Title: A parameterised model of multimodal freight transportation for maritime services optimisation

Authors: Rosa Rios Prado; Diego Crespo Pereira; David Del Rio Vilas; Nadia Rego Monteil; Alejandro Garcia Del Valle

Addresses: Integrated Group for Engineering Research, University of A Coruna, Escuela Politecnica Superior, C/Mendizabal s/n 15403, Ferrol (A Coruna), Spain ' Integrated Group for Engineering Research, University of A Coruna, Escuela Politecnica Superior, C/Mendizabal s/n 15403, Ferrol (A Coruna), Spain ' Integrated Group for Engineering Research, University of A Coruna, Escuela Politecnica Superior, C/Mendizabal s/n 15403, Ferrol (A Coruna), Spain ' Integrated Group for Engineering Research, University of A Coruna, Escuela Politecnica Superior, C/Mendizabal s/n 15403, Ferrol (A Coruna), Spain ' Integrated Group for Engineering Research, University of A Coruna, Escuela Politecnica Superior, C/Mendizabal s/n 15403, Ferrol (A Coruna), Spain

Abstract: Multimodal transport has been promoted by several transport commissions initiatives as an alternative to road transport. A key factor for improving its competitiveness is to provide private and public investors with means of evaluating and selecting the most profitable options. This paper presents a parameterisation schema of a freight transport model for the assessment of a multimodal transport service in terms of its internal rate of return (IRR). Parameterisation enables the application of optimisation algorithms to maximise the profitability. Finally, a case study consisting of the evaluation of a new maritime service for the interregional freight transport in Spain is used to verify the proposed parameterisation.

Keywords: logistics; freight transport; multimodal transport; simulation; supply chain management; SCM; optimisation; IRR; internal rate of return; decision making; transport planning; route planning; maritime services; modelling; case study; interregional transport; Spain.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSPM.2014.061431

International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling, 2014 Vol.9 No.1/2, pp.33 - 45

Received: 14 Jan 2013
Accepted: 04 Sep 2013
Published online: 11 Oct 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article