Understanding last-mile package delivery in urban areas and the inclusion of autonomous technology

Phair, Christopher Daniel (2023) Understanding last-mile package delivery in urban areas and the inclusion of autonomous technology. Masters thesis, Northern Arizona University.

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Abstract

The demand for same-day package delivery in the United States is growing and has fostered the development of new, technologically advanced delivery systems. Given the rate that humanity widely adopts new technologies it is important to explore these emerging delivery methods, including Sidewalk Autonomous Delivery Robots (SADRs) and App-Based Food Delivery (ABFD) systems, to gain an understanding of their potential impacts on urban transportation networks. By assessing consumer behaviors and characteristics in areas where these services currently operate, it is possible to predict where stress will be observed in other urban environments to aid planners in directing their efforts accordingly. This thesis explores this topic and highlights the importance of understanding how SADRs and ABFD services operate in multimodal environments and generates predictors of which populations are likely to use them.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Publisher’s Statement:	© Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords:	App-based food delivery; consumer behavior; Last-mile package delivery; sidewalk autonomous delivery robot
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Student
Department/Unit:	Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations College of Social and Behavioral Science > Geography, Planning and Recreation
Date Deposited:	23 Jun 2025 16:50
Last Modified:	23 Jun 2025 16:50
URI:	https://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/6192

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