EURO 2024 Copenhagen
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1912. A Target-oriented Robust Optimization Approach for Vehicle Positioning and Scheduling Problem at Terminal Apron

Invited abstract in session MB-62: Container Stacking and Yard Planning I, stream OR in Port Operations.

Monday, 10:30-12:00
Room: S12 (building: 101)

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. Linfei Guan
2. Chenhao Zhou
School of Management, Northwestern Polytechnical University
3. Qinghe Sun
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
4. Ada Che
School of Management, Northwestern Polytechnical University

Abstract

The container terminal comprises two modules: the yard and the terminal apron, where vehicles engaged in loading/discharging operations are shuttled between the two modules using holding buffers to mitigate congestion and delays. However, uncertainties such as container retrieval locations in the yard, vehicle speed, and potential waiting times due to congestion or incidents, introduce unpredictability in container transit time and may lead to delayed arrivals at the terminal apron. This unpredictability presents challenges in estimating the makspan for handling vessels, particularly for loading operations. This study addresses the integrated optimization of vehicle positioning and scheduling problem at the terminal apron, considering uncertain transit times. The research aims to enhance the tolerance of the terminal apron system to delays in the completion of loading operations in an uncertain environment, striving to develop an efficient and robust vehicle scheduling plan. Stochastic programming is utilized to model the ambiguous transit times, and a target-oriented robust optimization (RO) model is introduced to maximize the system's tolerance to delays. Three approaches are utilized to address the RO, and the performance RO is evaluated across four dimensions: mean, standard deviation, target completion probability, and value at risk. Finally, the RO exhibited strong performance in numerical experiments constructed using real data in Tianjin Port in China.

Keywords

Status: accepted

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