International Transport Laboratory

KOBE UNIVERSITY

Our lab addresses corporate and societal issues in the international transport sector, integrating management and economic theories with data science methods. Recent major research topics include the analysis of SNS and AIS data, digitalization in supply chains including the application of blockchain and physical internet(PI), and carbon neutrality in the maritime sector.

LAB News

[2025]

Mar 15 Our research paper "The Logistics 2024 problem on YouTube: A Natural Language Processing Analysis" was presented at the 87th National Convention of IPSJ held during March 13 - 15, 2025.
Feb 12 A mini-lecture for high school students with the title "Logistics Revolution! Changing the Future with Physical Internet" are now available in Yumenavi.

[2024]

Nov 17 Four of our research papers were presented at the 70th JSCE Annual Meeting.
Oct 25　Please join us for an open seminar on "Hyperconnected City Logistics" by Prof. Russell Thompson from the University of Melbourne. In the seminar, Prof. Russell will present recent research projects on parcel lockers, last-mile delivery, crowdsourced delivery and multimodal transport.

📅 Date: [2024-11-01 (Friday)] 🕒 Time: [11:00-11:45] 📍 Location: [Umeki Y Hall, Fukae Campus].

Oct 9　Two papers are accepted and presented in the International Association of Maritime Universities 2024 annual general assembly.
May 29 Our research paper "Reinforcement Learning-Based Optimization of Logistical Hubs and Routing in the Context of the Physical Internet - A Case Study from Japan" was presented at the 10th International Physical Internet Conference held during May 29-31, 2024.
May 29 Talk on "Next Generation Logistics Network Physical Internet's Mechanism and Implementation Examples" is selected for 2024 SUMMER DX WEEK, to be held from June 14 to 21, 2024.
Apr 22 Guest speaker in Japan Innovation Review Forums powered by JBpress.
Mar 26 Moderator in Container Shipping Summit.

[2023]

Nov 26 Our research papers "Identifying the best location of logistics hubs and optimization of distribution routes in the context of physical internet" & "Optimization of picking in distribution warehouses" were presented at the 68th JSCE Annual Meeting.
Oct 2 Assistant Professor Dr. Nailah Firdausiyah (Universitas Brawijaya) joins our lab as visiting researcher.
Aug 31 Our article "Uncovering the impact of COVID-19 on shipping and logistics" has won an award for Outstanding Paper in the 2023 Emerald Literati Awards.
Mar 3 Guest Speaker in Logistics DX SUMMIT 2023.
Feb 3 Guest Speaker in Emerging Topics in Transportation Studies.

[2022]

Jul 22 Our article "Blockchain technology in supply chain management: insights from machine learning algorithms" has won an award for Outstanding Paper in the 2022 Emerald Literati Awards.
Jul 15 Guest speaker in Japan Maritime Center Seminar.