Matthias Winkenbach

Principal Research Scientist
Director, MIT Megacity Logistics Lab
Director, MIT Computational and Visual Education (CAVE) Lab
CEO, VizRD Labs Inc.

Primary DLC

Center for Transportation and Logistics

MIT Room: E40-255

Areas of Interest and Expertise

Urban Logistics
Last-Mile Logistics
Logistics in Emerging Markets
Megacities
Distribution Network Design
Urban Freight Infrastructure
Urban Logistics Data Analytics
Distribution to Nanostores
Data Visualization
Simulation
Optimization

Research Summary

While urban transportation involves the movement of both freight and passengers in urban areas, the term city logistics is explicitly limited to the domain of urban freight transportation (Bektas et al., 2015). City logistics concepts aim at increasing the efficiency and decreasing the negative environmental, social and economic externalities of urban freight transportation through consolidation and tighter coordination of shipments within an integrated logistics system (see, e.g., Taniguchi, 2014).

The design of multi-tier distribution networks for urban last mile delivery is the centerpiece of Dr. Winkenbach's research (see, e.g., Winkenbach et al., 2016). Moreover, his research addresses issues of infrastructure and policy design for urban freight transportation and delivery, and applications of data analytics, algorithms, and technology innovation in urban transportation.

Recent Work

  • Video

    10.28.20-Mobility-Matthias-Winkenbach

    October 28, 2020Conference Video Duration: 59:21
    Matthias Winkenbach
    Director, MIT Megacity Logistics Lab
    Research Scientist
    MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics

    Matthias Winkenbach - 2017 Management

    October 4, 2017Conference Video Duration: 34:25

    Managing the Last Mile: Density, Data, and Technology

    There are three major complexities facing those who manage last-mile distribution: increasing density in megacities, increasing fragmentation of urban demand, and ever-increasing customer expectations. How can technology and data improve last-mile logistics? What unique challenges do managers face? How can you understand shifting consumer expectations and the evolution of omni-channel retail and delivery in city environments? Join Matthias Winkenbach to explore how companies can reach customers on their own terms, where they live, work, shop, or play, anywhere on the globe.

    2017 MIT Innovations in Management Conference

    Matthias Winkenbach - 2016-Consumer-Dynamics-Conf

    December 14, 2016Conference Video Duration: 34:40

    Megacities and the Last-Mile Problem

    Rapid urbanization and increasing population density in megacities poses unique challenges for last-mile distribution in many of the world’s largest emerging markets. Meeting these challenges requires understanding shifting consumer expectations and the evolution of omni-channel retail and delivery in city environments. These insights can help companies leverage logistics big data analytics for last-mile network design and planning to reach customers on their own terms, where they live, work, shop, or play, anywhere on the globe.

    2016 MIT Consumer Dynamics Conference