An integrated multiple criteria preference ranking approach to the Canadian west coast port congestion conflict

An integrative conflict analysis approach, incorporating an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based preference ranking method into the Graph Model for Conflict Resolution (GMCR), is employed to investigate the Canadian west coast port congestion dispute. The Canadian west coast has historically been an important gateway connecting North America to Asia thanks to its specific geographical and strategic location. Despite successful operations and maintenance of the port facilities to handle international trade during the past few decades, the west coast is now facing increasing congestion problems, resulting in significant delays in transporting goods from the west coast to other parts of Canada and the USA. The strategic analyses carried out in this research suggest potential resolutions in which Canada would expand port facilities at various locations, encouraging traders to continue choosing the Canadian west coast as one of their trade gateways to North America

Preference Elicitation in the Graph Model for Conflict Resolution

Flexible approaches for eliciting preferences of decision makers involved in a conflict are developed along with applications to real-world disputes. More specifically, two multiple criteria decision making approaches are proposed for capturing the relative preferences of a decision maker participating in a conflict situation. A case study in logistics concerned with the conflict arising over the expansion of port facilities on the west coast of North America as well as a transportation negotiation dispute are used to illustrate how these approaches can be integrated with the Graph Model for Conflict Resolution, a practical conflict analysis methodology. Ascertaining the preferences of the decision makers taking part in a conflict constitutes a key element in the construction of a formal conflict model. In practice, the relative preferences, which reflect each decision maker’s objectives or goals in a given situation, are rather difficult to obtain. The first method for preference elicitation is to integrate an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) preference ranking method with the Graph Model for Conflict Resolution. The AHP approach is used to elicit relative preferences of decision makers, and this preference information is then fed into a graph model for further stability analyses. The case study of the Canadian west coast port congestion conflict is investigated using this integrated model. Another approach is based on a fuzzy multiple criteria out-ranking technique called ELECTRE III. It is also employed for ranking states or possible scenarios in a conflict from most to least preferred, with ties allowed, by the decision maker according to his or her own value system. The model is applied to a transportation negotiation dispute between the two key parties consisting of shippers and carriers

Scholarship at UWindsor Annual Report: Nov 2012-2013

This is the first annual report for the Scholarship at UWindsor institutional Repository

Creating Competitive Advantages within the Southern California Logistical Network

Field Hearing, The Port of San Diego, Pre Hearing Report Appendicies: Appendix A- Fast Facts on the California EconomyAppendix B - Economic Development and International Trade-Related LegislationAppendix C - Inland Southern California (SoCal) Link iHub Appendix D - Significant Hearing Related ReportsAppendix E- California Law on Trade Agreements and Foreign RelationsAppendix F - Fact Sheet on SB 397 (Hueso) Enhanced Driver\u27s License Appendix G- Fact Sheet on AB 1081 (Medina) Goods Movement Funding Appendix H- Trade Corridor Projects Funding through Proposition 1

Creating Competitive Advantages within the Southern California Logistical Network

Field Hearing, The Port of San Diego, Pre Hearing Report Appendicies: Appendix A- Fast Facts on the California EconomyAppendix B - Economic Development and International Trade-Related LegislationAppendix C - Inland Southern California (SoCal) Link iHub Appendix D - Significant Hearing Related ReportsAppendix E- California Law on Trade Agreements and Foreign RelationsAppendix F - Fact Sheet on SB 397 (Hueso) Enhanced Driver\u27s License Appendix G- Fact Sheet on AB 1081 (Medina) Goods Movement Funding Appendix H- Trade Corridor Projects Funding through Proposition 1

Port competitiveness in North East Asia : an integrated fuzzy approach to expert evaluations

Despite the fact that the Northeast Asia (NEA) region, which had four of the top five and 20 of the top 30 container ports in the world in 2003, can be regarded as holding a central position in liner shipping and the handling of container cargo volumes, very little research has been done into the evaluation of its port competitiveness (EPC). For this reason, the EPC in NEA can be regarded as a problematic and urgent issue to be solved, and worthy of academic attention. From this aspect, this research set out to attempt to address the above issue by means of utilizing expert knowledge. However, the EPC contains problems of complex multipleattributes and multiple-hierarchies (CMAMH). In addition, difficulties concerning certain characteristics of evaluation such as complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity are also involved. To deal with such problems, in this research, the employment of integrated fuzzy evaluation (IFE) as a methodology was decided upon. As a result of the adaptation of the methodology, certain indications from this research to the theory and practice for container ports have emerged and are clearly identifiable. With regard to theory, this study has contributed to theoretical development significantly in four ways. First, the factors and taxonomy of port competitiveness for the container ports in NEA have been provided for the first time. Second, this is the first integrated approach for the EPC in NEA, the most competitive area in the world. Third, this research was also the first to attempt extracting critical weak points and/or influential factors affecting current port competitiveness. Finally, the adoption of IFE made it possible for the first time to uncover the interactive relationships between the competing container ports. In terms of practice, this research has also provided certain contributions of utmost importance. First of all, the study has provided a suggestion for the most recent port ranking in respect of port competitiveness. Moreover, changes in competitiveness power, which are dynamically and interactively affected by the relationship between the ports, have been successfully estimated and suggested. Thus, such changes in the competitiveness in NEA can now be easily forecasted by port actors

Freight transport modal choice in North West England's Atlantic Gateway

Overuse of the road network has led to greater levels of congestion, elevated levels of road surface wear and tear and an increase in transport related air pollution. When taken in combination with the failure of attempts to balance modal split the road network’s continuing slide towards breaking point seems to be beyond question. However, circumstances have conspired to present one particular region of England with a tabula rasa for the development of new policies to influence the modal split of freight transportation. England’s economy is currently based around a London-centric model. The current move towards developing what has become known as a Northern Powerhouse is aimed at rebalancing the economy of the nation for the betterment of all of its citizens. The Atlantic Gateway is an integral part of these efforts. The devolution of powers and responsibilities from national government to regional authorities may provide an opportunity for positive change the likes of which has not be seen in the North of England since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Different regions are influenced by their own geographical and infrastructure constraints. Devolution ensures that decisions are made locally and are therefore more able to meet local needs. A greater understanding of what influences modal choice within the Atlantic Gateway allows local policy makers to make better informed decisions on how to accommodate the increasing levels of freight transportation on the existing local transport infrastructure. Two different multi-criteria decision making analysis tools are utilised in this study. The first model uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine the weights of a range of criteria identified as influencing modal choice. The second model combines AHP with the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to allow the modes of transport under consideration to be ranked. This AHP-TOPSIS approach was adopted to address the limited data made available by the freight transportation industry in support of this research and the inadequacy of the data which is publicly available from mainstream sources. With billions of Pounds having been spent over many years to balance modal split it was disappointing to find that today, in the North West of England, road is still, by far, the preferred mode for transporting freight. The margin by which road leads the other modes within this geographical region shows the degree to which modal shift policy has so far failed. It also shows the amount of work needed to be done if modal shift is to be delivered in the future

The Role of Trade and Foreign Investment on the Inland Empire\u27s Regional Economy

Executive Summary: International trade arid foreign investment serve as critical components of California\u27s $2.0 trillion economy. If California were a country, it would be the 17th largest exporter and the 14th largest importer in the world. Exports from California ($162 billion) accounted for over 10.5% of total U.S. exports in goods, shipping to over 220 foreign destinations in 2012. California\u27s land, sea, and air ports of entry serve as key international commercial gateways for the $537 billion in products entering and exiting the U.S. Statewide, 4.4 million California jobs are dependent on foreign trade. Over 562,700 California workers benefit from jobs with foreign-owned firms, which accounts for 5.1% of all private sector jobs in the state. Trade and foreign investment support new job creation, bring new technologies and skills to California workers, generate local and state revenues, and generally strengthen the state\u27s economic base. On Wednesday, November 6, 2013, the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy (JEDE Committee) is holding an oversight hearing on the role of international trade and foreign investment on the regional economy of the Inland Empire. During the course of the hearing, testimony will be provided by economic development experts, business leaders, and other important regional stakeholders. The purpose of this report is to provide a context for these presentations and offer possible recommendations for further actions

Long-range dependence and multifractality of ship flow sequences in container ports : A comparison of Shanghai, Singapore, and Rotterdam

The prediction of ship traffic flow is an important fundamental preparation for layout and design of ports as well as management of ship navigation. However, until now, the temporal characteristics and accurate prediction of ship flow sequence in port are rarely studied. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the presence of long-range dependence in container ship flow sequences using the Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MF-DFA). We considered three representative container ports in the world—including Shanghai, Singapore, and Rotterdam container ports—as the study sample, from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2017. Empirical results suggested that the ship flow sequences are deviated from normal distribution, and the sequences with different time scales exhibited varying degrees of long-range dependence. Furthermore, the ship flow sequences possessed a multifractal nature, where the larger the time scale of ship flow time series, the stronger the multifractal characteristics are. The weekly ship flow sequence in the port of Singapore owned the highest degree of multifractality. Furthermore, the multifractality presented in the ship flow sequences of container ports are due to the correlation properties as well as the probability density function of the ship flow sequences. The study outlines the importance of adopting these features for an accurate modeling and prediction for maritime ship flow series

Assessing the applicability of participatory multi-criteria analysis (MCA) methodologies to the appraisal of mega transport infrastructure

The topic of ‘how mega transport projects should be assessed’ continues to generate disputes amongst academics, infrastructure specialists, investors and governments alike. This Ph.D. research sought to explore the applicability and effectiveness of participatory MCA methodologies to the (economic, environmental and social) appraisal of such projects. Although very popular amongst academics, participatory MCA methodologies seem to have enjoyed limited practical application and there are no studies assessing their effectiveness. This research entailed several steps, where different methods of investigation and multiple sources of information, both primary and secondary, were combined together in an effort to increase the reliability of the results. Firstly, a comprehensive review of the literature, whose findings were validated and integrated by means of an expert focus group interview, was undertaken in the attempt to determine the key features of mega transport projects. An investigation into transport appraisal practice and traditional appraisal methodologies was then carried out through a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature, complemented with unstructured interviews and informal discussions with some international experts. Successively, an examination of over 60 publications on participatory MCA methodologies was performed with the objective of determining the main attributes and critical aspects of such methods. An analysis of the current trends in mega transport infrastructure planning and decision-making practice was also undertaken based on a series of interviews with several infrastructure practitioners and the analysis of three large-scale port and port-related projects, namely the Alameda freight rail corridor (US), the expansion of the Port of Rotterdam (Holland) and the London Gateway port complex (UK). The London Gateway port complex was also adopted as case study for a practical application of participatory MCA methodologies. Overall, the outcomes of this multi-actor multi-criteria appraisal exercise, together with the findings from the previous steps of research, led to the identification of several (methodological and non-methodological) issues potentially surrounding the practical application of such methods. These issues were ultimately explored through a survey questionnaire carried out amongst specialists and proponents of participatory techniques. The overall conclusion of the thesis is that participatory MCA methodologies represent an under researched area, where some critical themes have received limited consideration; contrasting views still exist on many fundamental aspects; and where, in many cases, the disconnection between theory and practice is apparent. In particular, the key principles, steps and structure of such methods are (directly or indirectly) based on the rationalcomprehensive planning model, which hardly reflects the way projects are developed. Therefore, while, in principle, multi-actor multi-criteria procedures might be carried out to complement and integrate the information derived from conventional ex-ante analyses, it is difficult to see how such methods could significantly improve the decision-making process of major transport infrastru