Project Number:
07-12
Research Project:
On Sequencing of Container Deliveries to Over-the-Road Trucks from Yard Stacks
P.I. Name & Address:
Shui F. Lam
Department of Computer Engineering & Computer Science.
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840
Email lam@csulb.edu
Telephone 562-985-1552
Fax 562-985-7823
Co-P.I. Name and Address:
Cheryl Pruitt
Department of Computer Engineering & Computer Science.
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840
Email cpruitt@csulb.edu
Telephone 562-985-1553
Fax 562-985-7823
Project Objective:
Containers unloaded from ships are typically kept on the terminal ground for a short duration until they are dispatched. Such containers are transported off the terminal ground either by train or by over-the-road trucks. This project focuses on the delivery of containers to over-the-road trucks. We examine in this study the effect of container delivery methods on the mean truck turn time, as the container volume increases. This project will provide:
1. Performance comparison of various container delivery methods for terminals with operating characteristics that can be customized to those in the LA/LB Twin Ports.
2. A tool that can potentially be adopted by each terminal for short and long term planning in regards to policy of container delivery, lay out of the import yard, as well as alternative locations for container pickup.
3. An import yard object that can serve as a plug-in to a simulation test bed being developed in the METRANS project 05-11 [5].
While the experiments carried out in this study will be based on parameters that fit those terminals in the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, we believe the methodology is applicable to a large number of container ports in the U.S. and abroad, and the simulation will be designed to allow for flexible configuration.
Task Descriptions
1. Collection of operational data from terminals at the LA/LB seaport on gantry cranes (or other container transport vehicles) operating characteristics, import yard sizes, import yard configuration, and gantry crane travel distance and time.
2. Gathering of import container volume data, and arrival patterns of truck pickups, for
3. Construction of a stochastic model of the above described container delivery problem, using collected data.
4. Design and development of a simulation system of the container pickup problem from the stochastic model. The design and implementation should take into consideration interface requirements of Ioannou and Chassiakos’ simulation test bed. Object model will be used in the design and implementation.
5. Conduct experiments and analyses of results.
6. Provide the simulation module as an add-on to Ioannou and Chassiakos’ simulation test bed.
7. Reporting of findings.
Milestones, Dates:
January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2007
Total Budget:
$86,836
Student Involvement:
One graduate student at 86% effort, 12 months
Relationship to Other Research Projects:
Related to 99-25, 00-15, 03-19; part of goods movement and international trade focus area
Technology Transfer Activities:
Project report posted on the website
Potential Benefits of the Project:
More efficient goods movement; enhanced efficiency of container management
TRB Keywords:
Freight capacity, freight scheduling, container management
Primary Subject:
4b.2 Transportation and logistics system operations and management
Goals:
4c.3 Economic growth and trade
Enabling Research:
4c.11 Tools for modeling and design
Modal Orientation:
4c.13 Highway
