Synchromodal Transport Planning at a Logistics Service Provider

In this chapter, we consider synchromodal planning of transport orders with the objective to minimize costs, delays, and CO2 emissions. Synchromodal planning is a form of multimodal planning in which the best possible combination of transport modes is selected for every transport order. The underlying problem is known as the multi-objective k-shortest path problem, in which we search for the k-shortest paths through a multimodal network, taking into account time-windows of orders, schedules for trains and barges, and closing times of hubs. We present a synchromodal planning algorithm that is implemented at a 4PL service provider located in the Netherlands. We illustrate our approach using simulation with order and network data from this logistics service provider. On the corridor from the Netherlands to Italy, an average cost reduction of 10.1 % and a CO2 reduction of 14.2 % can be achieved with synchromodal planning

Climate change/variability and schistosomiasis transmission in Ga district, Ghana

Most studies on climate change and schistosomiasis transmission have mainly been on the development of models to understand the nature of the relationship. Globally, no attempt has been made to understand the relationship from the point of view of community members through public perception studies. In addition, there is no study on the nexus between climate change and schistosomiasis transmission in Ghana, albeit the disease is endemic in some parts of the country. This article attempts to fill both knowledge gaps. It uses four climate variables, hospital reported schistosomiasis cases, and data from focus group discussions undertaken in Ga District. Results show an increasing trend in total annual rainfall, maximum and minimum temperatures, and a decline in the number of rainy days between 1970 and 2010, during which time there was an increase in reported schistosomiasis cases. A Pearson correlation analysis shows negative and positive significant associations, respectively, between temperature and total rainfall and schistosomiasis cases. However, maximum temperature granger causes reported schistosomiasis cases. Community members perceive that extreme warm temperatures in recent times encourage people to swim in rivers, which increases infection rates. Rainfall is associated with water-based activities including swimming, washing, and bathing. Some control and prevention interventions and treatment-seeking behaviours are discussed, and some recommendations provided