(8) An intermodal transportation geospatial network modeling for containerized soybean shipping
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Xiang Liu a , ∗,Yun Bai b , Jihong Chen c
a Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, United States
b Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT), Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, United States
c College of Transport and Communications, Shanghai Maritime University, China
Received 31 October 2016; received in revised form 14 April 2017; accepted 12 May 2017
Available online 24 May 2017
Abstract
Containerized shipping is a growing market for agricultural exports, particularly soybeans. In order to understand the optimal strategies for improving the United States’ economic competitiveness in this emerging market, this research develops an intermodal transportation network modeling framework, focusing on U.S. soybean container shipments. Built upon detailed modal cost analyses, a Geospatial Intermodal Freight Transportation (GIFT) model has been developed to understand the optimal network design for U.S. soybean exports. Based on market demand and domestic supply figures, the model is able to determine which domestically produced soybeans should go to which foreign markets, and by which transport modes. This research and its continual studies, will provide insights into future policies and practices that can improve the transportation efficiency of soybean logistics.
© 2017 Shanghai Jiaotong University. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license. ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ )
Keywords: International shipping; Rail; Truck; Barge; Agricultural logistics; Intermodal.
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