Paper

Double Girder Bridge Crane with Double Cycling: Scheduling Strategy and Performance Evaluation

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/418689

Publication: Journal of Applied Mathematics

Volume: 2014 (3)

Pages: 12-Jan

Publication Date: 2014

Summary:

This paper introduces a novel quay crane design, a double girder bridge crane (DGBC). DGBC is capable of handling containers of two adjacent bays simultaneously, avoiding crane collisions, saving traveling and repositioning costs, and eventually improving terminal efficiency.

This problem is formulated as a resource-constrained project scheduling to minimize the maximum completion time. A two-stage heuristic algorithm is proposed in which an operating sequence on each bay is obtained by double cycling, and the integrated timetable for both bays is constructed by solving resource conflicts using the proposed minimum cost strategy. We examine effectiveness and performance of applying DGBC with double cycling.

A case study is presented to illustrate how DGBC works with the two-stage method. Three extreme cases with respective conflict types are investigated to develop the performance bounds of DGBC with double cycling.

The results show that DGBC can significantly improve terminal productivity, and outperforms single girder crane in both makespan and the lift operation percentage. The highest DGBC efficiency does not require maximum double cycles in two bay schedules; rather the integrated timetable for two bays is the main contribution to the DGBC performance as it yields better cooperation between two spreaders and the driver.

Authors: Dr. Anne Goodchild, Dandan Wang, Xiaoping Li, and Zun Wang

Recommended Citation:
Wang, Dandan, Anne Goodchild, Xiaoping Li, and Zun Wang. "Double girder bridge crane with double cycling: Scheduling strategy and performance evaluation." Journal of Applied Mathematics 2014 (2014).

Paper

Crane Double-Cycling in Container Ports: Planning Methods and Evaluation

Download PDF (1.16 MB)

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trb.2007.02.006

Publication: Transportation Research Part B: Methodological

Volume: 41(8)

Pages: 875-891

Publication Date: 2007

Summary:

The Clean Trucks Program is a Clean Air Action Plan initiative currently being adopted by the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. This paper examines the Clean Trucks Program’s current requirements and estimates the impact on terminal operations. Using terminal operations data supplied by three terminal operating companies, we conduct a simple queuing analysis and present a regression model that allows us to consider the potential impact of the policy changes.

While this paper does not estimate the impact at a specific terminal, we consider order of magnitude effects. While the program itself does not require terminal operations changes, the program will modestly increase incentives to improve operational efficiency outside the terminal and reduce terminal gate processing time. It will also require technology that could be used for further operational changes.

We show, however, that unless gate time improvements are matched with these operational improvements in the terminal, they will only move the delay inside the terminal and not reduce total terminal time.

Our research considers the impact of the Clean Trucks Program on the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, but similar concerns are driving changes at ports around the globe.

Authors: Dr. Anne Goodchild, C.F. Daganzo

Recommended Citation:
Goodchild, A.V., and C.F. Daganzo. “Crane Double Cycling in Container Ports: Planning Methods and Evaluation.” Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, vol. 41, no. 8, 2007, pp. 875–891., doi:10.1016/j.trb.2007.02.006.