Develop Multi-Modal Maritime-Rail-Roadway Transportation Model for the Texas Inland and Intercoastal Waterways
Texas plays a key role in freight transport nationally and internationally. Freight systems are highly multi-modal (maritime, rail, roadway) and complex, with infrastructure serving different cargo types (bulk goods, containers, hazardous material, etc.). The research team will develop a simulator and decision-support tool for routing and scheduling freight in this system. This work builds on and enhances simulation models and tools the research team has designed, developed, and deployed to successfully represent multi-modal freight operations in the Port of Houston, Houston Ship Channel, and Texas road and rail networks for past projects. This prior experience has shown that the greatest challenges involve data availability, computational speed for statewide modeling, and reflecting the complexities of real-world logistics in routing and scheduling algorithms. The work plan is specifically designed to address these challenges: in terms of data, the research team will use both publicly-available datasets (including the ones used to calibrate its past models) and its existing relationships with port and rail operators and other stakeholders; in terms of computation, the research team will explore a hybrid discrete-event simulator architecture; and in terms of realism, the research team will incorporate uncertainty and reliability in the decision-support tool.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $197,669.00
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Contract Numbers:
0-7253
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Sponsor Organizations:
Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX United States 78701-2483 -
Managing Organizations:
Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX United States 78701-2483 -
Project Managers:
Dassi, Martin
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Performing Organizations:
Center for Transportation Research
3925 W. Braker Lane
Austin, TX United States 78759 -
Principal Investigators:
Boyles, Stephen
- Start Date: 20260101
- Expected Completion Date: 20270131
- Actual Completion Date: 0
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Algorithms; Decision support systems; Freight transportation; Logistics; Multimodal transportation; Routing; Scheduling; Simulation
- Geographic Terms: Texas
- Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Planning and Forecasting;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01969907
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Texas Department of Transportation
- Contract Numbers: 0-7253
- Files: RIP, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Oct 28 2025 11:09AM