Business from technology

Transport systems and logistics

Competence

The transport system is a large technological system, whose main role is to connect the different sectors, activities and related actors of society. The transport system has been created and is being developed further to serve the mobility and transportation needs of private persons and different companies. Our transport system level research activities serve both the public administration and companies at the regional, national and EU levels. Our main areas of know-how are: 

• Transport strategies: foresight, policy instruments and impact assessment
  
• Transport as a part of energy and climate strategies
  
• Service level of the transport system: definitions, methods, indicators and monitoring
  
• The development and renewal of transport system technology and service innovation processes in co-operation with other actors
  
• Wise mobility
  
• Energy consumption and emissions of different transport modes
  

Our logistics research studies include logistics systems and industry and trade supply chains. Our strength is an overall view of the supply chain structures and logistics management, logistics technologies and information technology applications. We utilise the newest information technology in the development of decision making support systems suitable for the optimal control of transports. We use system research methods at strategic, tactic and operative levels. Our areas of supply chain know-how are:

• The development of foreign trade intermodal connections
  
• The integration of sea transports into supply chains
  
• The management of logistic information using mobile and RFID solutions
  
• Logistics in Russia
  
• Supply chain security
  
• The routes and treatment harmonisation of hazardous goods from Russia via the Baltic Sea
  

Challenges

The transport system is gradually evolving into a communicative system. This is bringing challenges, especially to the definition of the roles and responsibilities of different transport system actors. At the same time, the population is growing older and accumulates into the cities. The aging part of the population has new mobility needs and habits, the impacts of which are difficult to assess. As regards peoples' pace of life, as well as the demarcation between work and leisure, the situation is quite similar. The adaptation to the national and international obligations concerning climate change will also be one of the main challenges for transport in the near future. Our research and development activities will help in coping with the above challenges by expanding the knowledge base of the transport system development.

The greatest challenge in logistics is the compatibility of systems in the introduction of new technologies. The transparency of the supply chains sets demands both for the way companies operate and for information systems. This development is connected to the globalisation of production and markets. Old operation models and prediction methods are no longer viable in international trade. CO2 emission limitations especially will also change logistics.

Solutions

We are focusing especially on the research and development of the following solutions serving the development of transport and logistics systems both nationally and at the
European level:

• Foresight and assessment practices supporting policies and strategies of the public and private organisations in the transport sector (scenarios, roadmaps, impact assessments)
  
• Energy consumption and emission analyses of different transport modes
  
• Actor network, operations and business model analyses of transport system technologies and services
  
• Mobility analyses
  

Logistics:

• The new ICT technology, especially the architectures promoting supply chain transparency and wireless solutions like the introduction of RFID in unit and package identification
  
• Application in innovative intermodal solutions
  

Benefits

• The knowledge base of transport policy and system developments will be improved. Consequently transport system end users can be offered better service, the energy and cost efficiency of transport can be improved and the environmental impact of the transport system reduced.
  
• The competitiveness of business is improved and the logistics services answer the customers needs
  
• The safety and efficiency of the logistics system are improved
  

References and merits

• Traffic exhaust emissions and energy consumption calculation system LIPASTO
  
• Long-term experience of participation and coordination of European Commission's Framework Programme projects in the field of strategic transport research
  
• Public transport action plan - APAJA
  
• Transport sector climate scenarios, Ministry of Transport and Communications Transport 2030 strategy work and background study
  
• Transport telematics architecture (TARKKI)
  
• RFID pilots and implementation in logistics applications
  
• Information technology solutions in the Finland - Russia transport chain