Swaminath Venkateswaran, professor-researcher at ESILV, presented a research paper at the 35th CIRP Design Conference in Patras, Greece.
In collaboration with Zhe Yuan, a professor and researcher at EMLV, the study explored advanced optimization models for last-mile logistics using real-world data.
CIRP Design: A global platform for applied engineering research
The 35th CIRP Design Conference united international researchers and design and production engineering experts. Swaminath Venkateswaran, a professor-researcher of ESILV, introduced a study titled “Last-Mile Delivery Optimization: A Case Study Using Meituan Dataset.” The research investigates how data-driven strategies can improve urban logistics by responding more effectively to fast-evolving customer expectations.
Mathematical modeling for real-world logistics challenges
The research relies on a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) approach to address constraints in last-mile delivery. Two complementary models were explored: the just-in-time model, which aims to reduce delays and resource use, and the advanced flexible model, which incorporates time-window constraints to increase delivery efficiency.
These models were tested using the MeMeituan dataset, a real-world source of urban delivery data from China. The objective is to generate insights that can be applied to dense metropolitan areas such as La Défense in the Paris region, where high delivery volumes and narrow timeframes pose unique logistical challenges.
Future research aims to combine these models with real-time data and AI-powered tools to increase adaptability and resilience in last-mile delivery networks.
Swaminath Venkateswaran, a professor-researcher of ESILV, presenting
Collaboration across disciplines and institutions
This project results from a growing collaboration between ESILV and EMLV, the engineering and business schools of the De Vinci Higher Education Group.
Swaminath Venkateswaran credits Zhe Yuan, an associate professor at EMLV, for introducing the topic and supporting the research’s development over the past year. The conference presentation generated active discussions, with feedback that will contribute to the following stages of the project.
An initiative supported by the De Vinci Research Center
The study was made possible by the support of the De Vinci Research Center (DVRC), which unites researchers from both ESILV and EMLV.
Pascale Bueno Merino and Francesco Salvarani co-direct DVRC, which promotes innovation through interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in digital transformation, urban optimization, and sustainable development.
The paper will soon be available in the Procedia CIRP journal, and further publications are planned as part of this ongoing research.
