Clarence Woudsma

Degrees

Ph.D. Geography, McMaster University, Canada, 1995

M.A Geography, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada, 1990

B.A. (Hons.) Geography, Laurentian University, Canada, 1987

Contact information

Research interests

My research program is primarily focused on issues related to freight transportation and logistics although I have a broad interest in transportation at all levels and geographies. I’m really intrigued by the flows of people and goods that underpin social and economic interactions and the complex impacts of those flows. Recent projects include: 

1. Analyzing Ontario’s transportation sector and climate change impacts and adaptation
2. Exploring Freight Land Use – from “freight sprawl” to delivery hubs and fulfillment spaces of last mile logistics. 
3. Gig economy and freight – the work of last mile delivery and the urban implications – City Logistics 
4. Autonomous mobility

I have an ongoing interest in a range of transportation policy issues and have previously published on subjects including emissions forecasting, impacts of climate change adaptations on freight, regulatory policy, urban freight planning, freight and land use, autonomous vehicles and retail transitions and freight.  

My graduate students have a diverse range of research topics that involve various elements of transportation, spatial analysis, regional and urban economics, and sustainability.   Recent examples include 

• Autonomous vehicle adoption potential in Canadian cities Factors influencing regional rail ridership

• A model to understand the ION LRT impact on commuting mode choice

• Co-modality – moving people and goods together

• GHG Emissions Inventory and the potential of electrification 

Contact Clarence Woudsma for more information on research opportunities.

Graduate student supervision

Recent/key publications

(*Co-authored with student)

• Woudsma C., (2020), Gig Workers in Canada’s Courier Industry, report prepared for Employment and Social Development Canada, p. 1-42, Ottawa 

• Woudsma C., (2020), Disrupting Stuff: Material Flows in the Platform City, In Zwick A, and Spicer Z., (eds), The Platform Economy and the City: Urban Peril and Promise in the New Digital Economy,  Forthcoming 

• *Woudsma, C.G., Jakubicek, P., (2020) Logistics land use patterns in metropolitan Canada, Journal of Transport Geography, Volume 88, p 1 - 10 

• Woudsma C. (2019) Freight Transportation: The Evolving Landscape of Matters and Models. In: Briassoulis H., Kavroudakis D., Soulakellis N. (eds) The Practice of Spatial Analysis. Springer 

• *Woudsma, C., and Towns, W. (2017). Ontario. In K. Palko and D.S. Lemmen (Eds.), Climate risks and adaptation practices for the Canadian transportation sector 2016 (pp. 139-179). Ottawa, ON: Government of Canada. 

• *Woudsma, C.G., and Braun, L. (2017), Tomorrow Has Arrived: Cities and Autonomous Vehicles, Pragma Council Discussion Paper, School of Planning Working Paper Series, Waterloo, Ontario, pp 1-32 

• *Woudsma, C.G., Jakubicek, P., and Dablanc, L. (2016), Logistics Sprawl In North America: Methodological Issues And A Case Study In Toronto; Transportation Research Procedia (2016), pp. 474-488 DOI information: 10.1016/j.trpro.2016.02.081 

Courses taught

• PLAN 105:Introduction to planning analysis
• PLAN 203: Transportation planning and analysis
• PLAN 320: Regional economic analysis
• PLAN 477: Freight transportation planning and policy
• ENVS 278: Advanced research methods