The global logistics market is undergoing unprecedented change. Faced with a rapidly growing global population, increased prosperity and the proliferation of online sales, efficient distribution of food, pharmaceuticals and manufactured goods is becoming a critical focus for the entire industry.
Our team is at the forefront of these changes. Our expertise in high performance logistics is supporting our clients to review their strategic models to respond to these challenges and equip their businesses for the future. Our Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in Madrid, Manchester, South Carolina, Brisbane, Toronto, Vancouver and Los Angeles are hubs of global knowledge and local expertise.
From cold storage, decarbonization, business transformation and intermodal hubs we identify efficiencies and embed innovation, digital transformation and ESG across the entire supply chain.
Cold storage
We understand the challenges of building systems and materials interface performance at low temperatures. Our clients’ buildings are designed for minimal points of failure, long-term operational reliability, incorporate the latest firefighting technology, site logistics optimization ultimately balanced against the cost of construction and operation.
Cold storage facilities (ambient, chilled and frozen) present challenges with respect to civils design and achieving decarbonization goals. Ground slab design is critical to prevent frost heave, while building layout, refrigerant selection, heat capture and e-fuels are at the forefront of carbon reduction initiatives. Applying our full suite of engineering analysis tools, and knowledge of the global construction supply chain, we optimize building design around automation, maximum storage density and building performance, allied to best practice for logistics handling requirements for the food and pharmaceutical sectors.
Decarbonization
Our teams specialize in the reduction of whole life cycle carbon and in the development of decarbonization roadmaps for our clients. Our Scope X process focuses on the reduction of carbon through design, considering embodied and operational carbon across the entire project life cycle. For warehouses and fixed facilities, we use AECOMzero to develop high performance building designs and optimize designs for net zero carbon. Our Facade Optimizer tool enables us to parametrically assess the performance and the cost impact of different façade design scenarios in real time at the early design stage. For transport decarbonization, our teams can advise on the use of low-carbon fuels like hydrogen and green methanol for long-distance shipping, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to help decarbonize air cargo shipments, or fleet electrification for shorter hauls and last mile delivery.
Business transformation
Our expertise in the use of automated materials handling equipment, autonomous vehicles, drones and eVTOLs is one of the driving forces helping to optimize our clients’ businesses. Optimizing building design combined with ideal materials handling equipment configurations are key to maximizing operational efficiency while at the same time minimizing building size and cost. While the rapid development of eVTOLs and drones is changing the future of goods movement, proper integration into logistics facilities, networks, and the surrounding airspace requires solving significant challenges. AECOM develops site test fits and integration of automated vehicles into new and existing logistics sites. Through the assessment of operations and logistics requirements, review of processes and time study data, we define the critical elements of facility design and impacts on infrastructure layout, vehicle flow, and associated capacity.
Intermodal hubs
Our team has extensive experience and expertise in the design and deployment of intermodal hubs. We work with our clients to identify the optimum solution and realize efficiencies at every stage of the supply chain. We are leaders in multimodal transportation planning and engineering, encompassing ports, freight rail, air freight, and trucking and distribution. Our broad experience across the various elements of the supply change, provides a deep understanding of how effective goods movement requires efficient on dock, near dock and inland intermodal facilities with connections from inland logistics and distribution centers, ports and airports to highways and railroads. This understanding is leveraged to provide transportation solutions across the supply chain and to provide innovative and resilient infrastructure.
Our services
- Architecture and design
- Master planning
- Cost management
- Project management
- Engineering (structural, civil, MEPF)
- Planning, site selection and permitting
- Environmental due diligence
- Supply chain advisory
- Digital transformation
- Fleet decarbonization