A combined simulation approach for the effective integration of operational and strategic levels for intermodal transport modelling (original) (raw)

Transport modelling is a fundamental tool for planning and economic assessing of transport infrastructures. To provide reliable results, models should be able to deal with the complexity of the transport system. This is traditionally faced using aggregated models that are incapable of analysing the operations taking place in terminals, even though their performance is crucial for the global competitiveness of any transport system. In this paper a combined approach consisting of a traditional transport modelling –encompassing both tactical and strategic levelsand discrete event simulation –to study terminals at the operational levelis presented. Along with an expected improvement in the level of accuracy of results, this increased-scale approach makes it possible to gain a better understanding of the project as a whole, connecting macroeconomics and microeconomics. This approach has been initially developed for the early design and analysis stages for the Central Bioceanic Railway Co...