Operations Research / Logistics

Matheuristic algorithms for Synchromodal Network Design
This is an industry sponsored project focussing on integer programming optimisation methods and modelling of the movement of containers through the system between ships and the destination/origin of the containers being imported/exported. This requires consideration of:
· Ship loading/unloading and possibly temporary storage at the port,
· Truck and train unloading/loading at the port,
· Routing of containers via possibly one or more inland terminals,
· Mode choice between trains and trucks and scheduling of container movements,
· Storage at the inland terminals as well as scheduling of loading and unloading operations.
At the strategic level, choices need to be made regarding capital investment decisions relating to truck fleet size, railing capacities, equipment for handling containers at the terminals and storage capacities. Operating this transport infrastructure in a synchromodal manner requires adaptively making decisions on timing, mode choice and route choice of container movements. Container movements are restricted by release times and due dates, that is time windows between which they must be picked up and delivered. These time windows are typically determined by customers and shipping companies and subject to change. The travel times of trucks are also likely to vary significantly during periods of congestion. Hence the need for an adaptive, synchromodal operating mode.
The project requires one Post-Doctoral Fellow and two Doctoral (PhD) students working on specific aspects of the overall problem.