On the spatial scope of warehouse activity: An exploratory study in France. (February 2022) - Guerrero, D.
Abstract: This article analyses the relationship between the location of warehouses, the spatial scope of their activities and some of their operational characteristics. It uses the results of a French national survey providing detailed characteristics for 1974 warehouses of more than 5000 square metres. A typology of four spatial categories is built based on a population potential with different values of friction (ɑ). Applying logistic regression, the four categories are related to survey data describing the spatial scope of the activities of warehouses, controlling for variations in other characteristics such as seasonality and vehicle movements. The results show a significant relationship between the location of warehouses and their spatial scope. As expected, warehouses with local origins are more frequent outside the core (inner Paris) and metropolitan location categories (outer Paris and other large urban areas). The findings suggest there may be significant differences in the spatial scope of warehouse activity even within the same urban area. Highlights: Four warehouse location categories are defined based on a population potential. Survey data describing the spatial scope and operational characteristics of warehouses is exploited. Location categories and spatial scope are related using a logistic regression. The results reveal a significant relationship between our location categories, spatial scope and some operational characteristics. Differences were identified between the outbound scope of metropolitan and core categories.