PROJECT TITLE :

A Timed Petri Nets Model for Performance Evaluation of Intermodal Freight Transport Terminals

ABSTRACT:

This paper presents a general modeling framework for Intermodal Freight Transport Terminals (IFTTs). The model permits simulating and evaluating the performance of such key parts of the intermodal transportation chain. Hence, it could be utilized by the decision maker to identify the IFTT bottlenecks, along with to test completely different solutions to boost the IFTT dynamics. The proposed modeling framework is modular and primarily based on timed Petri Nets (PNs), where places represent resources and capacities or conditions, transitions model inputs, flows, and activities into the terminal and tokens are intermodal transport units or the suggests that on which they are transported. The model is able to represent the different varieties of existing IFTTs. Its effectiveness is tested initial on an example from the literature and then on a real case study, the railroad inland terminal of a number one Italian intermodal logistics company, showing its easy application. In the real case study, using the proposed formalism we take a look at the as-is IFTT performance and evaluate various potential to-be improvements so as to spot and eliminate rising criticalities in the terminal dynamics.