Comprehensive freight mapping

Weastflows case study: 05

Comprehensive freight mapping

Major ports in North West Europe

Identifying future opportunities for sustainable and more efficient

Additional regional characteristics such as demographics and land

supply chains requires an understanding of current and planned

use are also included in the analysis to identify potential greener

freight transport infrastructure in North West Europe (NWE). Europe’s

corridors for freight transport. For example, enabling route planners

freight network suffers from congestion and bottlenecks, especially

to avoid built up areas.

on the roads, but available capacity on other modes, presents opportunities to alleviate this growing issue.

One of the aims of this work is to be able to identify strategic infrastructure or projects which should be included in the TEN-T

Weastflows partner, Agence d’Urbanisme de la Région du Havre

(Trans-European Transport Network) network. TEN-T is one of the

et de l’Estuaire de la Seine (AURH), has undertaken comprehensive

most important means of European-wide infrastructure funding,

qualitative and quantative analysis of freight transport infrastructure

which supports a network of key projects to deliver an integrated,

from seven countries across NWE. Using Geographical Information

technology-led and user friendly Europe wide transport system.

System (GIS) data and OpenStreetMap, open data software, this analysis has been transformed into an ‘atlas’ of regional and

AURH has worked with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and

European maps showing the roads, railways, inland waterways

Technology (LIST) to import the atlas’ data sets into an interactive

and coastal infrastructure of NWE, highlighting bottlenecks and

cartography platform to give public access to the mapping and

congestion points as well as routes that are currently under-utilised.

layers. The GeoWeastflows online platform enables users to show

To help transport buyers and suppliers develop greener supply

or hide layers of information on road, rail, inland waterway and short

chains, AURH has also included freight flows by each transport mode

sea shipping transport corridors, typical congestion on routes and

and freight type, identifying where more sustainable alternatives

at modal interchanges in each country. The platform offers users the

could be employed.

ability to save, print and download information and view the maps free of charge. The users are encouraged to upload their own data into the tool to continue to add to the knowledge base, keeping the platform up to date. To access the GeoWeastflows portal, visit http://geo.weastflows.eu.

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Comprehensive freight mapping

Transport corridors across Europe

Concentration levels of railways in North West Europe

Transnational engagement

Lessons and recommendations

Transnational and close collaboration

Currently there isn’t a standardised open

between partners has been a crucial element

source database of European transport

in ensuring the success and relevance of the

logistics information. This activity

logistics data in this analysis. Weastflows

highlighted the importance of using

partners provided logistics data from seven

open source data and sharing common

countries, supported by the freight network

data across NWE to encourage the build

knowledge emerging from the wider project,

of a common vision and inter-operability.

at every stage.

The project is using the atlas and analysis Results and benefits

to inform policy recommendations and

The new European Union policy for transport

influence investment and infrastructure

infrastructure, made public in October 2013,

improvements at both regional and EU

lists priorities that the Weastflows project

level. These recommendations, along with

shares as goals, including the development

information on over and under-used routes

of intermodal connections, the reduction

and infrastructure, will be compiled into

of traffic congestion, bottlenecks and

a report, which will be published soon

greenhouse gas emissions.

detailing potential solutions to improve the region’s freight capacity. To access this report

Knowing the characteristics, strengths and

and the range of analysis developed through

weaknesses of NWE freight routes helps

this activity, visit www.weastflows.eu.

logistics and freight operators maximise the use of existing infrastructure capacity

By the end of 2014, the Geoweastflows

and identify alternative transport solutions.

platform was accessed in 17 countries by

Goods can be transported more efficiently

287 users. Given the success of the platform,

and sustainably through more integrated

AURH and LIST will continue its development

multi-modal options, which ultimately helps

by populating it with more data and

reduce transport costs, the environmental

promoting it to industry representatives.

impact and congestion.

Feedback from organisations using the analysis to date has been positive. Private stakeholders have said this helps them incorporate more sustainable modes of transport into their logistics activities.

They also felt it was important to be able

Weastflows (west and east freight flows) – an INTERREG IVB North West Europe (NWE) project funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) – aimed to improve and enhance freight logistics across a west-east axis in the NWE region. The project brought together experts from all sectors of the freight transport industry to work towards connecting supply chains in the region with the wider freight network across the rest of Europe and Asia. Through a combination of freight mapping, innovative technology and a drive to promote sustainable logistics, Weastflows has worked to generate a step-change in the industry. This helps deliver economic, social and environmental benefits to both communities and businesses across the region.

Lead partners • CRITT Transport et Logistique (FR) • Institute for Sustainability (UK) Partners • Agence d’Urbanisme de la Région du Havre et de l’Estuaire de la Seine (AURH) (FR) • Beter Bereikbaar Zuidoost-Brabant (BBZOB) (NL) • Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM) (NL) • Centre for Quantitative Methods (CQM) (NL) • Communication and Tracking Services (CTS) (FR) • InforIT (NL) • Institut du Droit International des Transports (IDIT) (FR) • Intermodality (UK) • Irish Exporters Association (IEA) (IE) • Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) (IE) • Liverpool John Moores University (LOOM) (UK) • Logistique Seine-Normandie (LSN) (FR) • Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) (LU) • Mobycon (NL) • Portsmouth International Port (UK) • South East Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) (UK) • Transports Terrestres Promotion Northern France (i-Trans) (FR) • Universität Duisburg-Essen (UNI-DUE) (DE) • University of Science and Technology of Lille (USTL-LAGIS) (FR) • Verband Region Rhein-Neckar (VRRN) (DE)

to contribute their own data to help keep the analysis up to date.

For further information, please contact: Institute for Sustainability 49-51 East Road, London N1 6AH, UK T: +44 (0) 20 7517 1830 E: info@instituteforsustainability.org.uk www.weastflows.eu

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