Optimal design of container inspection strategies considering multiple objectives via an evolutionary approach

Abstract

The size and complexity of containerized shipping across the globe has increased the vulnerability of seaports to the attack of terrorist networks and contraband smuggling. As a result, the creation of inspection strategies to check incoming containers at ports-of-entry has been necessary to enable the detection of containers carrying prohibited items. However, since costs and tardiness considerations related to the inspection process prevent all cargo to be manually checked, including different non-intrusive screening technologies as part of the inspection strategies is essential to optimize inspection needs. In this paper, inspection strategies are represented as decision-tree structures where each node illustrates a screening device, and links represent the two possible classifications a screened container can get (i.e. suspicious or unsuspicious). Based on such classification, one of three actions is taken: to continue screening, release or physically check the container. The contribution of this paper is a mathematical framework that provides an approximation to the Pareto optimal solutions (i.e. inspection strategies) that enable decision-makers to: (1) identify tradeoffs among vulnerability, inspection cost, and tardiness for different inspection strategies, and based on this (2) find the strategy that best suits current inspection needs. The mathematical framework includes: (1) a multi-objective optimization model that concurrently minimizes vulnerability, cost, and tardiness while determining screening device allocation and threshold settings, as well as, (2) an evolutionary approach used to solve the optimization model.

Prevention of Terrorism–An Assessment of Prior POM Work and Future Potentials

“…While Bakır (2011), and Bier and Haphuriwat (2011) study minimizing (maximizing) expected loss (gain) between a defender and attacker, and Concho and Ramirez‐Marquez (2012) use the decision‐tree approach to study vulnerability, cost, and tardiness. The scanning devices represent decision tree nodes and the outcomes are suspicious or unsuspicious containers.…”

Operational impact estimation of container inspections at Dalian Port: the application of simulation

“…Yeo et al 23 used the system dynamics method to perform an analysis of the dynamic effects on seaports adopting the port security policy. Concho and Ramirez-Marquez 24 proposed a mathematical model and an evolutionary solving approach to optimize inspection strategies considering multiple objectives. However, for this large-scale and complex logistics system, analytical methods might not be the good choice when compared with simulation technology.…”