Project Number:
03-07
Research Project:
Freight Routing and Containerization
P.I. Name & Address:
Randolph Hall
Epstein Department of Industrial and systems Engineering
240 GER
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0193
Tel:(213) 740-4894
Fax: (213) 740-1120
Email: rwhall@usc.edu
Project Objective:
Containers are used in most forms of freight transportation as a method to simplify the sorting and processing of shipments in terminals.Examples include standardized box containers used in ocean shipping, railroads and trucking; and the specialized igloo type containers used in air shipping.Containers may also contain sub-containers, such as bags or bins.The underlying concept of containers is that individual items can be served more efficiently in terminals when they are grouped together in a single unit.For instance, if a quantity of mail, traveling to a common destination, is placed in a single bag, then the individual letters and packages do not have to be resorted at intermediate terminals - the entire bag is sorted as a unit.For transportation companies that handle small package shipments, selecting the optimal containerization strategy is a highly complex problem.There typically is not enough freight traveling between pairs of local terminals to fill containers to capacity on a daily basis, and therefore they must be routed through intermediate terminals to form container loads.In this research, methods will be created for jointly optimizing freight routing and freight containerization.The research will determine where freight should be sent for consolidation into containers, and which origin/destination pairs should be grouped together within each load.The methods will account for the combined cost of terminal operations and transportation and system capacity constraints.The research will in particular account for constraints on sorting capacity, along with deadlines for freight deliveries.A benefit of the research will be improved utilization of transportation capacity, through reducing the distance traveled by shipments and/or increasing the amount of freight loaded in each container and vehicle.In addition to the economic savings to carriers and shippers, increased capacity utilization will result in reduced vehicle emissions and energy consumption, per unit of freight transported.
Task Descriptions:
1. Creating a case study.(6 months)
2. Developing and Coding a Algorithms (7 months)
3. Implementing and Testing Algorithms (5 months)
4. Developing enhanced models (10 months)
5. Evaluation (9 months)
6. Documentation (4 months)
Milestones, Dates:
June 1, 2003 - May 31, 2004; final draft report 5/31/04
Total Budget:
$80,000
Student Involvement:
One Student @ 50% time for 12 months
One Student @ 50% time for 5 months
Relationship to Other Research Projects:
Related to 00-15, 01-5; part of goods movement and international trade area
Technology Transfer Activities:
Research performed in cooperation with UPS; project report will be posted on the website
Potential Benefits of the Project:
More efficient goods movement; reduced truck traffic
TRB Keywords:
Containers; freight routing
Primary Subject:
Logistics
Goals:
Economic growth and trade
Enabling Research:
Tools for modeling and design; energy and environment
Modal Orientation:
Highway
