MicroPort: A general simulation platform for seaport container terminals

Seaport container terminals are essential nodes in sea cargo transportation networks. As such, the operational efficiency of container terminals in handling containers passing through them plays a critical role in a globalized world economy. Many models and algorithms have been developed to address various decision problems in container terminals to help improve operational efficiency. These decision support tools are usually used separately for specific purposes. However, the problems they are trying to tackle are often interrelated. Therefore, in this regard, an evaluation tool which can capture as many operational conditions as possible for different decision problems is necessary. This paper introduces a general simulation platform, named MicroPort, which aims to provide an integrated and flexible modeling system for evaluating the operational capability and efficiency of different designs of seaport container terminals. The software structure of MicroPort comprises three programming layers: (1) the Functions layer; (2) the Applications layer; and (3) the Extensions layer. Different layers are bound by Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Basic functions built in the Functions layer support the Applications layer in which major operation processes can be modeled by an agent-based method. External modules and decision support tools in the Extensions layer then use APIs to adjust the system to produce suitable simulation models for specific purposes.

[1]  Qingcheng Zeng,et al.  Integrating simulation and optimization to schedule loading operations in container terminals , 2009, Comput. Oper. Res..

[2]  Luca Maria Gambardella,et al.  Simulation and Planning of an Intermodal Container Terminal , 1998, Simul..

[3]  Dimitrios Makris,et al.  Simulation Analysis for Midterm Yard Planning in Container Terminal , 2003 .

[4]  Paul Davidsson,et al.  A Market-Based Approach to Container Port Terminal Management , 2002 .

[5]  Paul Davidsson,et al.  Agent based simulation architecture for evaluating operational policies in transshipping containers , 2006, Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems.

[6]  Paul Davidsson,et al.  Agent-based simulation of stakeholders relations : An approach to sustainable port terminal management , 2003 .

[7]  A. A. Shabayek,et al.  A simulation model for the Kwai Chung container terminals in Hong Kong , 2002, Eur. J. Oper. Res..

[8]  Charles M. Macal,et al.  A Discrete-Event Simulation Model for Seaport Operations , 1998, Simul..

[9]  Petros A. Ioannou,et al.  AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLE SYSTEM FOR TWO CONTAINER YARD LAYOUTS , 2004 .

[10]  Paul Davidsson,et al.  Market Based Approach to Container Terminal Management. , 2002 .

[11]  Carlos Carrascosa,et al.  A Multi-Agent System for the Automation of a Port Container Terminal , 2000 .

[12]  Denis Jouvin,et al.  Continuations and Behavior Components Engineering in Multi-Agent Systems , 2006, MATES.

[13]  Tae-Woo Lee,et al.  A simulation study for the logistics planning of a container terminal in view of SCM , 2003 .

[14]  Rommert Dekker,et al.  Comparing transportation systems for inter-terminal transport at the Maasvlakte container terminals , 2006, OR Spectr..

[15]  Sönke Hartmann,et al.  Generating scenarios for simulation and optimization of container terminal logistics , 2004, OR Spectr..

[16]  Ebrahim Shayan,et al.  Investigation of port capacity under a new approach by computer simulation , 2002 .

[17]  Paul Davidsson,et al.  Agent-based simulation of stakeholders relations: an approach to sustainable port and terminal management , 2004 .

[18]  Loo Hay Lee,et al.  A study on port design automation concept , 2008, 2008 Winter Simulation Conference.

[19]  Jaap A. Ottjes,et al.  Simulation of a multiterminal system for container handling , 2006, OR Spectr..

[20]  Charles M. Macal,et al.  Simulation, Animation and Visualization of Seaport Operations , 1998, Simul..

[21]  Matthew Erich Harold Petering.  Design, analysis, and real -time control of seaport container transshipment terminals. , 2007 .

[22]  Bjarne Stroustrup,et al.  C++ Programming Language , 1986, IEEE Softw..

[23]  Lawrence Henesey,et al.  Multi-Agent Systems for Container Terminal Management , 2006 .

[24]  Emrullah Demirci.  Simulation Modelling and Analysis of a Port Investment , 2003, Simul..

[25]  Loo Hay Lee,et al.  A simulation study on the uses of shuttle carriers in the container yard , 2007, 2007 Winter Simulation Conference.

[26]  Jim Euchner.  Design , 2014, Catalysis from A to Z.

[27]  Takuji Nishimura,et al.  Mersenne twister: a 623-dimensionally equidistributed uniform pseudo-random number generator , 1998, TOMC.

[28]  Paul Davidsson,et al.  Market-Driven Control in Container Terminal Management , 2003 .

[29]  Maurizio Bielli,et al.  Object oriented model for container terminal distributed simulation , 2006, Eur. J. Oper. Res..

[30]  Eleni Hadjiconstantinou,et al.  Evaluating straddle carrier deployment policies: a simulation study for the Piraeus container terminal , 2009 .

[31]  Anna Sciomachen,et al.  Intermodal container flows in a port system network:: Analysis of possible growths via simulation models , 2005 .

[32]  Byung-Hyun Ha,et al.  A simulation model with a low level of detail for container terminals and its applications , 2007, 2007 Winter Simulation Conference.

[33]  Zhou Peng-fei,et al.  Simulation Study on Container Terminal Performance , 2006, 2006 International Conference on Management Science and Engineering.