Spatial Modeling to support Supply Chain Policymaking across Metropolitan Areas in Tennessee

Efficient supply chains are critical for economic growth of metropolitan areas. Despite the strong logistics and manufacturing sectors in Tennessee, a comprehensive understanding of supply chain dynamics across its key Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) remains limited. This research aims to bridge this gap by applying supply chain metrics and advanced modeling techniques to measure centrality, spread, and dispersion of economic activities. The project will systematically map the logistical landscape in key MSAs of Tennessee, providing a data-driven foundation for identifying economic clustering patterns. This research will serve as a decision-support framework to assist policymakers, transportation agencies, and industry stakeholders in designing supply chain strategies. This research will enhance freight efficiency and resiliency, reduce congestion, and improve economic competitiveness. A deeper understanding of the spatial organization of economic activity is essential to support data-driven planning and policy development (Holguin-Veras et al., 2021). Effectively mapping the spatial dynamics to inform practical decision-making remains a significant challenge. A comprehensive view of supply chain structure across Tennessee’s MSAs would enhance the state’s economic competitiveness and support better coordination of land use and freight infrastructure. This research addresses that need by estimating spatial metrics to identify economic poles and quantify supply chain dispersion. It integrates spatial analysis and supply chain modeling to examine the distribution of economic activity and supply chain echelons, using network-based distances, industry-specific demand functions, and freight-relevant dispersion metrics. Project insights will help planners to assess freight systems and improve urban logistics efficiency.

• Record URL:
  • https://fersc.utk.edu/research-focus/fersc-projects-year-3/

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $111,654.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348338

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Center for Freight Transportation for Efficient and Resilient Supply Chain

  University of Tennessee Knoxville
  Knoxville, TN  United States  37996
• Project Managers:

  Bruner, Britain

  Kaplan, Marcella

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  Center for Transportation Research
  Conference Center Building
  Knoxville, TN  United States  37996-4133
• Principal Investigators:

  Calderón, Oriana

  Ahmed , Usman

  Asmussen, Katherine

• Start Date: 20250901
• Expected Completion Date: 20260831
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Decision support systems; Logistics; Metropolitan areas; Spatial analysis; Supply chain management; Transportation policy
• Geographic Terms: Tennessee
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Policy;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01984383
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Freight Transportation for Efficient and Resilient Supply Chain
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348338
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Mar 25 2026 5:11PM