PANDORAS

PANDORAS project aims at designing, implementing, and validating a digital architecture to build a future where logistics is fast, clean, intelligent, and inclusive

Location: Italy

Year of completion: Ongoing

Areas: Ad hoc Information Systems, Efficient Logistic Processes, Research and Innovation, Sustainable Mobility Systems

Link: https://pandoras-project.it/en/

The problem

Urban logistics face a wide range of complex challenges in today’s cities. The rapid expansion of e-commerce and the growing demand for same-day and next-day deliveries have intensified congestion, pollution, and operational inefficiencies. In addition, urban areas are increasingly exposed to disruptive events such as floods, pandemics, or geopolitical crises, which can seriously compromise supply chains and transport networks. Addressing these challenges requires an integrated approach that combines technology, data intelligence, and sustainability to ensure efficiency and resilience.

At a broader scale, international freight transport and logistics networks are vital for Europe’s economy and social well-being. European integration and globalization have created complex interdependencies across borders, revealing how fragile these systems can be in the face of disruptions. PANDORAS was conceived to strengthen these systems by developing more robust and adaptive designs that aim to:

Enhance cooperation among stakeholders across all levels of the logistics chain.
Provide a digital framework to improve the efficiency and transparency of urban logistics.
Develop a digital architecture for sustainable and resilient urban freight management.
Implement intelligent tools for supply chain and inventory management.
Mitigate the impact of disruptive events, ensuring continuity of logistics functions.
Accelerate recovery and system restoration after disruptions.

Our approach

In a fast-changing context where urban freight systems must become smarter, cleaner, and more adaptive, PANDORAS introduces a next-generation digital ecosystem for sustainable and resilient logistics planning.

The project designs, develops, and validates an AI-driven digital architecture — the PANDORAS Dashboard — which integrates data, stakeholders, and transport modes into a unified decision-support environment. This platform enables real-time visibility, predictive analysis, and collaborative decision-making to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of urban logistics.

Through advanced optimization models, interoperable data systems, and real-time monitoring tools, PANDORAS aims to:

Optimize urban freight flows and routing, reducing congestion, travel times, and environmental impacts.
Support sustainable logistics practices, integrating key performance indicators on energy use and emissions.
Increase resilience to disruptive events such as natural disasters, pandemics, or supply chain breakdowns.
Foster collaboration among public authorities, logistics operators, and private actors for coordinated urban freight planning.
Encourage data-driven policymaking and digital innovation, contributing to more efficient, connected, and livable cities.

Ultimately, PANDORAS represents a step forward in the transition toward intelligent, sustainable, and resilient urban logistics systems, aligning with European goals for greener, smarter, and more inclusive mobility.