Queuing theory models in urban passenger waterway transport terminals

Abstract

This study aims at contributing to the development of future projects to design urban passenger waterway transport terminals, considering among other aspects, the boats used; the demand to be satisfied; and operational parameters such as the frequency or flow of boats, service intervals, and the passenger waiting time. The main critical points located in the terminal - bottlenecks - have been identified, where a large number of retained passengers can be found, contributing to the accumulation of queue. The vehicle arrival and service processes were analyzed with the use of Queuing Theory models. At the end of this research, some models of the Queuing Theory associated with methods for setting up traffic signal time were suggested as tools for optimizing time during loading and unloading of vehicles in the urban waterway transport terminals, in accordance with the model proposed by Brinati [l]. In order to validate the study, data were collected at the Silo Joaquim's urban waterway transport terminal, located in Salvador, Bahia - Brazil.