Design and implementation of decision support for traffic management at multipurpose port gates

National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore under Corp Lab @ University; Fujitsu Lt

Intermodal terminals simulation for operation management

A freight terminal is a key node in a transportation network and the transit time of containers through this terminal represents one of the most relevant bottleneck in logistic chains. The system performance reduction and the corresponding increase of transit time is often due to the increase of the freight flow without a corresponding increase of stacking and handling capacity. For this purpose it was decided to approach the problem by a discrete event simulation model, in order to reproduce the activities carried out inside an intermodal terminal, to calculate the total transit time and to identify the bottlenecks. The transit time of a cargo unit in a terminal is the summation of times required for the development of each phase of the process (waiting time + operational time). Therefore, the first step was the identification of the main activities and the analysis of waiting and operational phases, in order to quantify the times of each phase. For modelling the software Planimate® was used. Planimate® allows the simulation of a process as a set of discrete events, in series or in parallel, through the use of hierarchical networks. In order to optimise handling operations on containers, different scenarios were simulated with various fleets of trailers and front cranes to investigate the corresponding variations of performance indicators. For the application of the model an Italian case study was chosen: the container terminal inside the harbour of Livorno (Darsena Toscana Terminal)

Education and Training Needs in the Field of Logistic Structures and Services in the Lower Danube Region

The approach of the subject concerning the training of specialists in the domain of logistic structures and services in the region of the inferior Danube is enlisted within a larger context, the Strategy of the Danube, but also in a more restrained one, the Program of Cross-Border Cooperation Romania – Bulgaria, 2007-2013. The Strategy of the Danube represents a project initiated in the year 2008 by Germany, Austria and Romania to which subsequently there adhered the other states on the Danube and which became a program of the European Commission. It shall have allotted a budget of 50 milliards euro until the year 2013. It shall be preponderantly addressed to the population in the Danube Basin, which is estimated at 115 millions, following to be developed through cross-border projects. In December 2010 there is foreseen the approval of the Action Plan for the program the Strategy of the Danube by the European Commission. The integration process needs premises and conditions for further development. One of them is the connectivity and it supporting system – the logistics. The problem of the connectivity is one of the pillars of the Danube strategy, which could play an important role in the Lower Danube Macro region’s development. Those problems need different approaches, specialized research and training. The situation of the two countries in the domain of fluvial logistics may be characterized as unsatisfactory in relation to their potential. At the present moment there is a single bridge which connects the two countries (Giurgiu – Ruse) and several travels with the passage boat. The harbour infrastructures are old and inefficient. There are no modern multi-modal platforms or a coherent vision in their design. The transportation on the Danube is insufficiently exploited. As well, the river is not capitalized in other domains, too: agriculture, pisciculture, energy, ecology, tourism, arrangement of the territory, etc.Within a more restrained context, but correlated with the Strategy of the Danube, Romania and Bulgaria cooperate within the Cross-Border Program 2007-2013. Within it, the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest and thee Economic Academy Dimitar Apostolov Tsenov in Svishtov proposed themselves to collaborate in the domain “Cooperation concerning the development of human resources – the joint development of abilities and knowledge”.fluvial logistics, multi-modal platform, education, transportation, cross-border, Lower Danube Macro region, territorial connectivity

Improvement of port efficiency by the training of middle managers in operations department in Iran

This paper deals with improvement of the port efficiency through the training of middle managers of port operation departments in Iran. As the paper mainly concerns Iran,the approach will be one that is suited to the conditions of the port authorities of Iran ;therefore the contents have been divided into seven chapters as follows: Chapter One gives general introduction to Iran and also as port authorities other than their main functions are branches of the Ports and Shipping Org^jnination (P.S.0) which acts as the maritime administration of the country,a very brief introduction has been given to the maritime industries of Iran. Chapter Two explains the importance of the seaports to the national economy,where as ports in all countries has been realized as vital industries for the existence of other industries,but their proper way of operation and management can have great influence on the national economy or make a disaster of it. Chapter Three describes the ports and their functions and roles within the transportation system, basic requirements, structure,types and ownership and consequences of changes in shipping on them. Chapter Four gives an overview of the Ports and Shipping Organization and its functions and the port authorities of Iran

Exploration and implementation of Seaport Manatee to relieve the supply chain congestion at California ports

For the global economy to thrive, a stable supply chain network is imperative to provide control of the seamless flow of goods. What is detrimental to supply chain performance due to inconsistency can be costly and consequently cause out-of-stock items, deficient use of container storage capacity and faulty logistics planning. This feasibility study examined leadership decisions in the face of supply chain turbulence. The analysis introduces the congestion free SeaPort Manatee in Palmetto, Florida. It establishes how this seaport could offer an alternative sea trade path to alleviate the supply chain strain since the U.S. will most likely continue to experience an increase in global trade instability. As the closest U.S. port to the Panama Canal, the study, in part, explores the significance of the canal as a primary conduit that allows Panamax and Neo-Panamax vessels expeditious transit from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast. Together with the new locks, the canal can handle ships with an overall length of 1200 feet, 160 feet wide (beam) and a draft of 40 feet. Consequently, not all vessels can travel through the Panama Canal regardless of its newly expanded locks (Rosenberg, 2019). The study also presents data to show how some cargo vessels sailing into Sea Port Manatee have a deep draft, which results in them being restricted by tidal ocean conditions. The draft is the minimum amount of water required to float the boat without it touching the bottom, allowing container vessels to successfully transport up to 15,000 (TEU) cargo containers through the canal. Catastrophic events such as natural disasters, a volatile political climate, and a health pandemic directly impact a company\u27s business strategy. This study addresses the challenge for leadership to make decisions to relieve the congestion at U.S. West Coast ports. By engaging in conversations with vessel shipping lines, shipping lines could create new sea trade routes in exchange for inefficient routes between Asia and the U.S. West Coast. This study introduced how sea-level rise will significantly influence port expansion at Sea Port Manatee and how vessels entering and exiting the port must do so under specific conditions

Ports’ congestion factors: Applying risk analysis as a problem identification tool to figure out the interrelated complex factors that contribute to the problem by assigning weights and probabilities to each factor

Ports’ congestion is a recurring problem that is caused by several factors. There are several past attempts to resolve ports’ congestion by applying governing and constructional reforms. Due to divergence and instability of congestion causal factors, the available studies and solutions are specific to individual ports. The main objective of this master thesis is to apply risk analysis as a problem identifier to figure out the interrelated complex factors that contribute to the congestion problem by assigning weights and probabilities to each factor. The research is based on qualitative data from secondary sources to gather all available information about the causal factors for ports’ congestion. A structured questionnaire was carried out and sent to various ports’ managers to figure out the most effective causal factors globally, as a means of validation for the secondary data and to ensure that the data reflect the current congestions causing factors from the port’s users themselves. Congestion’s factors can be human, technical, or organizational with different magnitudes based on the port’s features and capabilities. They are vulnerable to sudden and quick changes due to their interrelated and complex structure. Bayesian network (BN) is a risk analysis tool that fits the complex and changing scenarios of the congestion problem. It can incorporate the newly received information into the pre-established network of causal factors for port congestion. BN managed to reflect the cause-and-effect relationship between the causal factors and by means of appropriate software, the effect of any new event on congestion occurrence is visualized. Furthermore, the application of BN needs to be integrated into the port information management system as a permanent warning system that predicts the congestion and virtually shows the results of applying suggested solutions before applying it. Keywords: port congestion, congestion factors, Bayesian network, port productivit

An application of a simulation technique on rail container transport between Laem Chabang Port and Inland Container Depot Ladkrabang, Thailand

Since the increasing demand of container transport through Laem Chabang Port, Thailand, the port faces landside congestion due to the large share of road transport. The Inland Container Depot Ladkrabang is the dry port facility to support and increase the efficiency, and ease the congestion at the port by linking the dry port and the seaport by rail; however, the share of transport between the two facilities is largely by road. There are three modes of transport at Laem Chabang Port i.e. road, rail, and barge. The large share of a modal split by road creates severe landside congestion. Moreover, the Inland Container Depot Ladkrabang, which serves the direct rail link to Laem Chabang Port has a larger share of road transport. This causes traffic congestion from the increasing container throughput and other problems, i.e. air emissions, pollution in port and local community, excess cost of transport, and road accidents. This dissertation aims to study the reason why the modal share by rail has not increased, which hinders the growth of the rail transport between the two facilities by rail container transport data analysis. Furthermore, the research studies the effectiveness of government policies and investment into the rail transport system between Laem Chabang Port and Inland Container Depot Ladkrabang. Finally, the simulation technique is utilized using Rockwell Software Arena 14 to generate the virtual model, which is based on the real world system parameters and characteristics. The virtual simulation model allows free configurations and adjustments based on the real world applicability. Three scenarios are assumed, constructed, and quantified by the software. The results show that there are possibilities to create more efficient systems in the virtual models. The presentation of the real world application shows how the virtual model could be implemented and which measures are required to maintain the system efficiency. This also illustrates the impact of the system application to the current situation

High-level services for networks-on-chip

Future technology trends envision that next-generation Multiprocessors Systems-on- Chip (MPSoCs) will be composed of a combination of a large number of processing and storage elements interconnected by complex communication architectures. Communication and interconnection between these basic blocks play a role of crucial importance when the number of these elements increases. Enabling reliable communication channels between cores becomes therefore a challenge for system designers. Networks-on-Chip (NoCs) appeared as a strategy for connecting and managing the communication between several design elements and IP blocks, as required in complex Systems-on-Chip (SoCs). The topic can be considered as a multidisciplinary synthesis of multiprocessing, parallel computing, networking, and on- chip communication domains. Networks-on-Chip, in addition to standard communication services, can be employed for providing support for the implementation of system-level services. This dissertation will demonstrate how high-level services can be added to an MPSoC platform by embedding appropriate hardware/software support in the network interfaces (NIs) of the NoC. In this dissertation, the implementation of innovative modules acting in parallel with protocol translation and data transmission in NIs is proposed and evaluated. The modules can support the execution of the high-level services in the NoC at a relatively low cost in terms of area and energy consumption. Three types of services will be addressed and discussed: security, monitoring, and fault tolerance. With respect to the security aspect, this dissertation will discuss the implementation of an innovative data protection mechanism for detecting and preventing illegal accesses to protected memory blocks and/or memory mapped peripherals. The second aspect will be addressed by proposing the implementation of a monitoring system based on programmable multipurpose monitoring probes aimed at detecting NoC internal events and run-time characteristics. As last topic, new architectural solutions for the design of fault tolerant network interfaces will be presented and discussed