Network Modelling of Port Terminals Development of a Concept and a Tool
Doctoral thesis, 2001

Network theory can be used to model and optimise logistic systems. The movement of goods is a major issue in our society and there is a large potential for increased efficiency in the transportation systems. Terminals and their equivalents are important in logistic systems. This is especially obvious when it comes to sea transport. The role of a port terminal is to collect goods on the landside before it can be loaded onto the ships and vice versa. A terminal is needed because of the large difference in the size between the vehicles feeding the ships and the ships themselves. If terminal operations can be improved the efficiency of the whole transportation system will be improved. The focus of this thesis is on the development and implementation of a tool for modelling port terminal operation. Results from the tool are the impact of infrastructural changes in the terminal and the impact of changing the routing of a cargo and resources through the terminal. Concepts and ideas behind the tool can also be used to model other terminals and transportation systems. The tool is based on networks. In a network the nodes play a very important role, because the flows are routed and rerouted there. All the flow changes in a system are made in the nodes. A modelling tool has to be based on strong theories and concepts. One such theory is combinatorial graph theory. This theory contains methods and algorithms for among other things handling flows on networks. Nodes with complex functionalities are, however, not handled very well by graph theory. There is a need for an extension of graph theory to include complex node functionalities to model logistic systems better. Part of this work is focused on the extension because it is needed for the development of the tool. The three problem areas addressed in the thesis are: The development and implementation of a tool for modelling port terminals based on an extended version of combinatorial graph theory. The extension of combinatorial graph theory to include complex node functionalities. The modelling of data and information associated with transportation.

combinatorial graph theory

optimisation

port terminals

complex node functionalities

modelling of information

implementation of a tool

Author

Karl Jansen

Department of Transportation and Logistics

Subject Categories

Mechanical Engineering

Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics

ISBN

91-7197-987-5

Doktorsavhandlingar vid Chalmers tekniska högskola. Ny serie: 1671

Rapport - Chalmers tekniska högskola, Institutionen för transportteknik: 51

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Created

10/7/2017