Efficient Operations at Intermodal Terminals Using a Multi-agent System

Abstract

Transport networks are large-scale complex systems whose objective is to deliver cargo at a specific time and at a specific location. Ports and intermodal container terminals behave as exchange hubs where containers are moved from a transport modality to a different one. Terminal operations management arise as a need to face the exponentially growth of the container traffic in the last few years. In this paper the Extended Formulation of the MPC is presented. This formulation accounts for the variation of the control action to reduce not only the amount of actions but to perform a wise and efficient use of handling resources. This formulation is based on the decomposition of the control action. The Extended Formulation is applied to a simulation case study based on a long-term scheduled scenario and compared with the Basic Formulation.