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Dynamic yard allocation for automated container terminal

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Abstract

Although research on traditional terminals has been well developed, research concerning automated terminals and especially the yard space management is at the early stage. Backgrounded by the application of the upgrading automated technology, yard allocation requires compatible methods to interpret the emerging features of automated container terminals and coordinate with other operational systems. Considering the mixed stacking of import and export containers in one block and the cooperation among multiple yard cranes, this study provides the dynamic yard allocation method for automated container terminals. In this paper the space allocation problem of automated yard is examined through two stages. In Stage-I a bi-objective model is established to balance the workload between seaside and landside in each time window and optimize the total moving distances of containers from the yard to the berth. In Stage-II, by minimizing the moving distances of yard cranes from seaside, the specific allocation of the bay position in each time window is determined. Furthermore, by the application of the real-life cases of the automated terminal operations, it is verified that the proposed method and mathematical models are efficient to allocate the yard space which improve the yard management for the automated container terminal.

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Acknowledgements

This work is sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 72072112, 72001135, 72002125]; Shanghai Rising-Star Program [grant number 19QA1404200]; Shanghai Sailing Program [grant number 20YF1416600, 19YF1418800].

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Correspondence to Hang Yu.

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Appendix

Appendix

A1 Container volume to be allocated in each time window (TEUs)

 

t

Category

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

Import container

2000

2000

2000

4000

2000

2000

4000

4000

2000

Export container

2200

3200

3000

2600

3200

2800

1800

1000

1000

A2 Container volume to be allocated in each time window (Bays)

 

t

Category

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

Import container

40

40

40

80

40

40

80

80

40

Export container

44

64

60

52

64

56

36

20

20

A3 Distance from vessel berth to each block (m)

 

s

i

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Block1

115

315

195

435

115

195

435

315

Block2

155

275

155

395

155

155

395

275

Block3

115

235

115

355

115

115

355

235

Block4

115

195

115

315

115

115

315

195

Block5

155

155

155

275

155

155

275

155

Block6

195

115

115

235

195

115

235

115

Block7

235

115

115

195

235

115

195

115

Block8

275

155

155

155

275

155

155

155

Block9

315

115

195

115

315

195

115

115

Block10

355

115

235

115

355

235

115

115

A4 Dynamic distribution of container capacity in each container block (Bays)

 

t

i

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

Block1

22

29

41

37

49

51

44

48

31

Block2

26

30

38

52

41

35

38

44

34

Block3

24

33

35

33

42

41

40

34

30

Block4

22

29

29

46

49

52

44

32

32

Block5

22

30

31

45

50

43

31

33

31

Block6

25

31

35

39

43

41

43

25

9

Block7

26

30

30

28

29

26

30

22

6

Block8

23

28

28

29

28

46

32

34

25

Block9

22

28

34

26

33

28

38

44

60

Block10

22

30

35

25

22

29

40

44

60

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He, J., Xiao, X., Yu, H. et al. Dynamic yard allocation for automated container terminal. Ann Oper Res (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-021-04458-6

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