An Innovative Simulation Agent-Based Model for the Combined Sea-Road Transport as a DSS

Abstract

This research proposes an innovative approach to evaluate modal shift from the road-only to the combined sea-road transport in order to implement new policies and introduce a Decision Support System (DSS) for the transportation planner’s decision. The impact of these is carried out by using an innovative simulation tool which has the capability to simulate the real choice process of all stakeholders involved, specifically modelling the freight forwarder’s point of view. The model runs as a single-agent based simulation which uses a multimodal network with detailed zoning. The simulation tool, capable of simulating the assignment of the whole network simultaneously, consists of a path choice model and a mode choice model for each o/d pair considered, establishing o/d pairs suitable and not suitable for modal shift. Three policies have been designed and tested through the simulation tool with an application in the Italian context: (1) internalization of the external costs of heavy vehicles; (2) introduction of a bonus for shipping companies; (3) design of new Ro-Ro services. The most affecting policy concerns an increase of speed of some Ro-Ro services to 22 kn, proposing a good balance between the navigation costs and the potential demand attracted.

The possibilities of the application of agent-based models in environmental engineering hydraulics

“…U navedenim su radovima prikazane studije slučaja na realnim primjerima širenja pandemije u New Yorku i Francuskoj. Nadalje, ABM je svoju primjenu pronašao i u analizi burzovnoga tržišta, tržišta rada te druge ekonomske problematike [7], [8], zatim prometnoga toka i procjene vremena putovanja [9], kombinacije različitih vrsta prometa u okviru sustava za potporu pri odlučivanju vezanog za planiranje vrste transporta [10]. Razvidno je da ABM pronalazi svoju primjenu u raznovrsnim industrijskim i znanstvenim područjima što dovodi, u konačnici, do problematike koja se tiče ovoga rada, a odnosi se na okolišno inženjerstvo.…”

Ropax Short-Sea Shipping and Covid-19 Pandemic: Case of Finland

“…It could be said that within the EU area, most of these regulatory challenges have already been resolved with political integration, and different programs are economically favouring intermodal transportation (e.g., Raza et al, 2020), and in some research works, it is currently seen as a vital or most important issue to increase the speed of vessels at sea. However, it should be emphasized that increasing speed is just one of the last phases of increasing competitiveness (Renna et al, 2021).…”

Validation Method for a Multimodal Freight Transport Model Exploiting Floating Car Data

“…[15] performs interviews with several trucking companies operating in Italy, in order to verify whether the actual behaviour of trucking companies agrees with their model and also to ascertain the main aspects with which trucking companies are concerned in relation to their modal choice. Unlike these forms of research, the current study proposes an innovative validation method for a freight transport simulation model in a multimodal context [16]. This model supports the decisions of transportation planners by assessing the impacts of policies in promoting more sustainable solutions for freight transport.…”