SAIL

ICT System addressed to integrated logistic management and decision support for intermodal port and dry port facilities

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The project aims at developing an integrated ICT tool able to support logistic chain of goods flow and all business operations provided in the port and the dry port areas. In recent years maritime traffic flow has been increasing in terms of volume of goods and interconnections with different means of transport, such as railway and road networks. As a matter of fact the available space in all port areas can not follow this growing trend, since ports are usually located close to or within the cities. For that reason in many metropolis available port areas are becoming scarce resources. In order to increase the available space dry ports are often established outside the classical port borders and directly connected via rail infrastructures or roads. In this new terminal operators can leave and/or collect their goods as if they were in the port. Moving the time-consuming processing of containers inland away from congested seaports can speed up the flow of cargo among ships and land transportation networks. Moreover many services such as customs clearance, storage and maintenance of containers can be transferred to the dry port. However, the overall management will become more and more complex, since the two terminals have to be managed as if they were one. The SAIL project will develop a Decision Support System (DSS) and a Discrete Event Simulation (DES) to support the management of port intermodal facilities in a European context. Within this framework, experienced researchers will work on a precise representation, modelling and simulation of the intermodal port. There will be developed an advanced DSS based on cognitive based methodologies using soft computing along with computational intelligence techniques to provide an online strategic decision support though a state-of the-art ICT platform. The research efforts will focus on optimizing the intermodal management between the two terminals to achieve optimal transportation and improving the environmental impact.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

EU researchers are developing a combined tool for managing separate port terminals. Optimising the intermodal transport between such port areas is cost effective and at the same time reduces the related environmental impact.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

In recent years, maritime traffic flow has been increasing in terms of the volume of goods and the number of interconnections with different transport modes. To increase the available space, dry ports are being established nearby and directly connected via rail or road networks.

However, overall port management thus becomes more complex since the two terminals have to be managed as if they were one. Providing a solution to this problem is the goal of the SAIL project, funded by the EU. The project aims to develop a decision-support system (DSS) and a discrete event simulation (DES) to support the management of intermodal transport facilities at European ports. It will work on precise representation, modelling and simulation of the intermodal port.

SAIL has carried out a thorough investigation of the current approaches of a model-based DSS in the logistics field. In addition, it has identified an expert knowledge approach for potential use based on fuzzy reasoning.

During the development of a DES, the SAIL project identified the main components of the port system being studied. These include the port area, the surrounding inland area, the road connection system and input from the rail network system.

Recently, SAIL has started testing the algorithms and tools that it has developed. The next step is the finalisation of these activities, following which the focus will move to the integration and evaluation of the prototype tools in experimental scenarios.