A Literature Review, Container Shipping Supply Chain: Planning Problems and Research Opportunities

This paper provides an overview of the container shipping supply chain (CSSC) by taking a logistics perspective, covering all major value-adding segments in CSSC including freight logistics, container logistics, vessel logistics, port/terminal logistics, and inland transport logistics. The main planning problems and research opportunities in each logistics segment are reviewed and discussed to promote further research. Moreover, the two most important challenges in CSSC, digitalization and decarbonization, are explained and discussed in detail. We raise awareness of the extreme fragmentation of CSSC that causes inefficient operations. A pathway to digitalize container shipping is proposed that requires the applications of digital technologies in various business processes across five logistics segments, and change in behaviors and relationships of stakeholders in the supply chain. We recognize that shipping decarbonization is likely to take diverse pathways with different fuel/energy systems for ships and ports. This gives rise to more research and application opportunities in the highly uncertain and complex CSSC environment.</jats:p

Optimal Transportation Plans and Portfolios for Synchromodal Container Networks

This dissertation proposes an integrated approach for optimising synchromodal container transportation, motivated by two separate trends in the container transportation practice in North-West Europe. On the one hand, competition in hinterland transportation and the societal need for a modal shift towards sustainable modes require more integrated network optimisation of container transports. On the other hand, hinterland users increasingly require a cost-effective, but flexible and reliable delivery service. The concept of synchromodality was developed as an answer to these developments, combining efficient planning with a business model based on customer-oriented transportation services. This dissertation contributes by bringing together optimal transport planning in intermodal networks and the design of an optimal fare class mix of customer-oriented services. It includes 5 new models for operating such a synchromodal transportation network: service network design, disturbance analysis, real-time decision support and two variants of the cargo fare class mix design. All models are developed with the perspective of a centralised operator in an intermodal container network, with scheduled services between a deep-sea terminal and multiple inland ports. These scheduled services can be trains or barges, but not necessarily both have to be available. All 5 models have been applied to case studies based on the intermodal container network of European Gateway Services (EGS), a subsidiary of Hutchison Ports ECT Rotterdam (ECT)

Optimal Transportation Plans and Portfolios for Synchromodal Container Networks

This dissertation proposes an integrated approach for optimising synchromodal container transportation, motivated by two separate trends in the container transportation practice in North-West Europe. On the one hand, competition in hinterland transportation and the societal need for a modal shift towards sustainable modes require more integrated network optimisation of container transports. On the other hand, hinterland users increasingly require a cost-effective, but flexible and reliable delivery service. The concept of synchromodality was developed as an answer to these developments, combining efficient planning with a business model based on customer-oriented transportation services. This dissertation contributes by bringing together optimal transport planning in intermodal networks and the design of an optimal fare class mix of customer-oriented services. It includes 5 new models for operating such a synchromodal transportation network: service network design, disturbance analysis, real-time decision support and two variants of the cargo fare class mix design. All models are developed with the perspective of a centralised operator in an intermodal container network, with scheduled services between a deep-sea terminal and multiple inland ports. These scheduled services can be trains or barges, but not necessarily both have to be available. All 5 models have been applied to case studies based on the intermodal container network of European Gateway Services (EGS), a subsidiary of Hutchison Ports ECT Rotterdam (ECT)

A novel risk assessment process : application to an autonomous inland waterways ship

Effectively addressing safety, security and cyber-security challenges is quintessential for progressing the development of next generation maritime autonomous shipping. This study aims at developing a novel hybrid, semi-structured process for the hazardous scenarios identification and ranking. This method integrates the operational and functional hazard identification approaches, whilst considering the safety, security and cybersecurity hazards. This method is applied to comprehensively assess the safety of an autonomous inland waterways ship at a preliminary design phase. The hazardous scenarios are identified and ranked by a number of experts participating in a series of sessions. The identified hazards risk is estimated considering the frequency and severity indices, whereas their uncertainty is estimated by employing the standard deviations in these two indices among the experts ranking results. Epistemic uncertainty is also considered during ranking. Risk control measures are proposed to de-risk the critical hazards. The results reveal that the most critical hazards from the safety, security and cybersecurity perspectives pertain to the situation awareness, remote control and propulsion functions. Based on the derived results, design enhancements along with high-level testing scenarios for the investigated autonomous ship are also proposed

Exploring Data Hierarchies to Discover Knowledge in Different Domains

L'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen

Understanding Complexity in Multiobjective Optimization

This report documents the program and outcomes of the Dagstuhl Seminar 15031 Understanding Complexity in Multiobjective Optimization. This seminar carried on the series of four previous Dagstuhl Seminars (04461, 06501, 09041 and 12041) that were focused on Multiobjective Optimization, and strengthening the links between the Evolutionary Multiobjective Optimization (EMO) and Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) communities. The purpose of the seminar was to bring together researchers from the two communities to take part in a wide-ranging discussion about the different sources and impacts of complexity in multiobjective optimization. The outcome was a clarified viewpoint of complexity in the various facets of multiobjective optimization, leading to several research initiatives with innovative approaches for coping with complexity

Modelling the structure of intermodal transport terminals

Ekonomski razvoj, globalizacija, demografske promene, tehnološki razvoj, klimatske promene itd. generišu sve kompleksnije zahteve u oblastima logistike i transporta, kao jednog od podsistema logistike, i dovode do veoma raznovrsnih zahteva za transportom robe uz zadovoljenje visokih očekivanja svih učesnika, primenu savremenih tehnoloških rešenja i poštovanje načela održivog razvoja. Jedan od preduslova za zadovoljenje ovih zahteva jeste intenzivni razvoj i primena intermodalnog transporta, pri čemu je adekvatno planiranje i razvoj intermodalnih terminala, kao jednog od ključnih podsistema intermodalnog transporta, od presudnog značaja. Ovo je bio glavni motiv za izbor teme ove disertacije koja se bavi modeliranjem terminala intermodalnog transporta, procenom njihove efikasnosti i izborom efikasnih tipičnih struktura terminala u zavisnosti od širokog skupa zahteva, ciljeva i faktora. Cilj disertacije je bio dokazati da: efikasnost terminala intermodalnog transporta zavisi od različitih elemenata za definisanje strukture; adekvatno strukturiranje terminala zahteva analizu uticaja velikog broja različitih faktora koji opisuju društveno-privredno okruženje, zahteve logističkih tokova i razvojne karakteristike sistema;. efikasnost terminala zavisi od faktora koji utiču na njihovo strukturiranje i koji su prisutni u različitim kombinacijama i sa različitim intenzitetom i obimom; postojeći modeli i metode za planiranje terminala intermodalnog transporta u obzir uzimaju samo pojedine aspekte strukturiranja i ne sagledavaju problem na sveobuhvatan način koji u obzir uzima različite uticaje i faktore; kombinovanjem elemenata za definisanje strukture terminala mogu se dobiti potencijalne strukture terminala, čija se efikasnost može odrediti na osnovu karakteristika veza koje postoje između elemenata strukture i identifikovanih tipičnih struktura. U disertaciji su definisani i opisani sistem intermodalnog transporta i svi njegovi podsistemi, elementi za definisanje strukture terminala intermodalnog transporta, faktori koji utiču na elemente za definisanje strukture, kao i zahtevi i ciljevi interesnih grupa koje učestvuju u intermodalnom transportu. Izvršeno je vrednovanje i rangiranje elemenata strukture i izbor ključnih elemenata na osnovu kojih su definisane tipične strukture terminala i izvršeno njihovo grupisanje. Na osnovu opsežnog istraživanja i prikupljenih podataka o 180 intermodalnih terminala u Evropi izvršen je izbor efikasnih tipičnih struktura. Na osnovu identifikovanih veza između elemenata strukture terminala i njihovih efikasnosti izvršeno je modeliranje potencijalnih struktura terminala i procena njihovih efikasnosti. Takođe je izvršena analiza lokacije intermodalnih terminala i izbor tehnologije podsistema, kao elemenata strukture terminala koji nisu izabrani kao ključni, ali imaju značajan uticaj na strukture intermodalnih terminala...Economic development, globalization, demographic change, technological development, climate change, etc. generate increasingly complex requirements in the fields of logistics and transport, as one of the subsystems of logistics, and lead to very diverse requirements for the transport of goods while satisfying the high expectations of all participants, applying modern technological solutions and respecting the principles of the sustainable development. One of the preconditions for satisfying these requirements is the intensive development and application of the intermodal transport, whereby the planning and development of intermodal terminals, as one of the key intermodal transport subsystems, is crucial. This was the main motive for the choice of the topic of this dissertation dealing with the modeling of the intermodal transport terminals, the assessment of their efficiency and the selection of efficient typical terminal structures, depending on a wide set of requirements, goals and factors. The aim of the dissertation was to prove that: the efficiency of the intermodal transport terminal depends on different elements for defining the structure; adequate terminal structuring requires an analysis of the impact of a large number of different factors describing the socio-economic environment, the requirements of logistics flows and the developmental characteristics of the system; the efficiency of the terminal depends on the factors that influence their structuring, which are present in different combinations and with different intensities and volumes; existing models and methods for planning intermodal transport terminals take into account only certain aspects of structuring and do not perceive the problem in a comprehensive way that takes into account different influences and factors; by combining the elements for defining the structure of the terminal, potential terminal structures can be obtained, the efficiency of which can be determined based on the characteristics of the relationships that exist between the elements of the structure and the identified typical structures. The dissertation defines and describes the system of intermodal transport and all its subsystems, elements for defining the structure of the intermodal transport terminal, the factors that influence the elements for defining the structure, as well as the requirements and objectives of the stakeholders participating in intermodal transport. The evaluation and ranking of the elements of the structure is performed, as well as the selection of the key elements on the basis of which the typical structures of the terminal were defined and their grouping was performed. Based on the extensive research and data collected on over 180 intermodal terminals in Europe, a selection of efficient typical structures was carried out. On the basis of identified connections between the elements of the terminal structure and their efficiency, modeling of potential terminal structures and estimation of their efficiency was performed. An analysis of the intermodal terminal location and the selection of the subsystem technology, as the elements of the terminal structure which were not selected as the key ones, but have a significant impact on the intermodal terminal structures, is also made..

A Design Science Research Approach to Smart and Collaborative Urban Supply Networks

Urban supply networks are facing increasing demands and challenges and thus constitute a relevant field for research and practical development. Supply chain management holds enormous potential and relevance for society and everyday life as the flow of goods and information are important economic functions. Being a heterogeneous field, the literature base of supply chain management research is difficult to manage and navigate. Disruptive digital technologies and the implementation of cross-network information analysis and sharing drive the need for new organisational and technological approaches. Practical issues are manifold and include mega trends such as digital transformation, urbanisation, and environmental awareness. A promising approach to solving these problems is the realisation of smart and collaborative supply networks. The growth of artificial intelligence applications in recent years has led to a wide range of applications in a variety of domains. However, the potential of artificial intelligence utilisation in supply chain management has not yet been fully exploited. Similarly, value creation increasingly takes place in networked value creation cycles that have become continuously more collaborative, complex, and dynamic as interactions in business processes involving information technologies have become more intense. Following a design science research approach this cumulative thesis comprises the development and discussion of four artefacts for the analysis and advancement of smart and collaborative urban supply networks. This thesis aims to highlight the potential of artificial intelligence-based supply networks, to advance data-driven inter-organisational collaboration, and to improve last mile supply network sustainability. Based on thorough machine learning and systematic literature reviews, reference and system dynamics modelling, simulation, and qualitative empirical research, the artefacts provide a valuable contribution to research and practice

Optimizing the Performance of Robotic Mobile Fulfillment Systems

A robotic mobile fulfillment system is a novel type of automated part-to-picker material handling system. In this type of system, robots transport mobile shelves, called pods, containing items between the storage area and the workstations. It is well suited to e-commerce, due to its modularity and it's ability to adapt to changing orders patterns. Robots can nearly instantaneously switch between inbound and outbound tasks, pods can be continually repositioned to allow for automatic sorting of the inventory, pods can contain many different types of items, and unloaded robots can drive underneath pods, allowing them to use completely different routes than loaded robots. This thesis studies the performance of robotic mobile fulfillment systems by solving decision problems related to warehouse design, inventory and resource allocation, and real-time operations. For warehouse design, a new queueing network is developed that incorporates realistic robot movement, storage zones, and multi-line orders. For inventory allocation, we develop a new type of queueing network, the cross-class matching multi-class semi-open queueing network, which can be applied to other systems as well. Resource (re)allocation is modeled by combining queueing networks with Markov decision processes while including time-varying demand. This model compares benchmark policies from practice wit