— Equitable access— optimization— logistics solutions
Food Systems Logistics
RESEARCH FOCUS
Leveraging Data and Community-Driven Freight Systems to Support Urban Agriculture Models for Enhancing Food Access
This Smart and Connected Communities (S&CC) project seeks to improve access to fresh, nutritious food in urban areas by developing community-driven, supply-side freight systems and urban agriculture models. The goal is to integrate urban farming into city infrastructure, addressing logistical and economic barriers that limit access to healthy food. The project envisions an AI-Enabled Decision-Support System (AIEDSS) that combines artificial intelligence, optimization, geospatial modeling, and social network theory to design food logistics systems informed by community needs. This work advances participatory, data-driven approaches to equitable and resilient urban food distribution.
This project is sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation with Award number 2531382. You may find more information here.
For more information, please contact the graduate student associated with this project
Cooperative Ecosystems among SMEs: Exploring the Impact of Food Hubs and Group Purchasing on Competitiveness
This study examines how inter-organizational systems can foster cooperative ecosystems that promote inclusion and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Focusing on food hubs and group purchasing systems among SME food retailers, the research explores how collaboration can enhance competitiveness and community well-being. A family of mathematical models was developed to evaluate SMEs’ purchasing and logistics decisions within these cooperative systems, extending traditional profit-focused objectives to incorporate the broader goal of improving food access in local communities.
This project is currently work in progress
For more information, please contact the graduate student associated with this project
Infrastructure and Food Accessibility: Using Regression and Network Optimization Models to Characterize How Existing Infrastructure Can Provide Access to Healthy Food
This study broadens the understanding of food accessibility in urban food deserts by examining factors beyond proximity to large grocery stores. Using Chicago as a case study, it explores how socioeconomic and household characteristics influence access to unprocessed foods through both traditional and non-traditional food outlets. Employing K-means clustering and multiple linear regression, the analysis reveals that variables such as vehicle ownership and community-specific conditions play a significant role in shaping local food availability.
This project is currently work in progress
For more information, please contact the graduate student associated with this project
Mitigating Food Under-served Areas via Freight Transportation and Logistics
This project focuses on developing freight transportation solutions to improve access to nutritious foods in Food Under-served Areas (FUAs). It explores strategies to bring healthy food closer to vulnerable populations by leveraging existing local retail and food bank networks, as well as last-mile delivery solutions such as dark stores. The initiative involves collaboration among multiple universities to design equitable, efficient, and sustainable food distribution systems.
This project is currently work in progress
For more information, please contact the graduate student associated with this project