Research project CP/36 (Research action CP)
Context
The strong development of freight transports, particularly by trucking, is the source of important negative externalities: congestion, pollution, accidents, etc. For solving that problem, a partial solution could be found in a policy of modal shift towards rail and inland waterways transports. However, information on the instruments that could affect that modal shift is rather incomplete. Furthermore, transport management and organisation have been progressively integrated into the management of the complete logistic chain from the production of goods to their commercialisation. In this context, it is not sufficient anymore to analyse the monetary costs and/or price of transports. Qualitative attributes like reliability, information, flexibility, etc. must also be taken into account for developing an appropriate modal shift strategy.
Project description
Objectives
This research endeavours to integrate qualitative factors like reliability, safety, information, flexibility of response, damages, etc. into a global analysis of the factors that affect the choices of freight transport modes. Until now, most of the available researches have been focused on costs and/or prices and time of transports, and what is known on other decision factors is mostly circumstantial.
Methodology
The usual statistical approach on published data (when they exist) is not feasible for studying qualitative factors, as they may be specific to well-defined categories of goods and enterprises. Hence, this research must rely on a survey of shippers, forwarders and consignees. The survey, which will cover all the relevant factors, will allow observing the actual choices which are made in different industrial circumstances (revealed preference approach), but also to question the decision makers about the choices they would make if some of the decision parameters were changed (stated preference approach). Such a survey will then provide a relevant data basis for an appropriate econometric analysis of the various factors that affect the modal choices.
Given the time framework of the research program and the complexity of the problem, this survey must be seen as a pilot-survey among Belgian enterprises. Nevertheless, the international character of Belgian economic transport activities will provide a relevant domain of research. At this stage, the modes that will be the main objects of the survey are the road, the rail and the waterway transports. We hope this pilot-survey will provide a good basis for a more extensive research at a full international scale, and including air transport and short-sea shipping.
Interaction between the different partners
The pilot survey will be realised by the university teams themselves, so that a maximum of information will be gathered in the process of interviewing. The composition of the research network made of researchers from different parts of the country should facilitate that fieldwork. The specialisation of the different teams is also a positive factor as the consortium gathers experts in statistical estimation, network modelling, decision analysis, and transport economists working at the theoretical and applied levels. Each partner will contribute in his field of specialisation, allowing thus a comprehensive approach of all the methodological facets.
Link with international programmes
The consortium has contacted the main international experts in this field of research and will benefit from their advises.
Expected results and/or products
A better assessment of the role played by qualitative factors in modal choices, and, therefore, a better approach to the definition of a modal shift strategy. The results will be disseminated through the users committee and through publications in international scientific journals.
Partners
Activities
The co-ordination of the consortium is made by the Group Transport & Mobility (Prof. M. Beuthe and B. Jourquin) of the Facultés Universitaires Catholiques de Mons. This research team is specialised in transport network analysis and multicriteria analysis.
The Faculteit Toegepaste Economische Wetenschappen of the University of Antwerp, where Prof. E. Van de Voorde and H. Meersman specialise in harbours economics and analysis of inland transport modal choice.
The Department of Geography of the University of Gent, where Prof. F. Witlox is a specialist in transport case studies and spatial transport economics.
The Institute of Statistics of the Université Catholique de Louvain, where Prof. M. Mouchart has done a number of researches on the statistical models of discrete choices
Contact Information
Promoter
Michel Beuthe and Bart Jourquin
Facultés Universitaires Catholiques de Mons (FUCAM)
151, chaussée de Binche
B-7000 Mons
Tel: +32 (0)65 32 32 96; Fax: +32 (0)65 31 56 91
gt&m@fucam.ac.be
http://www.fucam.ac.be
Partners
Hilde Meersman and Eddy Van de Voorde
Universiteit Antwerpen
Faculteit Toegepaste Economische Wetenschappen
Prinsstraat 13
B-2000 Antwerpen
Tel: +32 (0)3 220 41 11; Fax: +32 (0)3 2204026
hilde.meersman@ufsia.ac.be, eddy.vandevoorde@ufsia.ac.be.
http://www.ufsia.ac.be
Frank Witlox
Universiteit Gent (RUG)
Departement Geografie
Krijgslaan 281 - Gebouw S8
B-9000 Gent
Tel: +32 (0)9 264 45 53; Fax: +32 (0)9 264 49 85
frank.witlox@rug.ac.be.
http://www.rug.ac.be
Michel Mouchartt
Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL)
Institute of Statistics
20, voie du Roman Pays
B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Tel: +32 (0)10 47 43 18; Fax: +32 (0)10 47 30 32
mouchart@stat.ucl.ac.be
http://www.stat.ucl.ac.be
Users Committee
At the present time the committee is composed by
Mr E. Borremans - Ministry of Equipment and Transports of the Walloon Region - Division of transport planning and co-ordination
Mr E. Peetermans - Ministry of the Flemish Community - Transport administration
Mr F. Swiderski - Institute of Inland Waterways Navigation
Mr R. Goetinck - Ministry of the Flemish Community - Inland and maritime administration
National Railways Corporation, representative still has to be chosen.
Additional members will be added following the process of the preliminary in-depth interviews. Beyond its role of advising the research consortium the users' committee will be helpful in facilitating the contacts with the relevant transport decision-makers to be interviewed.
Assesment of quality differences between freight transport modes : final report
Jourquin, Bart - Beuthe, Michel - Witlox, Frank ... et al Brussels : Federal Science Policy, 2007 (SP1805)
[To download]
[To order]
