Slovenian 
English Laboratory for Sustainable Mobility and Transport
Greening of the fleet
The Laboratory for Sustainable Mobility and Transport at The Faculty of Logistics at the University of Maribor carries out analyses of fuel consumption of a company’s fleet and calculations of related costs of fuel, maintenance and greenhouse emissions as well as calculates the carbon footprint of the fleet. This situation analysis is then used as a basis for the identification of proposals for the greening of fleet and calculation of the return on individual investments in conversion or purchase of alternative fuel vehicles. Due to the high impact of transport on the environment and increasing environmental awareness of consumers, the greening of fleets is becoming a new challenge faced by all sustainability-oriented companies.
For more information, contact Assoc. Prof. Dr. Darja Toplošek, by phone: +386 3 428 5307 or by email: darja.topolsek@um.si.
Market research in the field of sustainable logistics and mobility
The Laboratory for Sustainable Mobility and Transport at The Faculty of Logistics at the University of Maribor conducts market research to gather information about potential users of new alternative technologies, studies the possibilities and preferences in buying electric vehicles, the awareness of sustainable mobility and of the customer focused development of infrastructure for alternative fuels. The laboratory also takes part in the development of the Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia for Alternative Technologies in Transport.
For more information, contact Assoc. Prof. Dr. Darja Toplošek, by phone: +386 3 428 5307 or by email: darja.topolsek@um.si.
Decision-making models in the field of logistics, mobility and transport
The Laboratory for Sustainable Mobility and Transport at The Faculty of Logistics at the University of Maribor uses decision-making models and applies them in decision-making processes at different levels and in different fields. With the help of decision-making models, the laboratory studies decision-making criteria and decision-making procedures, which enables more efficient and effective decision making.
For more information, contact Assoc. Prof. Dr. Darja Toplošek, by phone: +386 3 428 5307 or by email: darja.topolsek@um.si.
Mobility plan of an individual organisation
The Laboratory for Sustainable Mobility and Transport at The Faculty of Logistics at the University of Maribor develops mobility plans, which allow for easier planning of traffic flows related to an individual area or organisation. These plans provide a comprehensive overview and analysis of travelling habits of an individual organisation or area.
For more information, contact Assoc. Prof. Dr. Darja Toplošek, by phone: +386 3 428 5307 or by email: darja.topolsek@um.si.
Traffic counting and simulations of traffic flows
The Laboratory for Sustainable Mobility and Transport at The Faculty of Logistics at the University of Maribor conducts researches in the field of traffic flows, which include traffic counting. An important prerequisite for the improvement of traffic safety is a thorough understanding of inner-outer regulations of traffic flows. We need information about the present state of traffic flow parameters (the flow of vehicles, traffic flow density, speed of traffic flow, time of journey, time and space interval of tracking) and about the traffic flow characteristics (traffic flow composition, general terms of the traffic flow, traffic flow structure and time inequality of the traffic flow). This information is gathered with the help of portable measuring devices, which can be mounted at the side of the road and provide up-to-date information. Thus, all we need is a measuring device, which with the help of portable computers sends us information collected at the location of measurement. Traffic counting device used in our laboratory is Viacount, which automatically captures traffic data and consists of a radar detector, data storage and a rechargeable battery. This measuring device records the following traffic data: direction and speed of vehicles as well as spacing between vehicles.
For more information, contact Assoc. Prof. Dr. Darja Toplošek, by phone: +386 3 428 5307 or by email: darja.topolsek@um.si.
Use of eye tracking for analysis of road journeys and traffic
The Laboratory for Sustainable Mobility and Transport at The Faculty of Logistics at the University of Maribor uses “eye tracking” glasses for detection and tracking of the driver’s point of gaze while he/she is driving, and consequently for recognizing disturbing factors that affect safety in road traffic. From the technological point of view, the eye tracking system consists of two basic parts: the registration of eye movement and easy-to-read presentation of the recorded data. While the eye tracker records eye movement events (picture after picture), the programme equipment on a computer is responsible for the presentation of the user’s visual field and point of gaze. Eye tracking glasses can provide researchers with real, objective and deep insight into human behaviour in real life environments. These glasses show what an individual is looking at in a given moment and what he/she pays most attention to while moving freely in a natural environment, e.g. when driving a vehicle or shopping.
For more information, contact Assoc. Prof. Dr. Darja Toplošek, by phone: +386 3 428 5307 or by email: darja.topolsek@um.si.
Laboratory for Informatics
Information support to logistics processes in companies
A large number of studies show that informatisation of logistics processes enhances a company’s efficiency and effectiveness. This correlation is most pronounced in the field of e-business. Integration of knowledge from the fields of logistics, project management and information technology is the key to successful decision making at all stages of a project: project development, project planning, project execution, project control and project closure.
For more information, contact Assoc. Prof. Dr. Borut Jereb, by phone: +386 3 428 5362 or by email: borut.jereb@um.si.
Management of risks and investments in logistics
Over the past few years, the awareness of the importance of the management of risks and investments in logistics has increased rapidly, which is due to the fact that effective risk and investments management contributes to better company performance. At the same time, investments and risk management are known to present the core of management of successful companies. We are familiar with the frameworks and standards for risk management and investments, and we also have experience in the execution of projects on establishing the environment for their management.
For more information, contact Assoc. Prof. Dr. Borut Jereb, by phone: +386 3 428 5362 or by email: borut.jereb@um.si.
Storage and use of solar energy in smart networks
The main concern with the production of electricity by photovoltaic panels is the quantity and stability of its production. Fluctuations in production can be mitigated by smart networks, which include electric vehicle batteries connected to the network at that very moment. Business model of profitability is based on good forecasting of electricity production and availability of storage devices for electricity, that is, batteries.
For more information, contact Assoc. Prof. Dr. Borut Jereb, by phone: +386 3 428 5362 or by email: borut.jereb@um.si.
Measuring and managing particulate matter (PM) and black carbon in road traffic
The key to successful planning of traffic flows in cities is having the information about particulate matter and black carbon contamination. As there are no precise and useful models that would predict specific features of individual roads, pavements, cycle paths and other city surfaces, conditions on different surfaces should be measured and, based on the experience, changes in traffic regimes and/or planning of alternative routes should be predicted.
For more information, contact Assoc. Prof. Dr. Borut Jereb, by phone: +386 3 428 5362 or by email: borut.jereb@um.si.
Laboratory for Logistics Systems
Planning and optimisation of warehousing and order picking systems
In their basic function, warehouses are necessary for the optimal functioning of production as well as distribution processes and they represent an indispensable part of supply chains. Warehouse efficiency depends on appropriate process planning, including the designing of the storage facility, designing and optimisation of material and information flow as well as transport-storage devices. When designing storage areas, special attention should be paid to order picking systems, which remain markedly labour intensive and represent up to 60 percent of the overall warehousing costs.
In the framework of the Laboratory for Logistics Systems at the Faculty of Logistics at the University of Maribor we engage in planning, modelling and optimisation of warehousing and order picking systems. In our work, we use in-house developed algorithms and models for planning and optimisation of systems. Furthermore, we use regulations, standards (FEM 9.851) and recommendations, such as VDI 4480 and other professional and scientific literature. We cooperate with other laboratories, including the Laboratory for Transport Devices, Systems and Logistics at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maribor and the Laboratory for Transport Devices and Systems and Supporting Mechanical Structure at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana.
For more information, contact Prof. Dr. Tone Lerher, by phone: +386 3 428 5309 or by email: tone.lerher@um.si.
Laboratory for Quantitative Modelling in Logistics
Development of a virtual model for the optimisation of production processes
In the framework of the Laboratory for Quantitative Modelling in Logistics at the Faculty of Logistics at the University of Maribor we develop virtual models of the production process in a chosen company. This results in a virtual laboratory of a real production environment, allowing for the comparison of:
• different scenarios of a production plan;
• different layout of machines;
• impact of different technological characteristics of machines on cycle time;
• testing of a company’s development plans for production;
• detection of bottlenecks in the case of fluctuation or increase of sales;
• testing of strategies, such as MtO, MtS, and AtO.
Based on the use of this model, the company can reduce cycle times, increase productivity, shorten transport routes and lower energy consumption.
For more information, contact Assis. Prof. Dr. Brigita Gajšek, by phone: +386 3 428 5312 or by email: brigita.gajsek@um.si.
Implementation and integration of logistics information systems
Another research interest of the Laboratory for Quantitative Modelling in Logistics at the Faculty of Logistics at the University of Maribor is the implementation and integration of logistics information systems (LIS) at executive (EIS), management (ERP and MES) and transaction level (TPS). In our work, we use modern architectures of information systems (IS), such as client-server, cloud and Internet Things (IoT). In the field of IoT we develop solutions based on agent technology, especially autonomous hubs and gateways. Our research is carried out also at the level of cyber-physical systems in the case of the development of smart IoT hubs for the use in logistics in medicine.
We are members of the SAP University Alliance Programme and we organise introductory seminars on the use of SAP ERP program environment. In the development of cyber-physical systems we use modern sensors (temperature, pressure, acceleration, RFID, biometrics), devices and open computer platforms, such as Rapsberry PI and Arduino. In the field of cloud architectures, we focused on SAP HANA, Microsoft Azure and IBM Watson environment.
For more information, contact Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roman Gumzej, by phone: +386 3 428 5314 or by email: roman.gumzej@um.si.