Multimodal Freight Transportation Research Articles

Integrating singular value decomposition with deep learning for enhanced travel time estimation in multimodal freight transportation networks

AbstractMultimodal freight transport allows switching among various modes of transportation to efficiently utilize transport facilities. A multimodal transport system incorporates geographical scales from global to local. Travel time estimation in a multi‐modal cargo transportation network is essential for enhancing supply chain (SC) and logistics operations. Accurate travel time prediction is of great importance for cargo transportation, as it enables SC participants to increase logistics efficiency and quality. It requires adequate input data, which can be generated. In recent times, the machine learning (ML) algorithm has been well‐suited to resolve complex and nonlinear relationships in the collected tracking data. This study designs a deep learning‐powered travel time estimation in multimodal freight transportation networks (DLTTE‐MFTN) technique. The goal of the DLTTE‐MFTN technique is to estimate the travel time using a hyperparameter‐tuned ensemble learning approach. To achieve this, the DLTTE‐MFTN method initially undergoes data pre‐processing to convert the input raw data into a useful format. In addition, the singular value decomposition (SVD) model can be applied for feature dimensionality reduction in multimodal transport data, considerably improving travel time prediction. Besides, the DLTTE‐MFTN method estimates travel time using an ensemble of three DL approaches including one‐dimensional convolutional neural network (1D‐CNN), stacked autoencoder (SAE) attention, and recurrent neural network (RNN). Finally, the hyperparameter tuning of the DL models takes place using the whale optimization algorithm (WOA). The performance analysis of the DLTTE‐MFTN method takes place using the Kaggle dataset. The experimental results stated that the DLTTE‐MFTN technique attains superior performance over other ML and DL models.

Стратегические направления и перспективы развития в РФ логистической информационной платформы LOGINK

The directions of digital transformation of unimodal and multimodal freight transportation are being studied within the framework of the Superservice 22 project, the state information system of electronic transportation documents (GIS EPD), the automated ETRAN system, and the INTERTRAN project. The strategic goals of creating a national digital transport and logistics platform in Russia are determined. The experience of the phased construction of the LOGINK transport and logistics public information platform in China is summarized and investigated. Three stages of the development of the LOGINK information platform are distinguished and characterized: the stage of internal standardization; the stage of regional integration; the stage of international promotion. The types and flows of information exchange on the LOGIN transport and logistics platform are identified. The dynamics of the development of the LOGIN platform's international cooperation with seaports, leading shipping companies and global logistics operators is considered. The cooperation of the LOGINK transport and logistics platform with international organizations and institutions that set standards in the field of logistics and freight transportation is being studied. Strategic directions for using the LOGINK platform are being established within the framework of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative in order to increase China's influence on international freight transportation and global supply chains. Proposals are being developed to change the strategy of “international promotion” of the LOGINK platform and enhance its cooperation with logistics operators of alternative container transportation routes and cross-border transit routes, in particular with Russian ports, rail carriers and leading logistics companies in Russia. The stages of the implementation of the strategy of “international promotion” of the LOGINK information platform in the Russian market of transport and logistics services are determined and characterized in a meaningful way. The expediency of combining the LOGINK information platform with the ecosystem of digital transport corridors of the Eurasian Economic Union is substantiated.

MODEL OF TRANSPORT SAFETY ASSESSMENT IN MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

In this paper methods, criteria and models of safety assessment of multimodal transportation systems are investigated. Today, new types of transportation systems are formed – multimodal transportation systems, which may be defined as the result of the synthesis of several transport systems, where different modes of transport are effectively interact. The need for such systems was formed due to the peculiarities of each mode of transport, its technological and technical characteristics, which restrain the ability to compete and promote transport interaction. In this context, the problem of transport safety assess of multimodal freight transportations becomes highly important. An analysis of modern scientific researches on topic of transport safety is conducted. Unfortunately, the considered approaches to transport safety have a set of disadvantages if the complex systems are considered in form of, for example, combined, multimodal or intermodal transportations: the problem of local optimum; the problem of safety management in case of transport company is not the actual infrastructure owner; the problem of unifying estimates for several modes of transport, and so on. The system’s safety depends on its integrity and sustainable development, which is directly dependent on the objective conditions of its formation, development and operation. At the same time, the state of safety is directly dependent on subjective factors, the purpose of which is to ensure security, i.e., to preserve the integrity and maintain sustainable development and optimal functioning of the system. Thus, there is a conditional field of protection of transport system objects, which provides counteraction to a set of existing or perceived threats. In this context, modelling the transport safety assessment of multimodal freight is relevant and requires appropriate scientific developments. In the research, methods of mathematical modelling of transport systems were used in order to develop methodological approach that could be potentially used in improving the multimodal freight transportation safety. A methodical approach to safety assessment on the example of multimodal transportation, which takes into account the drawbacks of existing studies, is proposed. The practical application of developed model was demonstrated on the existing system of multimodal transportation. The developed safety assessment method may be potentially used both to assess the transportation route safety level and as key factor in optimal transportation route designing.

A shippers’ perspective multimodal freight transportation analysis considering shallow-draft inland waterways

Multimodal transportation (MMT) enables flexible, sustainable, and efficient freight distribution across cities, states, and countries. Many researchers have incorporated the deep-draft inland waterways (IWT) into a MMT network to improve the efficiency of freight transportation to and from the hinterland area. However, the studies on inland waterways with shallow drafts are limited. This study investigates a multi-echelon MMT network design model that includes shallow-draft IWT alongside roadways and railways. The article aims to assist in tactical and operational planning for a unidirectional flow of goods from the shippers’ perspectives. A mixed integer non-linear programming model is presented to incorporate pragmatic aspects such as transportation subsidies, vehicle/barge heterogeneity, dredging, maintenance, and societal impact. The model is further applied to the case of National Waterways-2 (NW-2) in the Brahmaputra River, which handles multiple commodities from the northeastern region of India. Different scenario analysis are performed in this study to assess the sensitivity of the model. The experimental results demonstrate the importance of mode sharing with IWT in order to reap at least 20% monetary savings and other societal benefits.

Analysis of the barriers to multimodal freight transport and their mitigation strategies

Multimodal Freight Transport (MFT) has been introduced as a solution for reducing the external costs of freight transport while achieving cost improvements. Despite the MFT benefits, its share has been low in practice, and transport by trucks remains the most preferred transport mode. A few works have recently investigated this issue by discussing various barriers to MFT. However, little conceptual work comprehensively examines the barriers that organizations may face during MFT applications. To address this gap, this paper has reviewed 104 studies and identified 31 barriers and possible strategies for overcoming them. To clarify the nature of these barriers, we developed a conceptual barrier framework that positions the identified barriers within the overall MFT chain. This framework categorizes the barriers into six categories: MFT terminal, MFT network, management, regulations and subsidies, delivery characteristics, and interoperability. The findings provide decision-makers and practitioners with theoretical and practical insights into the barriers to transition toward MFT and will assist them in implementing MFT successfully.

Artificial Neural Networks-Based Route Selection Model for Multimodal Freight Transport Network During Global Pandemic

The global pandemic caused major disruptions in all supply chains. Road transport has been particularly affected by the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The selection of an efficient and effective route in multimodal freight transport networks is a crucial part of transport planning to combat the challenges and sustain supply chain continuity in the face of the global pandemic. This study introduces a novel optimal route selection model based on integrated fuzzy logic approach and artificial neural networks. The proposed model attempts to identify the optimal route from a range of feasible route options by measuring the performance of each route according to transport variables including, time, cost, and reliability. This model provides a systematic method for route selection, enabling transportation planners to make smart decisions. A case study is conducted to exhibit the proposed model's applicability to real pandemic conditions. According to the findings of the study, the proposed model can accurately and effectively identify the best route and provides transportation planners with a viable option to increase the efficiency of multimodal transport networks. In conclusion, by proposing an innovative and efficient strategy for route selection in complex transport systems, our research significantly advances the field of transportation management.

Obtaining the optimal origin-destination multimodal freight transportation network for the City of Bogotá

Bogotá’s logistics performance as the principal hub for shipping cargo to other destinations in Colombia has not been optimal. Excessive truck traffic, low density of railways in service, and no accessible river routes seem to be major determinant factors. This article proposes a balanced linear transshipment (BLT) model to estimate the optimal origin-destination (OD) multimodal freight transportation network for the mentioned city to seven main destinations in the country. This research also provides an appropriate framework for assessing several hypothetical transportation scenarios. Thus, based on national transport statistics, this study evaluates three main criteria: freight transportation cost, number of nodes, and number of routes. The results of analysis suggest that if alternative modes of transportation are implemented in Bogotá, the three mentioned criteria will improve substantially. The analysis is limited by the size of the OD transportation network considered, the assumptions associated with the research methodology, and the scope and diversity of data sources used as reference. To the authors' knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to examine the optimal OD transportation network in Bogotá by using a BLT model.

Upstream Logistics Optimization from Shanghai, China to Kasur, Pakistan: An Implementation of Mixed-Integer Linear Programming

Our foremost purpose with this research is to specify a new method of freight optimization that shippers can utilize to satisfy their budget conditions while confronting the market’s necessities. This paper designs an optimization model for tactical planning that minimizes the cost of highway transportation operations. The findings and analysis of China and Pakistan’s shipping sectors shed light on the implications of cost trade-offs between multimodal and intermodal transportation. As this study is based on the ExWorks incoterms, we developed a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model to formulate the cost-minimization problem, bearing in mind the internal cost constraints of transportation. The Pareto optimal solutions are generated by a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) in the MATLAB optimization solver with the support of the Pareto fitness function to balance the costs of multimodal and intermodal transportation in delivering 40 ft container units from China to Pakistan. The solution to the problem demonstrates that the cost of multimodal freight transportation is higher than that of intermodal freight transportation. However, significant changes occur when rail carrying capacity is increased. The cost of intermodal transportation for a 40 ft container from Shanghai, China, to Kasur, Pakistan, is 4712 USD, while multimodal transportation costs 7119 USD. Additionally, this study can be expanded by examining transit times associated with multimodal and intermodal freight distribution for imports and exports.

Hub seaport multimodal freight transport network design: Perspective of regional integration development

To design the multimodal freight transport network of regional hub seaports, and promote the high-quality development of regional economic integration. Combined with the principal component analysis method, the comprehensive evaluation value of the inland cities is determined. Meanwhile, the gravity model is used to obtain the correlation degree between non-core cities and core cities, and the hinterlands of these core cities are divided. The entropy weight TOPSIS model is applied to select the inland hinterland transshipment cities. Taking the minimum total transport costs as the objective function, the regional hub seaport multimodal freight transport network optimization model with space-time constraints is established, and solved by MATLAB software. Taking the freight transport from Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone to Yangtze River Delta as an example, a multimodal freight transport network is constructed. It is calculated that Chengdu and Chongqing can be set as freight consolidation centers, and Changsha, Wuhan, Nanchang, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Hefei, Zhengzhou and Xi'an can be set as transshipment nodes. These non-core cities in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone can be divided into five groups to achieve effective improvement in transport efficiency through group combined transport. This study gives managerial implications for multimodal transport structure optimization and provides reference for the regional integration development between seaports and hinterlands.

The Integrated Strategic Planning of Multimodal Freight Transport Network Under Infrastructure Budget Limitation

The Integrated Strategic Planning of Multimodal Freight Transport Network Under Infrastructure Budget Limitation

Mathematical experiment in logistics research of multimodal freight transportation with time and cost indicators

Aim: Development of a new approach to optimizing the process of cargo flows distribution at the transport loop. Construction of a mathematical model of the freight transportation process, which equally takes into account the interests of various participants in the transportation process.
 Materials and Methods: A mathematical model of the freight transportation process is built, which is based on the infrastructure indicators of the considered part of the railway loop and is a multicriteria optimization problem of integer programming. The algorithm for solving the problem is common for land transport and is implemented in the environment of a computer algebra system. As a project, which is an example of the application of the developed transport and logistics method, a part of the North-Caucasian railway, adjacent to the main cargo ports of the Azov-Black Sea basin, is considered. The considered railway loop is a transit component, actively exploited for Russian exports, in particular, grain cargoes.
 Results: The issues of organizing rail freight transportation in multimodal transport and technological systems are researched on the basis of egalitarian and utilitarian approaches in welfare theory. These approaches are considered in relation to the participants in the transportation process (agents) within the framework of the time and cost indicators of this process. Computational procedures for finding optimal distributions of cargo flows have been brought to concrete results.
 Conclusion: A mathematical experiment used as a simulation modeling tool allows versatile and purposeful manipulation of the indicators of the transportation process and the restrictions imposed on transportation plans. The cargo flows distributions to port unloading stations obtained as a result of Pareto optimization are analyzed from the point of view of their rationality and usefulness in relation to agents.

Study of the Multimodal Freight Transport Sector in Romania: Analysis of the External and Internal Environment

The paper studies the current situation of the multimodal freight transport sector in Romania, using the analysis of its external and internal environment. The goal is to find out what are the pluses and minuses of this sector and what strategies must be adopted so that the targets set by the European Green Deal can be reached. This EU strategy emphasizes that, in order to reduce pollution, emphasis must be placed on multimodal transport, with an emphasis on rail transport. Thus, the general external environment is defined by the following factors: demographic, economic, technological, ecological, etc. While the labor force crisis in the road transport of goods deepens, and the average age of the staff in the railway sector is getting higher, the policy of the EU and, implicitly, of the EU member states stimulates multimodal transport, in order to reduce CO2 emissions. The Porter model shows that, despite the forces acting in a negative direction, the multimodal freight transport market is attractive. At the same time, from the strategic group belong both multinational corporations and enterprises with domestic capital, which underlines the attractiveness of the market. Thus, it is necessary to apply the strategy that involves a reduction of costs, but not by decreasing the quality of the services offered. On the other hand, the SWOT analysis indicates that multimodal freight transport in Romania is in the ideal/maximum situation. Therefore, it is necessary to apply an aggressive strategy. Thus a net competitive advantage will be ensured. The strategy consists in stimulating rail freight transport, which will contribute to reducing pollution.

The Integrated Strategic Planning of Multimodal Freight Transport Network Under Infrastructure Budget Limitation

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FEATURES OF THE REGIONAL MARKET CARGO TRANSPORTATION MARKET DEVELOPMENT IN KHERSON REGION

Objective. The purpose of the study is to identify the specifics of the development of the regional freight transportation market in the Kherson region, taking into account advanced transportation technologies and assessing the concentration of the freight transportation market. Design/methodology/approach. The following research methods were used: problem-oriented (in terms of identifying the problems of the freight transportation market and factors influencing it); logical generalization, analysis and synthesis (to formulate conclusions about the prospects for the development of the multimodal freight transportation market in the region); structural and factual analysis (to analyze the structure and dynamics of freight transportation parameters); index method (to determine the concentration of the regional multimodal freight transportation market using indices). Conclusions. The analysis of the elemental structure of the logistics system of the Kherson region with the participation of water transport showed a developed infrastructure of cargo transportation and ample opportunities for focusing participants around the centers of the transportation process. The asymmetry of price competition for access to port berths and roadside transshipment was revealed, which distorts equal working conditions for cargo transportation market participants and modifies the structure of cargo transshipment and, accordingly, the centers of dominance in the target markets of multimodal transportation. Prioritizing the export of bulk cargo and import of containerized cargo in the Kherson region requires the development of a transport policy that would ensure the freight independence of cargo flows, and the identified unstable dynamics of the geography of transportation routes in the region requires the expansion of alternatives for choosing parameters and directions for the development of transportation technologies for servicing local cargo flows. It is also necessary to balance the existing advanced development of the grain cargo delivery infrastructure against the capacity of their one-time storage in grain terminals in ports. It has been established that the multimodal transportation market of the Kherson region (as of 2021) is characterized by an uneven distribution of market shares between transport enterprises, is highly concentrated, with a low level of competition and the threat of monopolization. Market power in the “market core” is evenly distributed among PJSC “Ukrzaliznytsia”, SE “Kherson Commercial Sea Port”, and LLC JV “Nibulon”. The Herfindahl – Hirschman index confirmed the concentration of power among these three enterprises, identified by the concentration index, which amounted to 80.87 %. The lower share of the transport sector of the Kherson region in the total economic activity of cranes in the period 2015–2020 in favor of other industries was identified, and therefore the insufficient level of meeting the production and non-production needs of consumers in the region in all types of cargo transportation. Practical implications. The results of this study are of interest to multimodal transportation market operators and cargo owners who are interested in actively implementing the logistics concept in regional development and building multimodal regional clusters. In this way, it is expected to increase the attraction of cargo flows to the regions, the development of competition; employment growth in the freight transportation sector and other related industries. The results of the assessment of the development of multimodal freight transportation can be taken into account by the Logistics Coordination Council under the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine when forming the strategic framework for the development of the country‟s logistics system. Originality/value. Assessment of the concentration of regional markets will provide an analytical basis in the process of forming a mechanism for ensuring the integrated efficiency of multimodal transportation of goods and minimizing interregional asymmetries: in terms of levels of cargo flows in accordance with the stated needs of consumers; the state of transport and logistics infrastructure; availability of all types of vehicles, service levels, etc.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCEPT OF MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION

The goal is to review the current problems and tasks of organizing multimodal freight transportation in Ukraine and analyze trends related to the use of the transport complex (TC). Methodology. Using a system analysis, methods for assessing existing problems and tasks are proposed, as well as a proper definition of environmental issues as the most important in the complex of issues of creation and functioning of TC is presented. At the same time, energy redistribution processes are taken into account in the form of specific and generalized indicators of efficiency, which can be used to meet the needs of multimodal transportation. The results. On the basis of the considered and analyzed problems and trends of the operation of the multimodal transport system, recommendations have been developed for the comprehensive solution of transport planning tasks, improving safety and reducing the negative impact of transport on the environment for further spreading the application of the most successful solutions in each of the regions. Scientific novelty. During the analysis and review of the issues, the authors proposed for the first time a comprehensive solution to the issues of creation and functioning of TC, taking into account interaction in the field of transport and environmental protection technologies. Practical significance. The proposed measures will make it possible to build strategic foundations for the development of a combined transport system, improve the quality of transport services, and also make it possible to obtain the maximum ecological and technological effect from combining the capabilities of all types of transport during transportation.

STUDY OF OPTIONS FOR TRANSPORT PROVISION OF PRODUCTION INTEGRATION IN THE "PORT-INDUSTRIAL PARK" SYSTEM

The purpose of the article is to identify the structure of costs according to possible variants of transport provision in the "port - industrial park" system, as a basis for further optimization of the relevant transportation processes. The Methodology. To achieve the outlined goal, a set of general scientific and special methods of cognition were used, namely: system analysis and synthesis, generalization to characterize the current state and trends of further development of the "port-industrial park" system; graph-analytical - for visual presentation and graphical interpretation of statistical data. The results. International sea freight transportation is one of the profitable, reliable, safe and most popular transportation of large consignments of all types of cargo due to the fact that they provide high energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, ergonomics of sea transport, operational transshipment procedures, access to all parts of the world with the presence of ports, etc. It has been proven that the industrial park will ensure the development of a modern industrial complex in the seaport with developed engineering and transport infrastructure, warehouse and administrative premises. On the basis of the analysis, the main directions for solving the tasks of transport support for the industrial integration of the "port - industrial park" system are identified, namely, the optimization of the transport and technological infrastructure; efficient use of port infrastructure; optimization of transport costs. In order to identify the cost structure according to the possible variants of transport support in the "port - industrial park" system, the possible variants of the transport and technological equipment of the "port - industrial park" system are presented in the form of a diagram, and the formula for calculating the costs for the delivery of a unit of cargo is given for the industrial park. Scientific novelty. The authors substantiated the expediency of the creation and functioning of the "port-industrial park" system, identified the cost structure for possible transport options for industrial integration in the "port-industrial park" system. Practical significance. The obtained results can be used to increase the efficiency of multimodal freight transportation management.

Hierarchical Multimodal Hub Location Problem with Carbon Emissions

The increasing demand for multimodal freight transportation makes the expansion of new secondary hubs necessary. The carbon tax has also received attention from various sectors due to the development requirements of green transportation. Therefore, this study proposed a multimodal transport hub location problem, where carbon emissions are specifically considered to achieve green strategic planning. A mixed integer non-linear programming model was formulated to determine the location of newly-built secondary hubs, the distribution of cargo flow and the modes of the transportation links. A tangible adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA) is designed to effectively search for the optimal solution. The result of the secondary hub location based on Ningbo Port shows that the additional secondary hub brought a 41.46% increase in cargo flow, a 2.2% saving in transportation time and a 2.35% saving in total cost. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis of the carbon tax reveals that a higher carbon tax increases the transport time, and more secondary hubs are needed to reduce the average cargo transport volume and save the total cost.

Emergency risk assessment for maritime and multimodal freight and passenger transport in the Far East

This article will emphasise the importance of ensuring the efficiency and safety of multimodal transport, which requires a comprehensive approach to risk assessment, taking into account the characteristics of transport, the geography of transport, administrative and legal constraints. It will explore modern methods of emergency risk analysis and outline the main risk factors for their occurrence.

Improving freight transportation performance through sustainability best practices

• Proposes a novel integrated approach for prioritizing sustainability best practices. • Provides a list of sustainability best practices to freight transporters. • Application of intuitionistic fuzzy numbers & graph theoretic matrix approach. In recent years, integrating sustainability into the freight transportation (FT) system is progressively gaining global attention. The adoption of sustainability best practices acts as a critical link between the integration process and the sustainable performance of freight transporters. The principal objective of this study is, therefore, to propose a list of best sustainability practices relevant to the FT system. This study considers India a suitable context for the research as environmental emissions due to FT in India are substantially increasing with the upsurge in freight demand. It is, therefore, imperative to embed sustainability values within the freight operations to minimize the environmental and societal implications of freight movements. This study identifies twenty-four sustainability best practices through an extensive literature review, which are clustered into four main categories, namely (a) organizational, (b) process-oriented, (c) technological, and (d) collaborative sustainability practices. These practices are further quantified and prioritized using an integrated approach that innovatively combines intuitionistic fuzzy numbers with the graph theoretic and matrix approach. The quantification and prioritization processes were carried out using expert opinions collected through focus group sessions. Unlike conventional perception, the results of the study show that top management commitment, multi-modal freight transportation, and adoption of green technologies have a higher share of impact on the overall performance of the freight organization. The proposed study is one of the few works, which may act as a guideline for managers and decision-makers seeking to integrate sustainability into freight operations. From the perspective of methodological contribution, this is the first study in the freight transportation literature that has integrated intuitionistic fuzzy numbers with graph-theoretic and matrix approach. One of the uniqueness of the proposed integrated model is that it evaluates both the negative and positive influences of sustainability practices on the freight transporter’s economic, environmental, social, operational, and technological performance.

Вычислительный эксперимент в оптимизационном моделировании процесса мультимодальных грузоперевозок на основе эгалитарных принципов

Purpose: To build an optimization model of multimodal cargo transportations in a port-side transport and technological system with the participation of rail and sea kinds of transport based on egalitarian principles, the model allows manipulating the values of parameters characterizing a transportation process and taking into account interests of transportation process participants within the frames of being considered cost indicators. Methods: An algorithm has been developed for planning the shipment and delivery of cargo flows to port station address in view of routing, time and cost parameters of transportation process which under, cost optimal values of being transported cargo and complex time indicators of transportation process are provided. One of the limitations in the optimization task is the volume of a ship batch that’s expected at any port unloading stations. The built mathematical model is a multi-criteria and multi-extreme task of nonlinear stochastic integer programming. The research theoretical and economic basis is the synthesis of the classical concepts of utilitarian and egalitarian approaches in a welfare theory that makes it possible to build sounded theoretically and demanded in practice the optimization models of multimodal freight transportation railway component. Results: Developed in analytical computing system environment the optimization algorithm provides opportunities along with Pareto optimal transportation plans for to find plans embodying “just in time” logistic concept, so at these plans, it is also achieved the balance of interests of transportation considered participants. Practical importance: An approach is proposed for to study freight transportation organization on a railway landfill wherein transportations are pursued within the framework of multimodal port-side transport and technological system. The developed models and algorithms can be recommended for practical use during the formation and analysis of logistic supply chains with rail and sea transport kind participation.