-commerce's rapid expansion has transformed consumer shopping habits and business operations. While it offers the potential to reduce customer trips, it has also contributed to increased vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT) by delivery vehicles, resulting in elevated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially in last-mile deliveries. This paper proposes a spatial approach to address the uncapacitated single allocation hub covering problem (USAHCP) to reduce the VKT by optimising the number and location of logistics hub. In this approach, the spatial features and strategic legislation of metropolitan areas are analysed. Integrating existing models, this location-based approach aims to design a collaborative last mile distribution network by locating micro-consolidation centres (MCCs) in metropolitan areas to service parcel lockers where end customers pick up their parcels. The method is applied to Sydney, Australia, using data provided by the largest courier companies in Australia. The results show that incorporating MCCs in the network reduces VKT due to their proximity to final destinations. Sensitivity analyses are conducted by differentiating maximum driving time constraints and specific times of day reflecting traffic patterns. The results provide significant advantages for logistics stakeholders, notably Transport for NSW, by reducing VKT and GHG emissions. Moreover, the developed method can be utilised by carriers and shippers in their strategic and operational decisions to enhance overall delivery speed and reliability.

中文翻译：

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确定微型集运中心的数量和位置，作为满足不断增长的电子商务需求的解决方案

-商业的快速扩张改变了消费者的购物习惯和商业运作。虽然它有可能减少客户出行，但它也增加了送货车辆的行驶里程 (VKT)，导致温室气体 (GHG) 排放增加，特别是在最后一英里的送货中。本文提出了一种解决无能力单一分配枢纽覆盖问题（USAHCP）的空间方法，通过优化物流枢纽的数量和位置来减少 VKT。在这种方法中，分析了大都市区的空间特征和战略立法。这种基于位置的方法整合现有模型，旨在通过在大都市区设置微型集运中心 (MCC) 来设计协作式最后一英里配送网络，为最终客户提取包裹的包裹储物柜提供服务。该方法适用于澳大利亚悉尼，使用澳大利亚最大的快递公司提供的数据。结果表明，将 MCC 纳入网络可减少 VKT，因为它们靠近最终目的地。通过区分最大驾驶时间限制和反映交通模式的一天中的特定时间来进行敏感性分析。通过减少 VKT 和温室气体排放，研究结果为物流利益相关者（尤其是新南威尔士州交通局）带来了显着优势。此外，承运人和托运人可以在其战略和运营决策中利用所开发的方法，以提高整体交付速度和可靠性。