1 research outputs found
Software package applications for designing rail freight interchanges
Ph.D. ThesisRail freight transport has a crucial role to play in the economy,
delivering significant reductions in logistics costs, pollution, and congestion.
Typically, the conventional architecture and layout of the rail freight
interchange constrain the capacity and performance of the whole railway
system. A well-designed rail freight interchange can enhance the system
performance by maximizing vehicle usage and minimizing last mile
distribution cost. Therefore, the study of rail freight interchange operation is
considered crucial to understand how to increase and improve the
attractiveness for rail freight transport.
This thesis uses game engines to develop software packages that are
used for the design of new rail freight interchanges, considering multistakeholder decisions drivers. A novel and modular approach has been
applied with the purpose of developing and deploying simulation tools that can
be used by multiple stakeholders to:
-Understand the impact of multiple-criteria decision analysis on rail
freight interchange layouts;
-Use a genetic algorithm to identify the most suitable components of
the future interchange to be designed, considering the multi-stakeholders’
priorities;
- Quickly enable the design of a wide variety of rail freight interchanges
from the information selected by a decision maker in a computer-based userfriendly interface.
This research has proposed a framework for software development.
Three case studies are used to illustrate adaptability of a number of
applications for different scenarios. The findings of the research contribute to
a better understanding of the impacts of the multiple stakeholder’s decisions
on rail freight interchange designs.
Key words: Rail Freight Interchanges, Multi stakeholders decision,
genetic algorith