Multimodal Freight Network Capacity and Resilience Under Demand Shifts

Term Start:

September 1, 2025

Term End:

August 31, 2027

Budget:

$120,000

Keywords:

Discrete-Event Simulation, Maritime Resilience Modeling, Multimodal Freight Capacity

Thrust Area(s):

Data Modeling and Analytic Tools

University Lead:

The University of Texas at Austin

Researcher(s):

Stephen Boyles

This project will develop methods for identifying bottlenecks in multimodal maritime freight systems as demand patterns shift. Examples of such changes are increased demand due to onshoring of manufacturing industries; competition from alternative shipping modes (rail, overland); and demand changes during natural or man-made disruptions (which may simultaneously cause capacity changes). To address this goal, the project objectives are to: 1) integrate data sets from different transportation modes; 2) develop a definition for the capacity and resilience of multimodal port systems; and 3) explore the relationship between capacity and resilience in these networks. The investigation into these objectives will rely on a discrete-event simulation environment developed for the maritime freight transportation network of Houston, Texas. Identifying bottlenecks requires clear definitions for “capacity” and “resilience” in maritime freight systems. To this end, the project will include extensive processing and statistical analysis of standard transportation system datasets, derive the input parameters needed for the simulation, and validate the model output. The simulation environment will be constructed for the Port of Houston freight network, and model the waterway navigation channel, port terminals, and hinterland connections to landside transport modes. The base scenario will reveal current bottlenecks in the integrated system. A series of “what if?” scenarios representing capacity increases or decreases will be simulated to understand the effects of demand changes and system disruptions.

Project scope

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