An Input-Output Focussed Approach to Characterize Freight Transport Models

The selection of an appropriate freight transport model for a specific research subject is based on a set of multidimensional criteria, as e.g. use-cases, geographical scope, methodological design, and input and output data of the model. We made an attempt to characterise different freight transport models, with a focus on the relevant input and output data. For this attempt, we used the SADT modelling concept (because of its clear input-output focus and its simplicity in terms of symbols and syntax), and introduced a set of binary general differentiators of freight transport models. We applied our characterization method to twelve selected freight transport models. The results of our approach may help other researchers to methodologically assess, which model(s) they might use, and which data these models require. Kunze, Teoh, Lindemann, Teo, Wulfhorst 2