An Analysis of the Stability of Hinterland Container Transport Cooperation

Citation: Alberto Giudici, Tao Lu, Clemens Thielen, Rob Zuidwijk (2020). An Analysis of the Stability of Hinterland Container Transport Cooperation. Transportation Science, accepted.

Link: TBA

Abstract: We study cooperation among hinterland container transport operators that may share transport capacity and demand in corridors between inland and sea ports. We model this transportation problem as a minimum cost flow problem and assume that operators share the total cost based on a bargaining outcome, which has been proven equivalent to the Shapley value. To examine the stability of such cooperation, we perform a sensitivity analysis of the membership of the Shapley value (the bargaining outcome) to the core (the set of stable outcomes) by leveraging a novel concept of parametric cooperative games. We obtain closed-form solutions for identical players that explicitly characterize the impact of overcapacity on the stability of cooperation. For more general cases, we develop a computational approach based on parametric optimization techniques. The numerical results indicate that our primary analytical result, i.e., that overcapacity undermines stability, is generally valid, and that over-capacitated networks may permit stable cooperation in only a limited range of settings.

Integrated Planning for Multimodal Networks with Disruptions and Customer Service Requirements

Citation: Joris Wagenaar, Ioannis Fragkos, Rob Zuidwijk (2020). Integrated Planning for Multimodal Networks with Disruptions and Customer Service Requirements. Transportation Science, published online.

Link https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2020.1006

Abstract Multimodal carriers are third-party logistics providers who utilize multiple modes of transportation to deliver timely door-to-door services to their customers. Notwithstanding frequent service disruptions, customers have ever-increasing expectations for on-time deliveries, posing significant challenges to tactical planning. Inspired by the operations of actual carriers, we study the tactical decision planning of multimodal freight networks, considering operational disruptions, timetabling restrictions, and explicit customer service requirements. Despite our focus on tactical planning, our models integrate long-term commitments by penalizing deviations from strategic goals with last-minute operational planning decisions, which are recourse actions aiming to accommodate service disruptions. After improving the dual bound of our initial formulation, we provide reduced-sized models for the special cases of nonpropagating delays and nonreactive last-minute decisions. This latter formulation is utilized to construct scenario-based and trip-based heuristics, which we combine in a hybrid search loop. Our computational study illustrates that our approach attains high-quality solutions for real-sized instances that are otherwise unsolvable by off-the-shelf optimization software, and a significant improvement over a nontrivial rolling horizon benchmark.

Let the Game Begin: Enhancing Sustainable Collaboration among Actors in Innovation Ecosystems in a Playful Way

Citation: Natasa Roukouni, Heide Lukosch, Alexander Verbraeck, Rob Zuidwijk (2020). Let the Game Begin: Enhancing Sustainable Collaboration among Actors in Innovation Ecosystems in a Playful Way. Sustainability 12: 8494.

Link https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208494

Abstract Logistics and transport systems are complex systems for which sustainable innovations are urgently needed. Serious games are an acknowledged tool for training, learning, and decision making, as well as for helping to introduce innovative concepts for complex systems. Technological innovations for the transport domain that can improve sustainability are usually heavily dependent on the collaboration among actors. A simulation gaming approach can help these actors in understanding the challenges involved, and in finding solutions in a playful, interactive way. Our research approach includes a thorough literature review on games for innovation and collaboration in transport networks, and the development of two dedicated simulation games addressing sustainability innovations for the Port of Rotterdam, the largest seaport in Europe and one of the largest in the world. The two innovation cases are truck platooning and multi-sided digital platforms for barge transportation, both improving the sustainability of hinterland transportation. The games serve as instruments to reveal interactions and tensions among actors, contribute to the interpretation of their behavior, and eventually help all parties to reach a better understanding on how innovation adoption can be fostered, using an innovation ecosystem perspective. We are convinced that serious gaming, by providing a better understanding of the innovation process, will help the implementation of sustainability innovations in complex systems.

CATALYST

CATALYST develops and accelerates Connected Automated Transport innovations for safer, more efficient and sustainable heavy road transport.

The CATALYST Living Lab is a community, knowledge hub and applied research program for improving safety, efficiency and sustainability focused on the logistics sector. We do this by developing Connected Automated Transport (CAT) innovations for heavy road transport, testing and improving them using simulations and practical experiments.

In the CATALYST Living lab we look at those CAT applications that create social value as an economic business case for heavy road transport. One may think of innovations made possible by improved connectivity and automation, such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), truck platooning, duo trailers (Super EcoCombi), intelligent traffic lights and autonomous vehicles for automatically tracked areas such as public roads. In the living lab ecosystem, industrial parties, trade shows and knowledge institutions work together to develop, evaluate, monitor and implement valuable solutions. With this we want to help logistics partners in end-to-end supply chains to assess and help accelerate the impact of CAT, in order to contribute to safer, more efficient and more sustainable transport and logistics.

Project website: https://dutchmobilityinnovations.com/spaces/1182/catalyst-living-lab/landing

PLANET

With a duration of 36 months, PLANET joins 33 organisations including public, private and R&D companies with the vision of advancing in the European Commission’s strategy for Smart, Green and Integrated Transport and Logistics. In this manner, PLANET will progress in the development of tools to better interconnecting infrastructure (TEN-T, Rail-Freight Corridors) with geopolitical developments (New Silk Road and emerging trade routes). PLANET also aims to optimise the use of current and emerging transport modes and technological solutions, while ensuring equitable inclusivity of all participants, increasing the prosperity of nations, preserving the environment, and enhancing EU citizens’ quality of life. The realization of this vision is what PLANET calls the Integrated Green EU-Global Transport & Logistics Network (EGTN).

In view of this strategy, PLANET will go beyond strategic transport studies and ICT for transport research, by rigorously demonstrating emerging concepts like the Physical Internet, IoT applied to logistics, Blockchain and Predictive Analytics technologies in three EU-global real-world corridors (China – EU- US) with the objective of increasing the corridor’s end-to-end visibility.

The project organises its activities around three Living Labs or demonstrators:

• Physical Internet and Blockchain for optimised door-to-door Asia-Europe corridors – Mediterranean Corridor.
• Synchromodal dynamic management of TEN-T & intercontinental flows promoting rail transport.
• Internet of Things for Silk Road Route – reliable, transparent and fully connected corridor from China to the EU.

Project website: https://www.planetproject.eu/

Digital Platforms game and teaching cases

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), as a leading international University, aims at bringing experiences and findings from state-of-the art research on logistics and supply chain management to the classroom as quickly as possible. An inspiring topic of research is the development and implementation of digital platforms that bring along logistics innovations. As it concerns complex problem-solving in an authentic context, the best way for students to learn about these phenomena is by experiencing the challenges, taking the perspectives of multiple stakeholders, and searching for creative solutions to the problems they are facing. However, traditional lectures and seminars cannot meet this learning goal because they often lack experiential elements. Due to factors such as time constraints, cohort size etc., it is also challenging to engage all students with interactive exercises. Developing high quality experiential and interactive learning tools such as teaching cases and serious games can remediate these challenges. The project is funded by Center for Learning Innovation at Erasmus University.

The project has resulted in a board game and four teaching cases that are accessible (for free) via the RSM Case Centre and available via:

https://repub.eur.nl/ppl/178337

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Government Digitization to Enhance Agro-food Chains (GEDAC)

With the research project GEDAC, a consortium from industry, government and knowledge institutes aims for transparent, efficient, and paperless supply chains. In particular, the project aims to analyze the benefits of digitalizing phytosanitary and veterinary certificates, which can contribute to the efficiency of international supply chains and mitigate product and process risks.

A shipment of fresh produce is always accompanied by a certificate containing data relating to freshness, origin and food safety. A ‘passport’ like this means the shipment can travel from checkpoint to checkpoint until it reaches its destination. The aim of the research project at RSM is to enable the paper certificate to be replaced by an electronic certificate which will allow participants in the logistics chain to access information in digital format when a shipment comes in, and to learn from trends and differences in the cargo and freight information. A consortium of Dutch stakeholders has agreed to start digitalizing certificates and to jointly develop a ‘serious game’ that can kindle enthusiasm among the parties involved.

Paper certificates form a weak link in international supply chains; they contribute to inefficiencies and form an obstacle to trade because they delay lead times, reduce predictability, make activities unreliable and create additional administrative burdens. These have a particularly negative effect on perishable products. E-certificates simplify and accelerate processes relating to certification and compulsory documentation, which in turn enable the improved co-ordination of global supply chains.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can benefit from these advantages, which strengthens the competitive edge of the Dutch economy. Greater logistics efficiency and the avoidance of food wastage can increase sustainability and contribute to reducing CO2 emissions.

The research project is transdisciplinary because it involves the integration of agro-logistics and supply chain management with legal and customs aspects in the phytosanitary and veterinary domains.

The project is funded by two organizations; knowledge and innovation partnership TKI-Dinalog and scientific research organization NWO, in partnership with the Province of Limburg.

Project link: https://www.dinalog.nl/project/e-certificates-in-international-agro-and-food-chains-government-digitization-to-enhance-agro-food-chains-gedac/