Cities Decide Smarter
PhD research shows how data informed optimization helps cities and businesses plan urban logistics, cut costs, handle uncertainty, and support more sustainable delivery systems.
Abdo Abouelrous earned his PhD at the department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences at Eindhoven University of Technology. His research examines how cities and businesses can make better logistics decisions using data inspired optimization methods.
Urban Pressure
Cities face daily pressure from growing delivery volumes, limited space, and rising sustainability demands. For entrepreneurs and policymakers alike, choosing where to place inventory, how to plan delivery routes, and how to respond to uncertain demand has become increasingly complex. Abouelrous shows how these choices can be guided by learning from data rather than relying solely on static planning rules.
Smarter Models
In his work within the Information Systems group (IS), Abouelrous demonstrates that optimization combined with machine learning helps decision makers cope with uncertainty and conflicting goals. His research focuses on omnichannel order fulfillment and vehicle routing, two challenges common to retailers and logistics providers operating in dense urban areas.
Learning From Data
The thesis shows how historical and real time data can improve planning quality. By grouping demand scenarios and using learning based routing models, planners can better estimate costs, anticipate congestion, and balance efficiency with service expectations. The results indicate that better use of available data also reduces computational effort, making advanced planning accessible in practice.
Living Cities
A key contribution is the use of Digital Twin technology for city logistics. By creating a virtual representation of urban logistics networks, organizations can test decisions safely before applying them on the street. This helps cities experiment with policies and helps companies adapt quickly to changing conditions.
Real Outcomes
In an industrial case, Abouelrous validated the approach with measurable impact. Delivery costs dropped significantly while vehicle capacity was used more effectively. These outcomes underline how data informed decisions can support sustainable urban supply chains and help cities and businesses learn to manage ongoing logistics challenges together.
Abdo Abouelrous defended his thesis on 27 May 2026.
Title of the thesis: .
Supervisors: Yingqian Zhang, Laurens Bliek.