1 GMU Consortium for Marine Highway Freight System

Marine Highway Freight SystemModeling Effort Update

CSC Advanced Marine15 June 2010

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Objective

• Provide Model for evaluating potential Marine Highway Routes• Key Features

– Reusable “Toolset” for others w/o programming experience– Relative comparison with Trucking Routes– Able to model ship operator’s process or track cargo unit to final destination– Primary metrics: time, throughput, & cost– Secondary metrics: fuel consumption, pollutant output

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Progress

• Model Framework• Inputs & Outputs• Model Architecture• Basic Example

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Model Framework

• Model will be created in ExtendSim 7 Discrete Event Modeling software– Uses Hierarchical Blocks - designed for “toolset” implementation– Readily imports data from Excel – simplifies data input for user

• Models feasibility of marine highway route over extended time period • Basic Framework is three block types:

– Creation block– Travel block– Port (cargo transfer) block

• Data Inputs– Specific to block type– User defined data– Supports Monte Carlo simulation – captures real world variability

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Input & Output Capabilities

• Input:– Cargo time distribution at departure port– Ship departure schedule– Port specific ship loading/unloading times– Ship capacity and performance characteristics– Ship route specifics– Truck and route characteristics

• Output:– Cargo time distribution at destination– Ship fuel consumption– Delays at each stage– Emissions Tracking– Cost Tracking

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Block Development

• Depending on complexity of process and available data, modeling fidelity can be varied by selecting interchangeable blocks

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Creation Block

• Creates cargo/truck items– Specifies distribution of when blocks arrive at port or distribution center– Specifies truck performance characteristics

• Creates ship items– Specifies ship performance characteristics

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Travel Block

• Calculates the time delay of traveling ship or truck• Basic block will calculate time delay based on speed ÷ distance• Intermediate block will use speed limits• Advanced block will be route specific and will use GMU or Rutgers

defined time delays based on time of day

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Port Block

• Simulates marrying of ships with cargo• Basic block accommodates varying number of ship loading and cargo

staging areas• Intermediate block will increase cargo loading fidelity • Advanced block will model the exact process and time delays of a specific

port• Will accommodate logic for both RoRo and LoLo• Will function as an intermediate port

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DES Example Layout

• Models route from General Foam Plastics in Portsmouth, VA to a Costco distribution center in Jamesburg, NJ.

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Departure Port

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Ship Travel

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Arrival Port

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Summary

• Framework Development On Track• Implementation of Metrics going well

– Desire feedback on selection of primary & secondary metrics

• Data collection contingent on guidance from advisory board and participation of industry partners