A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THE ALLOCATION OF YARD CRANES AND BLOCKS IN CONTAINER TERMINALS

Canrong Zhang (), Zhihai Zhang (), Li Zheng () and Lixin Miao ()
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Canrong Zhang: Modern Logistics Research Center, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Zhihai Zhang: Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Li Zheng: Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Lixin Miao: Modern Logistics Research Center, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China

Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research (APJOR), 2011, vol. 28, issue 06, pages 803-829

Abstract: This paper examines the allocation of yard cranes and blocks for yard activities in container terminals. In this paper, the yard cranes are confined to rail mounted gantry cranes (RMGC), which are characterized by the restricted traveling range on a pair of rails. Since RMGCs and yard blocks are tightly bound to each other, when allocating them, we should make sure that the RMGCs allocated for a yard activity are able to together cover the blocks allocated for the corresponding yard activity. In addition, considering that there are four basic activities occurring in the yard which compete with each other for the scarce resources and have different requirements and priorities in the allocation of blocks and yard cranes, we treat them in a single model rather than in multiple independent models as were generally done in literature. A mixed integer programming model is constructed, and an iterative decomposition solution procedure is proposed for the problem. Based on the solution procedure, a decision support system is developed and implemented for a terminal in Tianjin seaport. Using the actual data, the numerical experiments show the effectiveness and efficiency of the decision support system.

Keywords: Block allocation; container terminal; crane scheduling; decision support system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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