Network analysis in the Caribbean

The Caribbean region is a cross road of international and regional containertraffic. Most of the islands in the region have also adopted ambitiousstrategies to become prime locations for container transshipment. This paperintroduces a tool that can be used to visualise and analyse the Caribbeancontainer flows. The tool is constructed on the basis of a multi-layeredgraph structure and is highly parameterized to allow for flexible selectionof flows and ports. The tool supports the assessment of the potential forthe development of logistics and transport hub through the calculation ofrelevant indicators using available information on container flows in theregion. Much of the empirical work centers on the estimation of theorigin-destination matrix of container flows in the region. The paperpresents a case study for the island of Curacao.Caribbean;container flows;hub port;network analysis

Carbon Capture; Transport and Storage in Europe: A Problematic Energy Bridge to Nowhere?

This paper is a follow up of the SECURE-project, financed by the European Commission to study “Security of Energy Considering its Uncertainties, Risks and Economic Implications”. It addresses the perspectives of, and the obstacles to a CCTS-roll out, as stipulated in some of the scenarios. Our main hypothesis is that given the substantial technical and institutional uncertainties, the lack of a clear political commitment, and the available alternatives of low-carbon technologies, CCTS is unlikely to play an important role in the future energy mix; it is even less likely to be an “energy bridge” into a low-carbon energy futureCarbon Capture, Transport, Storage

Uncertanties and Risk Analysis on Ports Construction Projects Considering Technological and Market Strategic Factors: A Study in Emerging Countries and Regions

This article appropriates a new methodology for evaluating port projects involving not only economic analysis, but also strategic factors, technological and market, wich provide greater security and assertiveness on the search for the development of a Hub Port model as an option to optimize the logistics of port operations. To achieve the objectives of the proposal, a technical and economic analysis model was developed to demonstrate the feasibility of the project with the inclusion of technological features (deep of ships, modes of transport linking the port to its region of land influence, expansion area) and market components (cargo demands, free trade zone, distance from the main centers of world trade) that decisively interfere in the attractiveness of the project. Linked to this proposal, a risk analysis was carried out, including uncertainties involving economic and strategic aspects, with market and technological variables. To achieve the objectives of the study, the Monte Carlo method operated by the software “@RiskTM” was used, where the analyzes of positive and negative interferences in the project were carried out. To evaluate the proposed methodology, it was applied in two cases studies of the feasibility of a new logistics platform in Brazil and Africa, with the implementation of an offshore cargo concentrator port. One was in the State of Pará, in northern Brazil, and the other in Dakar, Senegal, which can integrate the entire South America and Africa, respectivaly. The results of those analysis show very favorable indicators for the implementation of the proposed projects. Considering that, strategic factors introduced in the study, the greatest influences were: transport modes that link the port to the land influence zone and the draft of the ships. For the offshore port of Pará, strategic factors boosted the viability result by approximately 55% for a 95% probability of success and for Dakar, in Africa, the results were 100%, both for a 14% rate and a life span of 30 years showing that strategic factors are elements very importatants, as they produced almost 100% and 70% elasticity in the results, respectivaly, so they should be considered in feasibility studies of hub ports in addition to tradicioanl economic analysis

A complex systems approach to connectivity to international markets

PhD ThesisImproving connectivity is increasingly a topic at the centre of the international trade and transport policy agendas. An examination on available documents and studies in both the policy-making and the academic fields shows that the concept of connectivity has often been defined in different ways, and thus has taken a variety of meanings. This poses the questions: what is freight connectivity?; what are its determinants in the context of international trade? The researcher is not aware of any study that has analysed, in a comprehensive and systematic way, the different perspectives, determinants and measures of connectivity to international markets. Using a mixed-methods approach that includes a systematic literature review encompassing literature in the fields of Transport Engineering and Economics, International Economics, Supply Chain Management, Physics and Transport Geography; a survey and in-depth interviews in three countries; comparative analysis of connectivity metrics in a variety of fields; and network analysis of over 100 networks, this Dissertation contributes to fill this gap by providing: (i) a complex systems approach to connectivity to international markets; (ii) a comprehensive definition of connectivity to international markets which encompasses the different factors that influence it; and (iii) a novel method to assess connectivity to international markets using network analysis. Further contributions of this research include insights on the multi-layered characteristics of both international trade flows and its support system; the perspective of emerging economies; and the study of a region – the Americas – mostly overlooked by the literature on complex systems applied to trade and transport networks. It is expected that a multi-disciplinary, comprehensive and more precise understanding and assessment of the determinants of connectivity will contribute to identify and design more effective policies to address barriers impeding the fast, smooth access to international markets, as well as guide future multi-disciplinary research and analysis in academia and policy-making

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: HOW TAP PORTUGAL KEEPS THE EDGE CONNECTING EUROPE AND LATIN AMERICA

The present work, as its main purpose, investigates of whether operational, demand, and home country factors influence an airline’s competitive position relative to its peers. Operational efficiency through cost management and hub strategies is a widely known subject in the airline business, and pressure from the deregulation of several air transport markets around the world and subsequent fierce competition on this service industry has increased the need for differentiation based on the aspect that more and more weighs on customer choice: costs and pricing. This investigation researches TAP Portugal against European competitors Iberia and Lufthansa on its service offerings to Latin America, making conclusions on whether the Portuguese airline has indeed a competitive advantage supported by its geography on serving that market

Automated Disruption Assistance

During the last decade, commercial aviation in Brazil has grown significantly, overcoming the number of 100 million passengers per year. The intense operation represents a challenge for the air carriers, especially during flight disruptions. In Brazil, besides the re-accommodation of the passengers into other flights, under certain circumstances, the ANAC 400 resolution requires the airlines to provide a series of material assistance. Meal, transport, and hotel make part of the exigences stated by the ANAC 400. Our study aims to analyze the current process that is mainly manual and propose to automatize several steps through a self-service solution. The researchers verified the potential adoption of the solution through a survey where the great majority of respondents are favorable for using self-services and avoid lines at the airport. The researchers also created a financial analysis to demonstrates the benefits of the solution through the reduction of headcount to execute the process

How can new strategies foster the air cargo sector in the Lisbon airport, while dealing with the limited capacity and inadequacy of the air cargo infrastructures?

Air cargo in Portugal, despite its undeniable importance for the Portuguese economy, is still seen by some agents as a poor relative of passenger transportation, as a by-product, not as a product that, per se has tremendous potential for wealth generation. It is of fundamental importance, that the Lisbon airport and all its stakeholders are aware of this reality, under the risk of losing an important lever of economic growth, and this research is expected to contribute to this intent. Within this setting, this thesis aims to improve the operational performance within the airfreight sector in Lisbon, proposing new strategies to increase efficiency, while dealing with the limited capacity and inadequacy of the current air cargo infrastructures. By initially characterizing the sector, and subsequently identifying the main causes for the problem of limited capacity, a direct comparison can be made with the reality of some key industry European airports. Hence, allowing the finding of solutions for solving the identified causes to the main problem, and thereby uncovering the winning strategies to face possible constraints to a greater vitality of the air cargo sector in Lisbon.A carga aérea em Portugal, apesar da sua inegável importância para a economia Portuguesa, é ainda olhada por alguns agentes como um parente pobre do transporte de passageiros, como um sub-produto, e não como um produto que por si mesmo possui um potencial tremendo de geração de riqueza. É de fundamental importância, que o Aeroporto de Lisboa e todos os seus stakeholders estejam cientes desta realidade, sob pena de se perder uma importante alavanca de crescimento económico, e esperamos, com esta investigação, contribuir para esse desígnio. Dentro deste quadro, esta tese tem como objetivo melhorar a performance operacional do sector da carga aérea em Lisboa, propondo novas estratégias para aumentar a eficiência operacional, simultaneamente lidando com a capacidade limitada e a inadequação das infraestruturas de carga aérea actuais. Ao inicialmente caracterizar o sector, e posteriormente identificando as principais causas para o problema da capacidade limitada, poder-se-á finalmente fazer uma comparação direta com a realidade em alguns dos principais aeroportos Europeus. Desta forma, torna-se possível encontrar soluções para resolver as causas identificadas para o problema central, simultaneamente revelando as estratégias mais adequadas para fazer face a possíveis constrangimentos a uma maior vitalidade do sector da carga aérea em Lisboa