Dr. Susana Val

Dr. Susana Val

Director of Zaragoza Logistics Center

Dr. Susana Val is the Director of Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLC). She is also Associate Research Professor at MIT-Zaragoza International Logistics Program, Research Affiliate at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics and Principal Investigator for the Transport Research Group.

She obtained both a PhD and MSc degree in Industrial Engineering at the University of Zaragoza. Furthermore, she studied the Master of Engineering and Logistics at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

Her current research activities are related with the improvement of infrastructures, logistics corridors, best practices, transport policies and mobility of Spain, the EU and Latin America.

As part of this work she focuses on aspects such as carbon footprint, synchromodality, the creation and promotion of transport networks, improvements of logistics parks as fundamental nodes for the supply chain development, the connection of ports with their hinterlands and the creation of communications and operations supporting platforms among the stakeholders in the supply chains.

Urban Mobility is a field of special interest due to the particular transport features in the cities and the growing need of cooperation to try to find feasible solutions, leading to sustainability.

Research Areas

Sustainable Networks

Sustainable Networks Group investigates how environmental concerns could be integrated into operational decision making throughout the supply chain.

Transport Networks & Urban Mobility

The Transport Research Group works on issues related to infrastructure, freight transportation and mobility, logistics corridors and the transport policies of Spain, the EU and Latin America.

Projects

Data-driven, Integrated, Syncromodal, Collaborative and Optimised urban freight meta model for a new generation of urban logistics and planning with data sharing at European Living Labs

Acronym: DISCO Project number: 101103954 Funding Body: European Commission – Horizon Europe Type of funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Start date: 01/05/2023 End date: 31/10/2026 Duration: 42 months Project description DISCO will develop and demonstrate – in real-life conditions – a federated European urban freight (UF) data space as one stop shop of data […]

OPTIWASTE, AI Engine, Deep Learning and Machine Learning for Waste Logistics Optimization

Acronym: OPTIWASTE Project number: AEI-010500-2022-90 Funding Body: Spanish Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism. SG Industry and Pyme Type of funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Start date: 15/03/2022 End date:   15/12/2022 Duration:   9 months   Project description The project seeks to minimize the economic cost, CO2 impact per Kg managed and optimization of the […]

Progress towards Federated Logistics Through the Integration Of TEN-T into A Global Trade Network

Acronym: PLANET Project number: 860274 Funding Body: European Commission – H2020 Type of funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Start date: 01/06/2020 End date: 31/05/2023 Duration: 36 months Project description PLANET is a 36-month project, that goes beyond strategic transport studies and ICT for transport research, by rigorously demonstrating the emerging concepts (Physical Internet) and […]

Integrated Urban Electric Mobility Solutions in the Context of the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda

Acronym: SOLUTIONSplus Project number: 875041 Funding Body: European Commission – H2020 Type of funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Start date: 01/01/2020 End date: 31/12/2023 Duration: 48 months Website: www.solutionsplus.eu/ Project description The project SOLUTIONSplus aims to set up a global platform for shared, public and commercial e-mobility solutions, and to kick start the transition [...]

Sustainable Policy Response to Urban mobility Transition

Acronym: SPROUT Project number: 814910 Funding Body: European Commission – H2020 Type of funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Start date: 1/09/2019 End date: 31/08/2022 Duration: 36 months Project description The rapidly changing urban mobility environment – characterized by emerging business models, new technologies, and disruptive innovation – represents a considerable challenge for urban mobility […]

Multiprocess Platform for Information Exchange

Acronym: n/a Project number: AEI-010500-2017-157 Funding Body: Ministry of Economy, Industry y Competitiveness Type of funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Start date: 01/07/2017 End date: 31/03/2018 Duration: 9 months Project Description The main objective of this project is the improvement of the efficiency of any type of process that involves different actors, which may […]

Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods – Research and Implementation Support in Europe

Acronym: SUNRISE Project number: 723365 Funding Body: European Commission – H2020 Type of funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Start date: 1/05/2017 End date: 30/04/2021 Duration: 48 months Project Description SUNRISE will develop, implement, assess and facilitate learning about new, collaborative ways to address common mobility challenges at the neighbourhood level. Towards this aim, 6 […]

Open network of hyper connected logistics clusters towards Physical Internet

Acronym: CLUSTERS 2.0 Project number: 723265 Funding Body: Comisión Europea – H2020 Type of funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Start date: 1/05/2017 End date: 30/04/2020 Duration: 36 months http://www.clusters20.eu/ Project Description If we want to reach the EU objective on modal shift for all transportation beyond 300 km and attract and strengthen competitiveness of […]

Logistics Emission Accounting and Reduction Network

Acronym: LEARN Project number: 723984 Funding Body: European Commission – H2020 Type of funding: Public Main Researcher: Dr. Susana Val Start date: 1/10/2016 End date: 31/03/2019 Duration: 30 months Project description Addressing emissions from transport is becoming increasingly important due to its increasing contribution to total greenhouse gas emissions and the link to high levels […]

Smart Supply Chain Oriented Rail Freight Services

Acronym: Smart-Rail Project Number: 636071 Funding body: European Commission, Horizon 2020 Type of Funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Other Researchers: María Jesús Sáenz, Jesús Fernando Roldán, Milos MilenkovicStart date: 01/05/2015 End date: 30/04/2018 Duration: 3 years Project Description www.smartrail-project.eu The overall objective of Smart-Rail is: To improve the freight rail services offered to the […]

Energy, Environmental and Economic Optimization of Logistics Process Management

Acronym: LOGIPRO-CONTROL Funding Body: Government of Aragon Type of funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Start date: 1/05/15 End date: 31/10/2016 Duration: 18 months Project description LOGIPRO-CONTROL it is an R & D technological Research Project that integrating the research & Knowledge generated by the development of its predecessor, CO2Logistic project, will expand its capabilities […]

Sharing Opportunities for Low Carbon Urban TransporTatION

Acronym: SOLUTIONS Official reference: 604714 Funding body: European Commission, 7th Framework Programme Type of funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Other Researchers: Blanca Esteban Duration (1-05-2013 to 30-04-2016): 36 months Project Description Transport is a key enabler of economic activity and social connectivity. While providing essential services to society, transport is also an important part […]

Freight and passengers supporting infomobility systems for a sustainable improvement of the competitiveness of port-hinterland systems of the MED area

Acronym: FUTUREMED Project Reference: 2S-MED11-29 MED PROGRAMME. Axe 3: Improvement of mobility and of territorial accessibility. Objective 3.1: Improvement of maritime accessibility and of transit capacities through multimodality and intermodality Type of Funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Blasco Start date: 01/06/2012 End date: 31/05/2015 Duration: 3 years Upcoming Conference: FUTUREMED INTERMEDIATE CONFERENCE. Valencia, 27th […]

Mediterranean Interoperatibility E-services for Logistics and Environment sustainability

Acronym: MIELE Official reference: 2010-EU-210005-S Financing entity: European Commission-Transeuropean Transport Network Main Researcher: Susana Val Other Researchers: Mario Monsreal Term: 01/01/2011- 31/12/2013 Link to project website: Member States involvedItaly, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Cyprus Implementation schedule Start date: September 2010 End date: December 2013 Co-ordinator: RINA SPA as an Implementing body of the Italian Ministry of […]

Analysis and optimization of Urban Freight Distribution in Zaragoza

Acronym: DUMZ Funding body: Spanish Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism Main researcher: Susana Val Other researchers: Blanca Esteban Start date: 04/09/2012End date: 04/03/2013Duration: 6 months Project Description This project aims at analyzing the problems stemming from the urban freight distribution in the city of Zaragoza. Its goal is to design a series of demonstrators […]

CO2 LOGISTIC

Main Research: Susana Val Funding Body: Government of Aragon Type of Funding: Public Term: 2011-07-01 to 2012-12-31 Description CO2 LOGISTIC is the development of an IT tool that will permit the integration of the methodology and the knowledge generated during the project, in such a way that the information can be made accessible to the […]

Methodology to Analyze, Systematize, and Quantify Performance in Freight Logistics Chains

Main Researcher: Susana Val Other Researchers: Blanca Esteban, Rubén Sáinz (University of Cantabria), Emilio Larrodé (University of Zaragoza) Funding Body: Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) Type of Funding: Public Term: November 23, 2011 to July 22, 2012 Project Description Logistics performance is a measurement of how efficient logistics is in enabling the flow of goods from […]

Monograph on Logistics and Transport in Aragón

Coordinator Body: Chamber of Commerce of Zaragoza Type of Funding: Private Main Researchers: Susana Val, Jesús Royo Other Researchers: Diego Chocarro, Beatriz Bordetas, Samir Kattour, Rubén Sáinz Term: 14/01/2010-30/09/10 Download Monograph Project Description The Logistics and Transport of Aragón Monograph reflects the efforts of the Autonomous Region of Aragon to invigorate industry in this region, […]

The Agents that make up the air freight transport chain

Official reference:125/08 Funding Body: Ministry of Development Type of Funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Other Researchers: María Perez, Diego Chocarro, Sira Marqueta, Clara García, Noelia Mayoral, Sergio Fernández, Santiago Kraiselburd, Daniel Betrán Term: 12/03/2009 – 12/03/2009 Project Description The project was a seminar regarding national air freight from the point of view of the logistics […]

Definition of a Spanish Network of Logistics Platforms

Acronym: RELOG Official reference: P21/08 Funding Body: Ministry of Development Type of Funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Other Researchers: Diego Chocarro, Samir Kattour, Mustafa Çagri Gürbüz, Daniel Betrán Term 05/01/2009 – 04/01/2012 Project Description This projects aims to design a coordinated system of logistics platforms, integrated within the set of Spanish infrastructures, which will […]

Innovative traveller information technologies for the promotion of sustainable urban mobility

Acronym: MOBITRANS Official reference: E 6/08 Funding Body: Ministry of Science and Innovation Type of Funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Other Researchers: Diego Chocarro Term: 05/01/2009 – 04/01/2011 Link to Project Website: Project Description The ultimate aim of the project is to promote sustainable urban mobility and the use of public transport through the […]

Analysis of accessibility and efficiency of operations in intermodal interchange nodes and logistics platforms

Acronym: INTERNODAL Official reference: PT-2007-042-15CCSM Funding Body: Centro de estudios y experimentación de obras públicas (CEDEX) Type of Funding: Public Main Researcher: Susana Val Other Researchers: María Pérez, Samir Kattour, Santiago Kraiselburd, Fernando Liesa Term: 04/12/2007 – 05/03/2010 Link to Project Website: Project Description The objective is to improve accessibility to modal intermodal interchange centres […]

Project for the development of the Zaragoza Airport

Funding Body: Centros Logísticos Aeroportuarios S.A. (CLASA), Plataforma Logística de Zaragoza (PLAZA) Type of Funding: Private Researchers: Susana Val and Jarrod Goentzel Term: 2005/11/04 – 2006/11/04 Project Description The airport of Zaragoza is a well equipped airport in aeronautical infrastructures with very low congestion, which has been possible to achieve an important place in the […]

Project for the Promotion of Spanish Companies’ Competitiveness through Logistics as a Strategic Factor in a Global Environment

Acronym: GLOBALOG Official reference: PSE-370500-2006-1. Funding Body: Ministry of Education and Ministry of Science and Innovation Type of Funding: Public Main Researchers: María Jesús Sáenz, Fabrizio Salvador, Jesús Royo, Susana Val, Prashant Yadav, Fernando Liesa Other Researchers: Richard Pibernik, Jarrod Goentzel, Carolina García, Santiago Kraiselburd, María Hernández, Björn Claes, Desiree Knoppen, Jeanett Bolther, Fernando Roldán, Amir […]

Publications

Simultaneous lot sizing and scheduling in the animal feed premix industry

Milenković, M., Val, S. & Bojović, N. Simultaneous lot sizing and scheduling in the animal feed premix industry | Operational Research: An International Journal | Vol. 23 (2) June 2023 | 33

Evaluation of the Innovative Value Proposition for the Rail Freight Transport: An Integrated Dematel-ANP Approach

Milenkovic, M., Val, S., Lutovac, D., Bojovic, N., Knezevic, N. Evaluation of the Innovative Value Proposition for the Rail Freight Transport: An Integrated Dematel-ANP Approach | Transport | Vol. 36 (5), Dec. 2021 | pp. 406-432

Aspectos fundamentales de las plataformas logísticas: Desarrollo de la intermodalidad como motor clave en el transporte

Zubiri de Salinas, M., Val, S., Gurrea, F., Sánchez, J.M., Marco, L.A., Jarné, P., Juan y Mateu, F., Domínguez, J. Aspectos fundamentales de las plataformas logísticas: Desarrollo de la intermodalidad como motor clave en el transporte. Logística y Derecho | 2020 | Capítulo 1, pp. 23-56 | ISBN 9788413451084.

Economic Impact of the crisis on Zaragoza Logistics Platform (PLAZA)

Sainz, R., Mateo, I., Baños, J.F., Val, S. Economic Impact of the crisis on Zaragoza Logistics Platform (PLAZA). International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management. Vol. 35 (3), March 2020, pp.354 – 371

Sustainable Mobility Solutions at Neighbourhood Level: Enabling Insights, Success Stories and Solutions

Val, S., de la Cruz, MT. Sustainable Mobility Solutions at Neighbourhood Level: Enabling Insights, Success Stories and Solutions. Towards User-Centric Transport in Europe 2. Lecture notes in Mobility. In: Müller B., Meyer G. (eds), February 2020, pp. 28-40 | Springer

Carbon Footprint Accounting in Freight Transport: Training Needs

Val, S., Royo, B., Ciprés, C. Carbon Footprint Accounting in Freight Transport: Training Needs.Towards User-Centric Transport in Europe, Challenges, Solutions and Collaborations, January 2019. Part III, pp. 223-238

New Tool Brings Logistics Carbon Emissions into Sharp Focus

Val, S. New Tool Brings Logistics Carbon Emissions into Sharp Focus. Supply Chain Management Review, December 2016

Public private partnerships for Mediterranean port-hinterland development

Val, S., Roldan J.F. Public private partnerships for Mediterranean port-hinterland development. Perspectives and recommendations for the competitiveness of Mediterranean ports. Outcomes of the FUTUREMED strategic project of the EU MED Programme. Chapter 4. 2015. Maggioli Editore. pp 52-63

Supply Chain Network Design. Time and Cost Efficiency

Val, S. Kehinde, A, Machado A., Ciprés C. Supply Chain Network Design. Tackling Regulations, Lead Time and Cost Efficiency. Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chains: Innovations and Integral Approaches (Contributions to Management Science). Springer, Book chapter, October 2015 (Editors: Joost de Bock & Meng Lu)

3D Animation of the Transpyrenean corridor created by GIS tools

Roldán, F., Esteban, B., Val, S. 3D Animation of the Transpyrenean corridor created by GIS tools. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 160, 2014, pp. 244-253

Study of the Transpyrenean corridor in comparison with other corridors in the Iberian Peninsula using GIS tools

Esteban B., Val S., Roldán F., Study of the Transpyrenean corridor in comparison with other corridors in the Iberian Peninsula using GIS tools. XI Congreso de Ingeniería del Transporte (CIT 2014). Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 160, 2014, pp. 234-243

The Economic Impact of A Logistics Infrastructure: The Case of The Zaragoza Logistics PLatform (PLAZA)

Sáinz, R., Baños, J., Val, S., Kattour, S., The Economic Impact of A Logistics Infrastructure: The Case of The Zaragoza Logistics Platform (PLAZA), Transportation Planning and Technology, Vol. 36 (4) (2013) 299-318

Optimization of the air cargo supply chain

Pérez, M., Val, S., Larrodé, E., Sainz, R. Optimization of the air cargo supply chain. Journal of Airline and Airport Management, Vol 2 (2), pp. 121-123

Spanish Port Hinterland Intermodal Information System-FUTUREMED Pilot

S. Val, F. Rodan. Spanish Port Hinternland Intermodal Information – FUTUREMED Pilot. International Journals of Advanced Logistics (Official Journal of the Korean Society for Logistics Science and Technology). Special Issue: 6th European Conference on ICT for Transport Logistics (ECITL). 2013 Vol 2 (2) pp 1-17

La Logística en Aragón

Val S., Royo J. A., Chocarro D., Bordetas B., Artigot D. La Logística en Aragón, 978-84-87807-43-5, Consejo Aragonés de Cámaras Oficiales de Comercio e Industria, Confederación de Empresarios de Aragón, Caja Inmaculada, October 2010

Analysis of Trans-Pyrenean railway bottlenecks

Val S., Blázquez, N. Analysis of Trans-Pyrenean railway bottlenecks. Special Issue International Journal of Procurement Management, Supply chain management: strategic factor for competitiveness, Mayo 2009

Diccionario de Transporte y Logística

Chocarro D., Escuín D., Fraile A., Gallego J., Herrando J. L., Larrodé E., Medrano J., Pérez M., Ponce D., Sánchez S., Sicilia J. A., Val S. Diccionario de Transporte y Logística. LID Editorial, Madrid, 2009

Evaluación Económica de la Construcción de la Travesía Central Pirenaica

Sainz R., Val S., Chocarro D. Principios. Estudios de Economía Política., Vol. 21, pp. 81-98

Managerial Publications

Clearing paths for urban freight

By Dr. Beatriz Royo and Dr. Susana Val

ZLC Report Paves the Way for TIR Transportation in the Black Sea Area

By Dr. Mustafa Çägri Gürbüz, Dr. Milos Milenkovic, Dr. Luca Urciuoli and Dr. Susana Val

Study of the Transpyrenean corridor in comparison with other corridors in the Iberian Peninsula using GIS tools

Esteban B., Val S., Roldán F., Study of the Transpyrenean corridor in comparison with other corridors in the Iberian Peninsula using GIS tools. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 160, 2014, pp. 234-243

Optimization of the air cargo supply chain

Pérez, M., Val, S., Larrodé, E., Sainz, R. Optimization of the air cargo supply chain. Journal of Airline and Airport Management, Vol 2 (2), pp. 121-123

Spanish Port Hinterland Intermodal Information System-FUTUREMED Pilot

S. Val, F. Rodan. Spanish Port Hinternland Intermodal Information – FUTUREMED Pilot. International Journals of Advanced Logistics. Special Issue: 6th European Conference on ICT for Transport Logistics (ECITL). 2013 Vol 2 (2) pp 1-17

Grants & Awards

Invitation to Flanders Inspires International Visitor’s Programme (9-13 May 2016): Smart Logistics and Transport Solutions
Recognition certificate for CO2 Logistic project (18 Nov 2014), organized by CIRCE in the Business Eco Innovation event
2008 CEL Award to the best thesis project in Logistics