The multi-agent layer of CALMeD SURF

Abstract

This paper proposes a crowdsourcing approach that deals with the problem of Last Mile Delivery (LMD). The proposed approach is supported by Multi Agent System (MAS) techniques and makes use of a crowd of citizens that are moving in an urban area for their own needs. The idea is to employ those citizens to deliver parcels on their way to their destinations. The complexity of the approach lies in integrating the public infrastructure network of the city for the delivery route planning, and the citizens that are deliverers in the system with their own routes to their destinations. The proposed approach is supported by a MAS framework for open fleets management. Moreover, the executed tests suggest that the LMD by citizens can drastically reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide and other airborne pollutants that are caused by delivery trucks. Moreover it can reduce the traffic congestion and noise in urban areas.