Urban logistic analysis in the commercial area and proposal of a policy for loading and unloading of goods in Popayán City

The last two decades have witnessed significant growth in Latin American cities, with 81% of the region's inhabitants living in urban areas. This tendency affects the quality of citizens' lives and produces greater demand for resources and services. This study aims to provide alternative solutions to improve the problems of vehicular congestion and logistics processes in one of the most congested sectors of Popayán. First, logistics operations were characterized in the city center using the last mile/km2-MIT methodology. This methodology allowed us to identify areas with the greater vehicular flow and a higher density of economic activities. Subsequently, two scenarios were evaluated with discrete simulations to determine the loading and unloading zones and schedules for loading and unloading times to suggest improvements in vehicular flow. The results showed an 8% improvement in loading and unloading zones, a 12% increase in the pedestrian/vehicle ratio, an 18% improvement in pedestrian trips, and a 16% reduction in vehicle flow disruptions. Finally, the chapter provides a proactive tool for decision-makers to guide public policies aimed at improving urban-to-last-mile freight distribution in Popayán.