ROUTE SELECTION AND TRADE-OFFS EVALUATION OF THE INTERMODAL FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION

Abstract

Identification of optimum routes and mode of transport play vital roles in freight transport decision making. This paper presents the research carried out for the modelling and analysis of intermodal transport network. The study evaluates the trade-offs associated with different modes of freight transportation. Geographic Information System (GIS) and MATLAB were applied to design the hypothetical intermodal freight transportation network, modelling, analysis and user-interface design. An optimum route and transport mode for different pairs of origins and destinations were determined across decision objectives such as distance, time, emission and cost. The trade-offs among different modes of freight transportation were explored. Based on the assumptions of this study, the results showed that the road was the fastest mode, while waterway was not only the most costefficient but also was the most environmental-friendly transport mode in terms of carbon dioxide emission. Although the transport network of the study was small size and hypothetical, this paper demonstrates the potentiality of this methodology for analysing larger and real intermodal networks.

Keywords

• Freight transportation
• Intermodal
• Modal choice
• Route selection
• Transport modes