The goal was to improve the NFDS with real-world GPS freight data, ensuring that national freight planning reflects actual movement patterns across industries and regions.
Our Approach:
- GPS Data Collection & Processing – Captured and processed comprehensive freight trip data from across New Zealand, standardising all records for integration into the NFDS framework.
- SA2-Level OD Analysis – Broke down freight movements to Statistical Area 2 granularity, enabling regionally precise analysis of flows by origin, destination, and industry sector.
- Industry Type Segmentation – Classified trips by industry, allowing for more nuanced analysis of sector-specific freight patterns.
- Ferry Crossing Quantification – Measured the number of freight trips involving inter-island ferry crossings to better capture national supply chain connectivity.
- Integration with NFDS – Delivered a cleaned, structured dataset that slotted directly into the NFDS modelling process, enhancing its overall precision.
Key Findings:
- Enhanced Freight Movement Clarity – Produced the most detailed GPS-derived freight movement dataset used in an NFDS to date, improving route and volume accuracy.
- Inter-Island Freight Insights – Quantified ferry-related freight activity, filling a historical gap in the study’s understanding of inter-island logistics.
- Industry-Specific Flow Patterns – Highlighted the distinct routing and intensity patterns for different freight sectors.
Impact:
- Infrastructure Planning Support – Enabled evidence-based investment decisions in freight corridors and inter-island transport infrastructure.
- Stakeholder Engagement – Provided industry stakeholders with data to inform advocacy and collaboration with planners.
- Policy Alignment – Supported strategic government and regional planning by grounding the NFDS in real-world operational data.
