UNDERSTANDING DISCO
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DISCO is an innovation action project focused on upscaling urban logistics and smart planning, accelerating the transition to decarbonised and digital cities by changing the logistics paradigm using a Physical Internet (PI) led approach. DISCO leverages the PI and Urban Cloud concepts to demonstrate the value of dynamic allocation of city infrastructures.
DISCO aims to facilitate smart collaboration among stakeholders through the demonstration of 23 innovative measures (along 5 DISCO-X innovations layered as digital, physical and business) across 8 Living Labs (4 Starring and 4 Twinning) and 4 Early Adopters.
DISCO aims to be at the service of cities and operators, co-designing, simulating, monitoring, evaluating and scaling-up the DISCO innovative measures. These measures will be demonstrated by adopting the Meta Model Suite, enabled by the Urban Freight Data Space, empowering uptake, and replicability at different phases of design and implementation, and ensuring stakeholder’s participation.
KEY ACTIVITIES: A success story from Thessaloniki Living Lab
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Within the DISCO project, the Thessaloniki Living Lab stands out in the field of urban logistics due to its innovative approach to leveraging Physical Internet’s principles. By integrating existing physical and digital assets, including a Logistics Real Estate Database, the LL is accelerating the city’s digital maturity and enhancing its digital readiness in the logistics sector.
A prime example of this innovative approach is the establishment of an “operational marriage” between a real estate actor and a logistics service provider. This unique partnership demonstrates the potential of enhanced demand matching platforms and strategic relocation of services to optimize operations and transform how logistics are conducted in the city.
The implementation of the DISCO initiatives has not been without its challenges, though. Coordinating stakeholders with diverse interests and integrating new technologies required meticulous planning, open communication events and continuous adaptability. The ongoing development of Thessaloniki’s local Urban Logistics Dataspace is instrumental in addressing these challenges by simplifying data access and fostering greater transparency among local stakeholders.
The involvement of key partners and authorities, such as the Hellenic Institute of Transport, the Municipality of Thessaloniki and the real estate management department regarding rail infrastructure in Greece, ensures that planning initiatives are well-informed and aligned with the city’s urban logistics needs. This collaborative approach, facilitated by the Dataspace, is crucial for creating a sustainable and efficient local urban logistics ecosystem.
The operational marriage, exemplified by the strategic relocation of ACS to a new hub with optimized facilities, has already yielded tangible results. Efficiency gains have been achieved through improved parking, loading/unloading, and vehicle replenishment processes. Additionally, the use of the digital tools developed in Thessaloniki has showcased the potential for data-driven optimization in urban logistics, particularly in dynamic demand-to-supply matching.
In parallel, a robust assessment framework tailored to the Living Lab’s unique context has been developed, ensuring that the project’s activities align with both the city’s vision and broader DISCO project goals. This framework will be instrumental in measuring the long-term impact of the lab’s initiatives on emissions reduction, efficiency gains, and overall quality of life in Thessaloniki.
Two OPEN DAY events effectively informed local logistics operators about the project’s goals and innovations, leading to a discussion about possible agreements for future data-sharing partnerships within Thessaloniki’s Urban Logistics Dataspace. Over 50 local and national operators, including the influential Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce & Industry, representing retailers and shop owners, actively participated in these events.
A key lesson learned is the vital role of a trusted intermediary, like CERTH, in facilitating public-private collaborations. This trust is essential for enabling actor-driven logistics planning in the city through sensitive data-sharing, where diverse stakeholders can collaborate effectively to shape the future of urban logistics.
The EU’s priorities for decarbonization, digitalization, and improving quality of life in cities are in direct alignment with Thessaloniki Living Lab’s operations and planning within the DISCO project. As a key strategic hub in Southeast Europe, Thessaloniki’s efforts to optimize logistics, reduce emissions, and foster data-driven collaboration exemplify a commitment to sustainable urban development that resonates with the broader goals of the European Union.
“Thessaloniki, as the key strategic hub of South-East Europe, possesses the potential to become a logistics powerhouse by creatively leveraging its existing assets. Innovation in this sector extends beyond introducing new technologies, encompassing the reimagining and maximizing the potential of what we already have.”
Dr. Georgia Ayfantopoulou Research Director – Deputy Director HIT Head of Research Department “Infrastructure, Networks, Mobility & Logistics” ITS HELLAS, BoD President
More information
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- Website: https://discoprojecteu.com/
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