Defining the interface between city logistics and urban design: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Logistics services have become crucial in shaping urban spaces and influencing urban dynamics. However, despite growing scholarly and policy attention in recent years, their implications for urban design remain unevenly addressed and insufficiently integrated across themes and methods. Addressing the challenges of urban freight transport does not rely solely on transportation perspectives but instead requires interdisciplinary collaboration. This study conducts a systematic literature review following the PRISMA protocol to examine city logistics through an urban design lens, guided by a framework of six urban design dimensions. The main objectives are to introduce an urban design perspective into the urban freight transport discourse, identify existing research gaps, and propose a framework for future studies. A total of 83 publications were reviewed. A descriptive bibliometric analysis shows that scholarly attention to this topic has significantly increased in the past two years. An inductive thematic analysis reveals four thematic clusters: (1) problematisation, (2) analysis of traffic conflicts, (3) curbside design and management, and (4) freight facility integration. By synthesising these thematic patterns, the study proposes research opportunities within each urban design dimension to guide future investigation. The paper contributes to the literature by offering a comprehensive understanding of freight transport from an urban design perspective, conceptualising urban design as distinct from other urban research fields, and outlining cross-disciplinary pathways that can bridge city logistics and urban design.