A simulation-based study to determine the negative externalities of hyper-local food delivery. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sinha, Dipyaman; Pandit, Debapratim
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 100(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: On-demand meal delivery -- Freight emissions -- Parking demand -- Agent-based simulation -- Gig work -- Platform economy; Transportation -- Research -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; 354.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2021.103071
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1361-9209

Abstract

Highlights: An agent-based simulation is proposed to model hyper-local food delivery service. The emissions per delivery and parking demand generated are measured for Kolkata. The average distance traveled per order is 5.85 km. The average idle time spent by a delivery worker is 59.26% of his working time. Each delivery can result in the emission of 163.08 gm CO2 . Abstract: Hyper-local food delivery involves delivering food from neighborhood eateries by gig workers, mostly using motorized two-wheelers. An accurate assessment of the negative external costs will help decision-makers sustainably regulate such services. As a first step, this research develops an agent-based simulation of a hyper-local food delivery system. Using primary data from Kolkata, India, the simulator estimates the fleet size, the average distance traveled per order, the average number of orders delivered and the average idle time spent by a delivery worker, at varying order volumes. The negative externalities estimated are the emissions per order and the spatio-temporal parking demand generated by the delivery fleet. The results show that at an order volume of 2100, on average, the distance traveled per order is 5.85 km, the orders delivered per worker is 15, the idle time spent is 59.2% and each delivery results in the emission of 163.08 gm CO2 .