This paper presents a modular approach for rapidly developing simulation models that can analyze and evaluate existing port operations, changes and expansions. Simulation is an inexpensive insurance against costly mistakes involving capital expenditures, but many managers still perceive simulation to be a costly and time consuming option. The underlying purpose of this research has been  Read more »

This research built upon previous work on the development of tools to bridge the gaps in the analysis and understanding of the relationships between economic growth and transportation infrastructure in Alabama. The tasks performed under this contract included: Development of the Integrated Freight Planning Framework including Trip Generation, Trip Distribution, Modal Split and Assignment and  Read more »

This paper presents a simulation model to determine the impact of various container inspection protocols on the operation of a seaport container terminal. The inspection protocols are A) no inspection, B) container sampling with unloading and inspection coupled and C) inspection after unloading or decoupling inspection from unloading. Any sampling plan using Protocol B had  Read more »

This paper presents a modeling approach to determine the impact on throughput on air fleet resources on the operation of airports. The primary constraints for this analysis are i) adherence to schedules, ii) optimization of resource utilization and iii) reduction of operational costs. Any plan for an impact analysis on throughput on air fleet resources  Read more »

This paper presents the development of a conceptual framework for simulating interstate traffic. ProcessModel was selected as the simulation package. The framework has been successfully used to model interstate I-65 from Montgomery to Birmingham, AL. The study corridor begins near the Alabama River Bridge north of downtown Montgomery at mile marker 172 and extends north  Read more »

This paper presents a simulation model to evaluate the operations of the container facility at the International Intermodal Center in Huntsville, AL. The simulation was used to determine if throughput can satisfy anticipated demand and if sufficient resources are available to meet anticipated growth in demand. The current throughput of the intermodal center can be  Read more »

This paper presents the application of simulation to determine the inspection resources needed to minimize disruption resulting from increased security inspection of containers at an intermodal terminal. The initial simulation run intentionally started with a large number of resources. Additional simulation runs were made with a continual reduction of inspection resources until entity throughput at  Read more »

The 2008 research into Transportation Infrastructure in Alabama had two main focal points; the creation of the Freight Planning Framework, with particular emphasis on the disaggregation and use of national level freight data at the state and local level, and the refinement and continued development of the Alabama Transportation Infrastructure Model (ATIM) for analysis and  Read more »

This paper presents a scenario analysis to determine the impact of a terrorist attack at Köhlbrand bridge across the river Elbe on the transportation chains on metropolitan Hamburg. It is of special interest to decide how to redirect trucks for the time of impossible traveling across the bridge as a consequence of the terrorist attack.  Read more »

This paper presents the development of a simulation model to evaluate the impact of increased 18-wheel truck traffic on the I-10 tunnel crossing the Mobile River in downtown Mobile, Alabama. The increased truck traffic is resulting from overall globalization of international trade and from truck traffic resulting from the expansion of the container terminal at  Read more »