LEVITOI

Climate change is challenging agri-logistics - LEVITOI project delivers leading agri-logistics and machine solutions for primary production

Climate change is challenging operating conditions outside the main road network worldwide. In some regions rising temperatures and increasing rainfall are weakening the bearing capacity of the soil. In others, droughts compact and harden the soil. New technological solutions are necessary as the demand for agri- and forest products and crops grow globally, and efficient, nature-preserving operations become critical.

The LEVITOI consortium develops new machine and equipment solutions to overcome logistical and operational challenges of primary production. The focus is on exploring and simulating solutions for logistics and utility vehicles on changing soil.

The LEVITOI project strengthens the know-how in agricultural and utility vehicle technology, especially the ability to bring new and tested products quickly to market. The project helps primary production to adapt to changing climate and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

The project consortium consists of Finnish universities, research institutes and companies in the field of agricultural and utility vehicle teachnology. The project is funded by Business Finland.

Project duration

Project duration: 01.01.2022–31.12.2023.

Objectives

The LEVITOI consortium develops new machine and equipment solutions to overcome logistical and operational challenges of primary production caused by the climate change. LEVITOI project strengthens the know-how in agricultural and utility vehicle technology, especially the ability to bring new and tested products quickly to market.

LEVITOI project investigates

Materials and techniques

The LEVITOI project investigates the feasibility of technical alternatives and their effects on productivity and operational capacity in the changing conditions of primary production by field studies and experiments.

In addition, the project will explore new ways to identify and manage soil changes caused by vehicles and machinery. The research results will help companies utilize simulation and modeling to develop new products, and more broadly in their business.

The results of the project will be used in NUVE-LAB research environment to test machines operating on low-bearing soils under conditions similar to the final operating environment. NUVE-LAB is a R&D environment for sustainable, energy-efficient, and autonomous utility vehicles. Further information on NUVE-LAB can be found here.

Publications

Challenges for first-mile logistics in primary production. Karasu Taha, Hussain Shahid, Tuomela Anne, Pekkala Veikko, Leviäkangas Pekka. University of Oulu, Faculty of Technology, Civil Engineering. 2023.

First mile challenges for Agricultural logistics. Karasu Taha, Hussain Shahid, Leviäkangas Pekka. Lecture notes in logistics. Advances in resilient and sustainable transport. Proceedings of the sixth Interdisciplinary Conference on Production, Logistics and Traffic. 2023.