Hinterland Intermodal Transport Routing as an Added Value Tool for Port Community Systems: A Colombian Case Study

Abstract

AbstractIn the context of port communities, one of the most commonly used technological developments are Port Community Systems (PCS). The typical service offer of a PCS includes information exchange, electronic exchange of customs declarations and responses, control, tracking and tracing of the goods, and statistics. However, it has been argued that it is necessary to evolve the existing PCS into a renewed version, more suitable to the novel requirements posed by both developed and emerging economies, also incorporating the surge of new technologies. Such renovation should care for integrating new value-added services to the aforementioned typical PCS service offer. Therefore, we propose a new hinterland intermodal routing service to be included to the regular PCS functionality. Such new service is based on the development of a built-in optimization model, delivering a sustainable and cost-effective intermodal transport network. The proposed hinterland intermodal routing service could help mitigating the environmental impact of the Colombian hinterland transport and the national transportation costs, increasing the nation’s competitiveness and sustainability through a value-added service of a PCS.KeywordsFreight transportIntermodalityPort community systemsIntermodal routing serviceOptimization model