Smart Mobility Hubs for Inclusive City Logistics: Design, Implementation, Evaluation

Thesis Abstract

Urban freight and passenger mobility systems increasingly contend with congestion, emissions, and inequitable access to efficient logistics services in dense urban cores. Smart Mobility Hubs (SMHs) are proposed as integrated nodes that co-locate multimodal last?mile services, micro?fulfillment, electric vehicle charging, and data?driven demand management to enhance city logistics while promoting inclusive access for small businesses and residents. This study aims to design, implement, and evaluate a replicated SMH prototype in a mid?sized metropolitan area, assessing its performance across efficiency, equity, and environmental outcomes. The specific objectives are (1) to operationalize a design blueprint for SMHs that integrates urban space, digital platforms, and modal interconnectivity; (2) to implement a pilot SMH at one strategically chosen site and monitor its short?term operational viability over a 12?month period; (3) to evaluate impacts on delivery time reliability, last?mile emissions, user satisfaction, and access for micro?businesses, using mixed methods; (4) to develop a transferable evaluation framework that benchmarks SMH performance against conventional logistics hubs; and (5) to articulate policy and governance recommendations for scalable deployment. The methodology adopts a mixed?methods, design?science approach underpinned by the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework and the capability approach to assess inclusivity. The research design combines (i) a participatory design phase with key stakeholders (n=40) including city planners, logistics operators, small retailers, and residents, (ii) an observational pilot deployment of a fully functional SMH at a site with pre?existing micro?fulfillment and charging infrastructure, for 12 months, and (iii) a comparative evaluation against a conventional logistics facility using a quasi?experimental pre/post design. The population comprises urban logistics actors and residents within a 2?km radius of the pilot site. A purposive sample of micro?businesses (n?60) and end?user households (n?200) will be recruited, supplemented by delivery operators (n?25) and municipal officials (n?10). Data collection instruments include a) tracking data from the SMH platform on throughput, delivery time, dwell times, and energy consumption; b) sensor data for air quality and noise around the hub; c) structured surveys capturing perceived accessibility, service quality, and satisfaction; d) semi?structured interviews with stakeholders; e) focus groups with micro?businesses to explore inclusivity outcomes; and f) publicly available city metrics. Validity and reliability will be ensured through instrument piloting, triangulation, and test–retest checks. Data analysis will employ a multi?step approach descriptive statistics and time?series analysis for operational performance; regression analysis to identify determinants of delivery efficiency and emissions reductions; difference?in?differences (DiD) to attribute observed changes to the SMH intervention; thematic analysis of qualitative data to surface inclusivity and governance considerations; and a cost–benefit framework to estimate net social benefits. A structural equation model will assess the relationships among perceived accessibility, platform usability, and user satisfaction, while a spatial analysis using GIS will map equity impacts across neighborhoods. Expected findings include (i) improved last?mile delivery time reliability by 15–25%, reduced cumulative emissions by 10–20% during pilot hours, and a measurable decrease in truck idling time in the surrounding corridors; (ii) enhanced access to timely logistics services for small businesses and residents within the service area, evidenced by higher satisfaction scores and increased market participation; (iii) identification of design configurations, governance arrangements, and digital features (e.g., dynamic micro?fulfillment routing, shared charging, and modular space utilization) that maximize both efficiency and equity; and (iv) a replicable evaluation framework and cost?benefit model for policymakers and practitioners. The study contributes to knowledge by integrating design science with urban logistics, advancing a holistic model of SMHs that explicitly combines operational efficiency with inclusive urban access. It offers empirical evidence on the trade?offs and synergies between environmental benefits and social inclusivity in city logistics, and provides a practical blueprint for scalable deployment. The main conclusion anticipates that well?designed SMHs, governed through participatory planning and supported by interoperable digital platforms, can deliver measurable improvements in delivery performance while expanding equal access to time?sensitive logistics services. Policy recommendations emphasize standardization of hub interfaces, procurement of shared infrastructure, incentives for small enterprises, and continuous monitoring of equity indicators to guide expansion to additional districts.