When: 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Where: Classroom B, Block A, Building No. 25, Weijin Road Campus

Lecturer: Assistant Professor Ginger Y. Ke from the Memorial University of Newfoundland

About the Lecture: Intermodal transportation, defined as the transportation of goods by a sequence of at least two different modes, continues to be one of the dominant segments of the transportation industry. The attractiveness of rail-truck intermodal transportation (RTIM) stems from two sources: 1) the significant reduction in both delivery and lead-time uncertainty because of the schedule-based operation of intermodal trains; and 2) a more efficient and cost-effective overall movement ensured by combining the best attributes of the two modes. Despite the recent growth in RTIM, the corresponding research, especially regarding the transportation for hazardous materials (hazmat), is very limited. Herein, focusing on intermodal terminals, we examine the problem of planning and managing RTIM for hazmat from various perspectives. First, we propose a bi-objective optimization framework for hazmat freight that considers congestion at intermodal yards and determines the appropriate equipment capacity. This framework, i.e., a non-linear MIP and a multi-objective genetic algorithm based solution methodology, is applied to a realistic size problem instance from existing literature. Second, a bi-level bi-objective toll-setting policy model is developed to regulate the usage of intermodal terminals for hazmat transportation, where the carrier is deterred from using certain terminals due to the corresponding tolls imposed by the government. Through a real problem instance, the toll-setting model is examined and further compared with a network design approach, in which certain terminals are closed for hazmat containers.

All students and staff of Tianjin University are welcome.