More than a third of US container trade moves through the major seaports in California: the Ports of LA and Long Beach and the Port of Oakland. With bulk cargo included POLA/LB alone carry 40% of the nation’s imports and exports in 2024. This activity is a huge economic driver for California, but also a source of myriad problems arising from congestion, energy use, and their associated emissions. The explosive growth of e-commerce has only intensified the economic benefits and their costs, with warehousing and last-mile delivery driving near-immediate access to goods for millions while driving innovative business models that stretch regulatory boundaries to meet increasing demand.
ITS-Irvine is at the forefront of research addressing these issues. We analyze existing data to understand and model goods movement. We develop cutting-edge technologies to collect new data where it doesn’t exist. We explore the possibilities and benefits of shifting California’s trucks to zero-emissions drivetrains and automated control while also considering the challenges to such a shift and how the costs might impact California’s broader economy. Explore the projects, publications and experts below. Subtopics in this area include:
- Urban freight distribution
- Intermodal freight transport
- Logistics management and optimization
- Supply chain resilience and sustainability
- Data collection and modeling of goods movement
Lead Experts
Professor Emerita, Merage School of Business (formerly School of Management)
Professor, Department of Economics • Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering • Professor, Urban Planning and Public Policy
Recent Projects
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