streamline parcel distribution to lockers and delivery addresses across this congestions area of Athens, reducing the carbon footprint of our operations.

Figure 1. Shared logistics routing in Athens urban area

ACS’s role in the project is not only about technological implementation but also about data-driven decision-making. By working closely with research partners such as the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), we analyse GPS and routing data to optimise delivery routes, quantify emissions reductions, and enhance urban delivery reliability. This data-driven approach ensures that the solutions we develop are scalable and adaptable to other European cities.

Beyond logistics, GREEN-LOG emphasises societal impact. ACS alongside other partners in the Athens Living Lab actively engages with the local community and stakeholders to ensure these innovations are widely accepted and aligned with citizens’ needs. The aim is to demonstrate that sustainable logistics can coexist with operational excellence.

Through GREEN-LOG, the consortium is paving the way for a greener, more efficient, and inclusive future for urban logistics — showing how collaborative innovation can make sustainable urban mobility a reality.

Photo credits: ACS

Author: Matthew Hocking / University of Wolverhampton

GREEN-LOG eco-logistics project made rapid progress during its pre-Christmas ‘Living Lab’ trial with Innovate Oxfordshire at Oxfordshire County Council and Pedal & Post couriers.

The Europe-wide GREEN-LOG project is developing tools to link local retailers and consumers in Oxford with fast and eco-friendly local electric vehicle (EV) delivery.

Pedal and Post, a long-time delivery service in Oxford, use a range of vehicles including electrically assisted bikes, trikes and eVans. They are partnering with the local Council and research partners from England, Spain, Greece, Sweden and Belgium to reduce congestion and emissions in central Oxford, while providing same day and next day delivery services.

The latest technology in machine learning systems from the University of Wolverhampton predict the number of parcels for a specific area of Oxford. Then state of the art routing algorithms from Spain’s Aimsun research group assist the cycle couriers by planning a route which reduces energy and delivery time. The increased efficiency will increase parcel capacity and allow room for Pedal and Post to expand their operations.

The GREEN-LOG platform is a Logistics-as-a-service (LaaS) system, moving the decisions about delivery type from the sender to the recipient. Some shopping platforms allow the buyer to choose eco-friendly delivery over an energy intensive method. Local retailers will now have access to a similar service through GREEN-LOG, to provide Oxford’s shoppers with a world-class delivery experience.

A further advantage of an integrated LaaS platform gives the local Council benefits too. When roads are closed, or emissions are above legal limits, or to decrease noise in residential areas, the Council can help direct delivery routes away from sensitive areas. These changes can be made immediately as events occur, saving deliveries from unexpected delays.

Introduction of the latest autonomous vehicle technology by UK based project partner FEED and the Oxford Brookes University Autonomous Driving and Intelligent Transport group will enable Pedal & Post to take a full load of parcels from the depot to a location in the city through use of a self-driven EV. This Mobile Delivery Hub will provide a collection point for customers and a refill point for couriers. Couriers can deliver more parcels without returning to the central depot, and customers can book a collection time which suits their day-to-day routine. Although autonomous vehicles cannot provide full delivery services, the Mobile Delivery Hub will follow agreed routes to a selection of city centre locations.

The next demonstrations of GREEN-LOG, Pedal & Post, FEED and Innovate Oxfordshire’s work on improving local delivery services will be early in 2025. Look out for the GREEN-LOG branded Pedal & Post EV’s around Oxford.

For further information about the project, its partners and goals, see:

greenlog-project.eu ; pedalandpost.co.uk ; oxfordshire.gov.uk

Photo credits (title picture): FEED Oxford

How to go beyond a proof of concept or a simulation? The path of a technology from basic research to commercialisation can be a bumpy journey. One of the biggest hurdles is to develop – technology that resonates with users. One way of bridging this gap is to introduce a technology into a dynamic real-life situation, a so-called Living Lab. In conjunction with a user-centred design philosophy, a living lab can be used to find out how technology can be seamlessly integrated into the daily lives of users.

How to go beyond a proof of concept or a simulation? The path of a technology from basic research to commercialisation can be a bumpy journey. One of the biggest hurdles is to develop – technology that resonates with users. One way of bridging this gap is to introduce a technology into a dynamic real-life situation, a so-called Living Lab. In conjunction with a user-centred design philosophy, a living lab can be used to find out how technology can be seamlessly integrated into the daily lives of users.

Empowering local businesses

Author: Marij Lambert / Stad Leuven

When screening sustainable urban logistics solutions and applications, the city of Leuven is constantly seeking for the added value – efficiency – for their local businesses. Promoting local shopping is promoting sustainable dropping and vice versa. So yes, city logistics should focus on safety and clean air, but what if these local SME’s, often micro-entrepreneurs or small enterprises, were to disappear because the solutions don’t fit their needs?

To avoid this doomsday situation, Leuven has defined a framework for a lively and smart city, in which sustainable city logistics can be organised while empowering its local businesses. The framework is based on three smart principles: smart governance, smart stakeholders and – as an enabler or booster for the first two principles – smart data and technology. Recent examples of this integrated approach cover projects on Urban Vehicle Access Control (e.g. TOKEN) and logistic planning tools (e.g. FlexCURB). Focusing on the first mile, the popular local distribution platform “we.deliver” was launched in Leuven in 2022, to centrally organise pick-ups from 100 local web-shops. The platform consolidates first mile flows in the city, and e-commerce parcels are delivered zero emission with LEV’s or cargo bikes. By adding the GREEN-LOG Logistics-as-a-Service (LaaS) solution to the portfolio, Leuven is taking the learnings from we.deliver to a next level.

We.deliver next generation: a multi-layered cake

In the first demo of GREEN-LOG, starting in Fall 2024, the Leuven Living Lab will simulate how the LaaS concept can organise pick-ups and drop-offs in a more efficient way. Therefore, the city will link its historical demand data of we.deliver to realtime supply data from the LSP’s involved in demo 1. Several GREEN-LOG components, for example day-to-day demand prediction and event-driven optimisation scenarios, will be applied to this dataset of historical demand and real-time supply. New consolidation and business opportunities can be predicted in demo 1 and data-driven insights will convince LSP’s to participate in demo 2. Maybe they will shift towards dynamic pricing based on the analysis and recommendations offered by demo 1, in parallel with the dynamic demand and supply from the LaaS?

Apart from the data layer, a policy control layer will be introduced to allow the local authority to apply business rules, aiming for less emissions, less congestion and more road safety. These business rules could be either hard measures that can be enforced (e.g. restrictions like timeframes for deliveries) or soft measures (e.g. preference for zero emission delivery). Deliveries which are compliant with these business rules, should become more attractive to the senders. How? Should senders be nudged through dynamic pricing, through a credit-based nudging system, through non-financial nudging? Surveys and simulations will guide the way in demo 1…

When the new year arrives, we will have had a first taste of a policy-driven, data-driven LaaS. Based on this first demo in Leuven and the experiences of the use cases in Ghent and Mechelen, the technological GREEN-LOG partners will finetune the components and integrations to unleash the real power of the GREEN-LOG LaaS in demo 2, steering the marketplace towards more sustainable delivery options while optimising operations for our local shops!

Photo credit: VISIT Mechelsestraat ©KarlBruninx

Author: Wanja Knighton / FEED Oxford

Urban last-mile deliveries, which involve transporting goods to the end customer in cities, are undergoing a green revolution. Traditionally plagued by high traffic congestion and significant carbon emissions from diesel lorries and vans, there is now a notable shift towards more sustainable and efficient delivery methods, such as e-cargo bikes.

Cargo bikes have emerged as a popular and eco-friendly alternative for urban deliveries. These pedal-powered vehicles, often augmented with electric assistance, are designed to carry substantial loads, making them particularly effective in navigating crowded city streets where traditional delivery vans often struggle, especially in historic cities like Oxford. Their flexibility allows them to access narrow streets and pedestrian zones off-limits to motor vehicles, broadening delivery areas and enhancing service flexibility.

The efficiency of cargo bikes extends to faster service within dense urban environments, leading to higher customer satisfaction. They offer multiple benefits, including reducing the number of cars (and their emissions and noise) on the road, lowering roads wear and tear, and making cities safer and more livable. Additionally, cargo bikes can operate from smaller, less disruptive warehousing or consolidation centres.

From a cost perspective, cargo bikes eliminate fuel expenses and have lower maintenance costs than traditional vehicles, providing a more cost-effective solution for businesses. However, the primary cost driver remains the human operator, who accounts for over 60% of operational costs. This is a significant challenge across the freight supply chain, particularly for small operators.

A potential solution to this challenge lies in the current revolution of self-driving vehicles. Autonomous delivery vehicles, ranging from small robots to full-sized electric vans, are being developed and tested worldwide. These vehicles offer efficient route planning, minimising unnecessary mileage and fuel consumption.

Self-driving vehicles have the advantage of operating around the clock without the need for breaks, enabling continuous delivery services and improving logistics efficiency. Equipped with advanced sensors and AI, these vehicles promise higher safety standards by reducing human error, ensuring consistent and timely deliveries, and enhancing customer trust. The vast data these vehicles collect allows businesses to optimise delivery routes, schedules, and inventory management, further enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.

Self-driving technology is not limited to cars or sidewalk robots; there is significant potential in combining autonomous, or at least remote-controlled technology, with bikes. This could merge the benefits of both worlds: significantly reducing costs and enabling greater growth in e-cargo bike companies while reducing the number of large vehicles in city centres.

At Oxfordshire, such a solution is being developed. In partnership with local e-cargo bike manufacturer EAV and Oxford Brookes University, the Oxfordshire Living Lab GREEN-LOG partners are creating a Micro-Delivery Hub (MDH). This MDH will be operable remotely and, potentially, autonomously. The MDH will be trialled in various scenarios, from regular delivery bike use to mobile delivery lockers, allowing recipients to pick up parcels from convenient locations at their preferred times. Trials are planned for 2024 and 2025. Advanced modelling from the GREEN-LOG partners will recommend optimal MDH locations and collaboration strategies with other last-mile solutions.

By eliminating the need to cover an hourly salary, the e-cargo bike’s speed can be slower, and additional services can be integrated, such as collecting return items or carrying public defibrillators. Although significant work remains before the MDH can be commercialised, including detailed user interface exploration, this exciting new idea could make last-mile logistics greener and safer while supporting the growth of start-ups worldwide.

Photo 1: “The future of last mile logistics will be a mix of different solution”, AI-generated image by DalE

Photo 2: Oxfordshire Living Lab MicroDelivery Hub, Image copyright: FEED Oxford