A Sustainable Intermodal Location-Routing Optimization Approach: A Case Study of the Bohai Rim Region

Bing Han, Shanshan Shi, Haotian Gao and Yan Hu
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Bing Han: School of Maritime Economics and Management, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116000, China
Shanshan Shi: School of Maritime Economics and Management, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116000, China
Haotian Gao: School of Maritime Economics and Management, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116000, China
Yan Hu: Urban Planning and Transportation Group, Department of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-27

Abstract: The optimal intermodal nodes and routes are two of the most challenging issues for intermodal participants. We present a two-phase approach that includes the fuzzy c-means clustering method (FCM) and a multi-objective optimization model to solve intermodal location-routing issues. A weighted sum technique and a genetic algorithm (GA) are designed to address this model. The two-phase approach is beneficial in meeting different market demand preferences of intermodal participants. It also has applications in solving the sustainable intermodal location-routing problems, further solving the network optimization problem in large-scale scenarios. A typical intermodal transport network in the Bohai Rim region is used to verify the effectiveness of this approach. The results provide references for the participants in the Bohai Rim region to choose the optimal intermodal nodes and routes. The findings also offer theoretical insights for optimizing intermodal networks in other regions of China, with goals of improving sustainable transport efficiencies.

Keywords: intermodal transport; location-routing optimization; sustainability; multi-objective model; genetic algorithm (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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