A Comparative Study of the Economic Suitability and
Viability of New Generation Intelligent Transport
Systems (ITS) in Dublin Port
Kay McGinley BA(Hons) MM
Department of Transport Engineering
College of Engineering and Built Environment
Dublin Institute of Technology
Roisin Murray – Supervisor
Declan Allen - Advisory Supervisor
17/5/2013
Background
 Globalisation
 Ports/terminals excessively utilized
 Land restriction
 Dublin Port occupies 256 hectares
 Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)
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Research Hypothesis
• “ The Intelligent Autonomous Vehicle (IAV) is both
suitable and viable for adoption in a real port
environment such as Dublin Port ”
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Research Objectives
 Study traffic flows within Dublin Ferryport Terminals (DFT).
 Investigate existing traffic control methods.
 Identify automatic navigation methods.
 Investigate the practical issues in implementing automatic navigation
system in DFT.
 Examine an automatic traffic time domain simulator for autonomous and
human driven vehicles.
 Carry out a case study of DFT using a virtual simulator (ScanerStudio and
Flexsim).
 Consider the operating costs of current technology.
 Consider the potential operating costs of the IAV.
 Determine the economic suitability and viability of IAV versus the shunter
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Novelty of the Research
• Exploration of new generation ITS in Dublin Port to
reduce time delay at intermodal nodes where
containers are required to change transport modes.
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Methodology
 Case Study of Dublin Ferryport Terminals (DFT)
 Traffic Flows
 Different traffic systems
 Traffic Navigation Methods
 Operational Schedule
 Automatic Control Method
 Turn around time of traffic in DFT
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Dublin Port
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Dublin Ferryport Terminal
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Dublin Port Master Plan 2012-2040
 Master plan – long term development
 Doubling of trade volumes
 60 million tonnes by 2040
 2.5% per annum
 New intelligent transport systems
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Current technology used in the port
environment
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Containerisation
Different types of containers
Quay crane
Shunter
Straddle carrier
Reachstacker
Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV)
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State of the Art
 Intelligent Autonomous Vehicle (IAV)
Developed as part of the InTraDE (Intelligent
Transportation for Dynamic Environment) project
(received European Regional Development funding
through INTERREG IV B)
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360v lead-acid batteries
No rails/transporters
Platoon
Unit capacity
Actuators/360 degree steering
GPS
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State of the Art (cont’d)
 Cassette System
 Transportable steel table
 Floating buffer
 Containers disconnected
 Idle time reduced
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State of the Art
Figure 7. Intelligent Autonomous Vehicle (IAV)
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Research Findings and Analysis
 Suitability and Application of the IAV in Dublin Port
 Financial Considerations and Analysis
 Financial Review of Irish Continental Group (ICG)
 Ferries Division
 Container and Terminal Division
 Economic Outlook and Expected Cash Flows
 Expected Cash Flows in Relation to Shunter
 Expected Cash Flows in Relation to IAV
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Research Findings and Analysis
 Simulation
 SCANeR Studio
 Restricted capabilities
 Supervision of the system
 Simulation of the environment
 Flexsim
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Covers all elements
Container layouts
Discharging
Loading
Transport time
3D Visualization & animation
Excel
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Research Findings and Analysis
Loading/
Discharging
Transfer
Storage
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Receipt/
Delivery
Conclusions
Financial considerations were based over a 15 year
period 2013 - 2027
• Results of operating costs of shunter
• €11,415,206
• Results of operating costs of IAV
€3,508,491
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Conclusions
• Fuel costs – diesel v electric
• Wages – two computer operators v ten drivers
• Service costs – service of electric v diesel
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Conclusions/Recommendations
 Load Capacity
 Battery Efficiency
 Safety of the IAV
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Publication – Journal Article
• Gelareh, S, Merzouki, R, McGinley, K, Murray, R. 2012
Scheduling of Intelligent and Autonomous Vehicles Under
Pairing/Unpairing Collaboration Strategy in Container
Terminals, Transportation Research Part C: Emerging
Technologies.
Status: Accepted
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Proposed PhD
2013
• The Environmental Impact and potential means of improving the
Intelligent Automated Vehicle (IAV) for suitability and viability in Dublin
Port
Kay McGinley BA(Hons)MM
Department of Transport Engineering
College of Engineering and Built Environment
Dublin Institute of Technology
•
Dr. Marek Rebow – Advisory Supervisor
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Research Aims
• Operations management implications of
different development scenarios
• European ports
– Environmental
– Energy supplies
– Security
– Safety
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