A Modal Choice Model for Evaluating the Impact of Increasing Automation in Container Terminals

The aim of this paper is to define a model for the modal choice between road and rail transport taking into account the increase of rail attractiveness resulting from the increasing of the number of container terminals equipped with automated handling systems. The considered automated handling system is the automated multilevel handling system developed within the RCMS EU project, that is, a multistory storage building, equipped with electric AGVs, remote controlled elevators and remote controlled ceiling cranes. This automated system makes possible to access to a specific container without the necessity of reshuffling and to load/unload containers to/from trucks and trains directly under the storage structure, allowing a significant reduction of the loading/unloading time. In order to define the modal choice model, the systematic utility and the perceived utility are provided and the flows of freight delivered via rail or via road are determined with a binomial Logit model. Moreover, the threshold distance between seaport and inland terminals beyond which automation has a significant impact on modal split is evaluated. As a case study, a European port hinterland network is considered and some scenarios are analyzed, assuming that an increasing number of terminals introduces automation. The paper shows that the introduction of automation in container terminals has significant consequences on modal split. In particular, as the number of automated terminals increases, the rail mode becomes more competitive and the threshold distance between seaport and inland terminals, at which the modal split is equally distributed between road and rail modes, significantly decreases

Automated Transfer Management Systems and the Intermodal Performance of North American Freight Distribution

For capacity, energy and environmental reasons, intermodal transportation is widely regarded as the preferable option for inland freight distribution. But because of the relatively high embedded costs, intermodal rail is currently only an attractive option for containerized goods carried over long distances. Transfers that in theory should entail only a few operations at a terminal in reality require multiple operations. This paper argues that by incorporating new terminal designs and an automated transfer management system (ATMS) at terminals and distribution centers, the resulting efficiency advances and productivity gains could significantly improve the economics for both long and short haul intermodal movements, including port shuttle trains. This system not only could significantly lower fixed costs and make intermodal more price competitive, but improve time and reliability to make intermodal more service competitive as well

Sea Container Terminals

Due to a rapid growth in world trade and a huge increase in containerized goods, sea container terminals play a vital role in globe-spanning supply chains. Container terminals should be able to handle large ships, with large call sizes within the shortest time possible, and at competitive rates. In response, terminal operators, shipping liners, and port authorities are investing in new technologies to improve container handling infrastructure and operational efficiency. Container terminals face challenging research problems which have received much attention from the academic community. The focus of this paper is to highlight the recent developments in the container terminals, which can be categorized into three areas: (1) innovative container terminal technologies, (2) new OR directions and models for existing research areas, and (3) emerging areas in container terminal research. By choosing this focus, we complement existing reviews on container terminal operations