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A Rolling Horizon Model to Optimize Aerodynamic Efficiency of Intermodal Freight Trains with Uncertainty

Author

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  • Yung-Cheng Lai

    (Department of Civil Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 10617)

  • Yanfeng Ouyang

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801)

  • Christopher P. L. Barkan

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801)

Abstract

Aerodynamic efficiency of intermodal freight trains can be significantly improved by minimizing the adjusted gap lengths between adjacent loads. This paper first develops a static model to optimize load placement on a sequence of intermodal trains that have scheduled departure times. This model applies when full information on all trains and loads is available. Then, we develop a dynamic model to account for the more realistic situation in which there is incomplete or uncertain information on future trains and incoming loads. This paper develops methodology to balance between (i) the advantage from optimizing multiple trains together and (ii) the risk of making suboptimal decisions due to incomplete future information. We propose a rolling horizon scheme to address this challenge, where exponentially decreasing weights are assigned to the objective functions of future trains. Numerical results based on empirical data show significant aerodynamic efficiency benefits from these optimization models.

Suggested Citation

  • Yung-Cheng Lai & Yanfeng Ouyang & Christopher P. L. Barkan, 2008. "A Rolling Horizon Model to Optimize Aerodynamic Efficiency of Intermodal Freight Trains with Uncertainty," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 42(4), pages 466-477, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ortrsc:v:42:y:2008:i:4:p:466-477
    DOI: 10.1287/trsc.1080.0245
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Warren B. Powell & Tassio A. Carvalho, 1998. "Real-Time Optimization of Containers and Flatcars for Intermodal Operations," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(2), pages 110-126, May.
    2. Mordecai Avriel & Michal Penn & Naomi Shpirer & Smadar Witteboon, 1998. "Stowage planning for container ships to reduce the number of shifts," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 76(0), pages 55-71, January.
    3. Lai, Yung-Cheng & Barkan, Christopher P.L. & Önal, Hayri, 2008. "Optimizing the aerodynamic efficiency of intermodal freight trains," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(5), pages 820-834, September.
    4. Thomas A. Feo & José Luis González-Velarde, 1995. "The Intermodal Trailer Assignment Problem," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(4), pages 330-341, November.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Upadhyay, Amit & Gu, Weihua & Bolia, Nomesh, 2017. "Optimal loading of double-stack container trains," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 1-22.
    3. Kaidabettu, Chiraag Dinesh & Lange, Ann-Kathrin & Jahn, Carlos, 2021. "Gantry crane scheduling and storage techniques in rail-road terminals," Chapters from the Proceedings of the Hamburg International Conference of Logistics (HICL), in: Jahn, Carlos & Kersten, Wolfgang & Ringle, Christian M. (ed.), Adapting to the Future: Maritime and City Logistics in the Context of Digitalization and Sustainability. Proceedings of the Hamburg International Conf, volume 32, pages 457-492, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute of Business Logistics and General Management.
    4. Amit Upadhyay, 2020. "Improving Intermodal Train Operations in Indian Railways," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 50(4), pages 213-224, July.
    5. Mantovani, Serena & Morganti, Gianluca & Umang, Nitish & Crainic, Teodor Gabriel & Frejinger, Emma & Larsen, Eric, 2018. "The load planning problem for double-stack intermodal trains," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 267(1), pages 107-119.
    6. Michael F. Gorman & John-Paul Clarke & Amir Hossein Gharehgozli & Michael Hewitt & René de Koster & Debjit Roy, 2014. "State of the Practice: A Review of the Application of OR/MS in Freight Transportation," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 44(6), pages 535-554, December.
    7. Nils Boysen & Malte Fliedner & Florian Jaehn & Erwin Pesch, 2013. "A Survey on Container Processing in Railway Yards," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 47(3), pages 312-329, August.

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