The Selection of Intermodal Transport System Scenarios in the Function of Southeastern Europe Regional Development

Snežana Tadić, Milovan Kovač, Mladen Krstić, Violeta Roso and Nikolina Brnjac
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Snežana Tadić: Logistic Department, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Milovan Kovač: Logistic Department, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Mladen Krstić: Logistic Department, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Violeta Roso: Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
Nikolina Brnjac: Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-25

Abstract: The development of intermodal transportation (IT) systems is of vital importance for the sustainability of logistics activities. The existing research point at individual directions of action for system improvement and increase of IT participation in overall transportation, thus reducing negative impacts of logistics on sustainability. However, there is a lack of research defining complex scenarios that unite existing ideas and concepts of IT system development and improvement. Accordingly, this article deals with the definition and selection of the most appropriate IT development scenario for the region of Southeastern Europe. Six different potential scenarios that differ in the network configuration, the required level of logistics infrastructure development, the role of different IT terminal categories, the involvement of different transportation modes, and goods flows’ transformation degree, are defined. The scenarios are analyzed according to four stakeholder groups and twelve defined criteria. A novel hybrid multi-criteria decision-making model, based on fuzzy Delphi, fuzzy Factor Relationship (FARE), and fuzzy Measurement of Alternatives and Ranking according to Compromise Solution (MARCOS) methods, is developed for solving the problem. The definition and analysis of the problem, the way of establishing the scenarios, as well as the development of a novel hybrid model are the main contributions of this article. A significant contribution is also the consideration of the Dry Port (DP) concept for the first time in the context of river ports. The results indicate that the scenario referring to the development of the IT core network with the Danube DP terminals is potentially the most appropriate scenario for the Southeastern Europe IT system.

Keywords: intermodal system; intermodal terminal; scenario; dry port; river port; southeastern Europe; MCDM; fuzzy Delphi; fuzzy FARE; fuzzy MARCOS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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