Problems of congestion and capacity expansion in intermodal multicommodity network flows

• Grant number: 08/09037-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2009
• End date: February 28, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Production Engineering - Operational Research
• Principal Investigator: Reinaldo Morabito Neto
• Grantee: Mônica Do Amaral
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Intermodal transportation problems are the combination of at least two transportation modal in the same logistics network, in which products go over paths from a source to a known destination. By rails, waterways or air routes, using as less as possible the roads paths. According to the theory, it's still an emergent issue, with a sort of not well defined classes of problems. Although it's still unexplored, most of problems can be supported by network flows models, which is already a consolidated theory with lots of practical application, including transportation system. This Ph.D. project aims to study the effect of congestion in intermodal multicommodity network flows, to support tactical decisions, strategic investments in design and location of new terminals and in capacity of disposal and storage. The implementation of the developed models and methods in a real case is also an aim of this project. An intermodal network, used mainly for disposal of agricultural products in Brazil, will be studied. After the implementation of the models and methods of solution studied, we wish to be able to diagnose bottlenecks and capacity unbalances, and evaluate scenarios that allow the analysis of potential investments in capacity of the existing network and the location of possible terminal to be installed. (AU)