(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2023-06)
Grover, Nidhima; Shaikh, Sahrish Jaleel; Faugère, Louis; Montreuil, Benoit
The Physical Internet (PI) presents a transformative vision for logistics systems, where assets are shared openly, and flow consolidation is achieved through standardization, modularization, interfaces, and protocols. Hyperconnected logistics networks have emerged as a promising implementation of the PI, leveraging multi-tier meshed hubs and interconnectivity to achieve greater efficiency, resilience, and sustainability in the transportation of physical goods. However, a lack of clarity in the literature regarding the definition and design of hyperconnected logistics networks presents a significant obstacle to realizing their full potential. To address this gap, we propose a comprehensive definitional framework that integrates key concepts such as tiered network topology, hub interconnectivity, consolidation, and containerization. Moreover, we present a practical design approach for a hyperconnected logistics network in the United States, utilizing a representative demand scenario and accompanying network visualizations to enhance comprehension. Our research aims to unlock the potential of hyperconnected logistics networks as a crucial component of the PI, offering significant benefits to the global logistics industry and society as a whole.