Foliated Transportation Networks - Exploring feasibility and potential

Licentiate thesis, 2009

In transportation systems in general the issue of overcapacity coupled with low resource utilization has been identified for some time now. It has also been shown that the growth in transportation demand in the past is not absorbed by the existing overcapacity; rather the low levels of resource utilization are maintained. This property poses many negative effects, the most significant from a societal point of view being the negative environmental impact of inefficient transportation systems. One measure that aims to reduce the underutilization of existing resources in the transportation systems is Foliated Transportation Networks (FTN). The principle idea of FTN is to increase the resource utilization in a transportation network by simultaneously employing or by foliating different network structures in a single transportation system. FTN is presently a conceptual model that has yet to be implemented in a real system. This thesis sets out to explore the feasibility of such an implementation and furthermore to quantify its impact on the performance of transportation systems. To this end both qualitative and quantitative studies have been carried out. Quantification of the potential impact of FTN on performance has been achieved through mathematical modeling and simulation. The results outline crucial aspects that need further research attention in order to reach a feasibility operational full-scale implementation of FTN. Moreover, it is established that the concept of FTN holds substantial performance improvement potential compared with traditional direct shipment systems where applicable. The sizeable potential identified indicates that partial implementation would likely yield favorable results. It is also stipulated that successful implementation of FTN would create opportunities for developing other business models and services than those possible today.