The purpose of this report is to demonstrate usage of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for analyzing intermodal freight networks. A complete GIS network, focused on the state of Texas, is developed and used to examine impacts of price, time, location, and policy on shipper routing. This process begins with an exploration of existing GIS applications, and state of the practice within the intermodal freight industry. This information provides a framework for building a technically feasible and relevant application. Data acquisition and processing techniques for both geographic and attribute data are considered. Relevant processes for creation of a GIS network and data conflation are identified and demonstrated. These techniques are used to create a network modeling the complex interactions and transfer rules amongst modes. Finally, several case studies are developed using the completed network to exhibit the power of GIS applied to intermodal freight. The report concludes with a summary, and observations to assist others attempting to build upon these results.
The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for analyzing Intermodal Freight Networks. A complete GIS network comprising of the seven states of 1) Illinois, 2) Indiana, 3) Iowa, 4) Michigan, 5) Minnesota, 6) Ohio and 7) Wisconsin of the upper Midwest region of United States is created using Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) Intermodal Network Database. The GIS application for Intermodal freight flow analysis developed in this research is capable of displaying Intermodal freight flows on the transportation network, based on, "Finding Shortest Path" concept of minimizing total transportation costs. Specifically, a network capable of analyzing containerized freight movements has been developed. The research begins with an exploration of existing GIS applications and the state of the practice in the intermodal freight industry. A simple mathematical model is formulated taking into account the multiple modes and complex routing rules involved in the intermodal freight transportation. This research concludes demonstrating the ability of GIS to analyze intermodal freight flows over a transportation network.
The paper discusses the practical issues involved in constructing intermodal freight networks that can be used within GIS platforms to support inter-regional freight routing and subsequent (for example, commodity flow) analysis. The procedures described can be used to create freight-routable and traffic flowable interstate and intermodal networks using some combination of highway, rail, water and air freight transportation. Keys to realistic freight routing are the identification of intermodal transfer locations and associated terminal functions, a proper handling of carrier-owned and operated sub-networks within each of the primary modes of transport, and the ability to model the types of carrier services being offered.
The focus of this study was to develop a freight transportation geographic information system (GIS) database for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The primary tasks involved identifying the desired characteristics of the database, determining what data are available, incorporating this data into a GIS database, evaluating the database, and suggesting future directions for the continuation of the database. During the creation of the database, limited amounts of relevant freight data were found to be available. This project demonstrates the development of a working database that can be used to provide useful information for the freight transportation planning process.
Geographic Information Systems for Intermodal Transportation: Methods, Models, Applications examines the basic concepts and applications of Geographic Information Systems for Transportation. The book discusses the unique characteristics of each transportation mode-- highway, railway, waterway and airway—as well as the combined intermodal transportation network. The book shows how GIS generates vehicle routes and shorted paths, develops transportation demand models, analyzes spatial data, and how three-dimensional modelling is applied to the intermodal transportation. Includes real-world case studies from diverse situations Provides step-by-steps insights using data to deliver effective outputs for all stakeholders Presents models and practices for using GIS techniques to solve intermodal transportation problems Includes learnings tools such as chapter objectives, discussion questions and a glossary
This paper discusses the development of geographical information systems (GIS) based tools for use in the trucking industry. The primary goals are to link the GIS with appropriate database information to support both operational and strategic decision making in both truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) operations. The GIS-based tools support three primary deliverables. In the LTL industry, we have developed tools to support the determination of near-optimal locations for breakbulk terminals. In the TL industry, we have developed tools to aid in the development of regularly scheduled capacity in the form of driving "lanes" in an effort to regularize the driving job and to improve service in that industry. For both industries, we have made use of regression analysis to determine the level to which we can make use of demographic information to predict freight density. For all three deliverables, the GIS software system supports the key prerequisite of freight density analysis. Also, the GIS platform provides excellent graphics capabilities for visualizing the various analyses and solutions. The result is an integrated solution platform that enables the trucking industry to better utilize delivery capacity and to proactively seek solutions to problems of strategic importance
. . . the book will be a valuable resource for students, researchers, policy makers and practitioners. Competition and Regulation in Network Industries The book is well balanced. . . The authors depict the reality of this complex world and identify the right strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Bart Jourquin, European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research . . . the editors and the expert contributors provide a timely overview of the present role and challenges of intermodal freight transport. . . the book will not only be appealing to academics and researchers with an interest in the emerging field of intermodal transport research. As the book is largely kept at an executive and policy level, it is also appealing to practitioners and policy makers. . . the book is a valuable contribution to the study of intermodal freight transport as a new transportation research application field. It is an essential reading for all stakeholders in the field of intermodal freight transportation, providing them with insight and tools to address the mounting academic and practical challenges in this segment of the transport and logistics market. Theo Notteboom, Journal of Transport Geography This book explores the great challenge of increasing the scope of intermodal freight transport. In view of the current dominant role of road transport and the increasing difficulties in coping with a growing number of vehicles in an efficient and sustainable way, intermodal freight transport could be considered a viable alternative. However, the book makes recognition of the fact that there is still a need to improve the performance of the intermodal transport system. The expert contributors provide an overview of the present role of intermodal freight transport, address opportunities to significantly improve current performance, and demonstrate design and modelling tools used to analyse and support this performance. Requirements for the implementation of intermodal innovations are also prescribed, and policies needed to improve competitiveness are outlined. Many factors contributing to the performance and competitiveness of intermodal freight transport are explored, from technological and organisational innovations through to institutional settings and policy frameworks. This comprehensive range of topics will attract a broad audience including academics, researchers, policymakers and practitioners involved in the design and development of freight transport systems. It will also strongly appeal to those with an interest in the future of freight transport.
"As global trade continues to increase, the energy and environmental impacts of freight movement in the US have become more of a concern. As such, the freight transport system needs to consider opportunities to meet customer objectives, while also meeting social goals. In the US there has been legislation enacted to address the growing impact that freight movement has on the environment, but there are limited tools to assist in the implementation of those policies. This research sets forth a process for creating a geospatial intermodal freight transportation (GIFT) model within ArcGIS that can be used to analyze freight movement under different economic and environmental scenarios. The GIFT model uses an intermodal network that connects various modes (rail, truck, and ship) via intermodal terminals. ArcGIS Network Analyst is used to create the intermodal network and conduct optimal route analysis for various network attributes. Routes along the network are characterized not only by temporal and distance attributes, but also by cost, energy, and emissions attributes. Decision makers can use the model to explore tradeoffs among alternative route selection across different modal combinations, and to identify optimal routes for objectives that feature energy and environmental parameters (e.g., least carbon dioxide intensive route). The research illustrates the use of this network using a case study that analyzes freight traffic along the US Eastern Seaboard."--Abstract.
