Gianfranco Fancello

Logistics node simulator as an enabler for supply chain development: innovative portainer simulator as the assessment tool for human factors in port cranes

This paper focuses on the development of a new generation of interoperable simulators of micro activities in a logistics node; the proposed example focuses on a real-time full-scope virtual simulator of port activities able to simulate the activities of the whole port by having ships, cranes, trucks and containers interoperating in a federation. The technologies adopted in terms of architecture and installation were very effective in creating a mobile laboratory open to further extension by online interoperation with other simulators and with biomedical devices for assessing human capabilities within this framework. This approach allows us to face the existing challenges in extending the capabilities of a logistics node over their current capabilities limited by technological and human factors.

Virtual world and biometrics as strongholds for the development of innovative port interoperable simulators for supporting both training and R&D

This paper proposes an integrated solution for port MS the authors propose the architecture, the description of the model, The containerisation of these simulators for guaranteeing maximum mobility as well as their integration with biomedical devices. The proposed system is designed to be used in operation training of Gantry Crane Operators as well as Research and Development (R&D) support in Container Terminal, Port Plants and Facilities.

A data mining approach to forecast late arrivals in a transhipment container terminal

AbstractOne of the most important issues in Transhipment Container Terminal (TCT) management is to have fairly reliable and affordable predictions about vessel arrival. Terminal operators need to estimate the actual time of arrival in port in order to determine the daily demand for each work shift with greater accuracy. In this way, the resources required (human resources, equipment as well as spatial resources) can be allocated more efficiently. Despite contractual obligations to notify the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) 24 hours before arrival, ship operators often have to revise it due to unexpected events like weather conditions, delay in a previous port and so on. For planners the decision-making processes related to this topic can sometimes be so complex without the support of suitable methodological tools. Specific models should be adopted, in a daily planning scenario, to provide a useful support tool in TCTs. In this study, we discuss an exploratory analysis of the data affecting delays register...

Optimal management of human resources in transhipment container ports

Human resources allocation plays a key role in transhipment maritime container terminals to achieve high levels of productivity and provide high quality services to shipping companies. The deep interest of container terminals in this issue can be supported by optimization methods. In this work, an optimization model is proposed to determine the optimal daily allocation of crane operators and trailer drivers. Different requirements are taken into account for permanent staff, external workers and personnel shortfall. Since workforce undermanning is a crucial factor for both shipping companies and container terminals, we aim to show that personnel shortfalls and operation delays can be significantly reduced if the model encompasses a longer-than-1-day planning horizon in a rolling horizon fashion.

An experimental customer satisfaction index to evaluate the performance of city logistics services

AbstractFreight transport in urban areas entails benefits (i.e. free access to goods when needed), but also negative externalities (environmental, social and transportation impacts). In response to these problems, the concept of city logistics emerged, for the purpose of planning, organizing, coordinating and controlling physical and information flows in order to find a compromise between efficient freight distribution in urban areas and protection of the environment. A typical city logistics initiative is the Urban Freight Consolidation Centre (UFCC), the benefits of which are significant. Its financial issues though represent a huge problem for public administrations. However, a large customer network, comprising retailers participating in the initiative, could make the UFCC a self-financing scheme. The key to expanding the scheme is closely linked with marketing campaigns and customer care. Therefore, customer care analysis represents an important tool in developing UFCC schemes. In this paper, a new C...

Evaluation of alternative scenarios of labour flexibility for dockworkers in maritime container terminals

In the competitive environment of Container Terminals (CTs), it is essential to reduce unproductive costs and to offer efficient services to shipping companies. One of the most important factors for CT efficiency is to plan workforce optimally. However, in some CTs, strict work regulations can avoid an optimal use of the available resources leading to longer operation times and to additional related costs. This study analyses labour regulations in Italian CTs and evaluates the effects of a greater labour flexibility at the operational level by hypothesising an increase of the labour flexibility allowed within the pool of internal dockworkers. The scenario representing the current work organisation in Italian CTs is compared to five new scenarios constructed by increasing the share of daily working flexibility and introducing a new type of labour flexibility, the so-called mini-flexibility. The use of a state-of-the-art Integer Linear Programming Model for the daily assignment of human resources in CTs allows to simulate the quantitative effects of each scenario in terms of operating costs and workers undermanning. Quantitative results support the idea that an increased labour flexibility in CT activities can actually lead to a significant reduction of the operating costs and to a greater efficiency of the CT.

Visual perception of the roundabout in old age

In recent years, the behaviour of older drivers has become one of the main objectives of safety research and much attention has been focused on the perception of the driver. Several studies have shown that mental and physical conditions, driving habits and behaviour when performing certain manoeuvres differ with age. The mental and physical faculties of over 65-year olds and their ability to concentrate behind the wheel deteriorate more rapidly, with the result that there is a greater likelihood of them having an accident. It is for this reason that research in later years has focused primarily on identifying active safety measures to assist older drivers, aimed at facilitating certain tasks and improving their performance, so as to avoid mishaps on the road. These measures concern above all restrictions and limits, support and assistance, redesigning the road system, and in-vehicle driving aids. In this paper the authors have analysed the behaviour of elderly drivers while they go through a roundabout: they investigated their visual perception during driving, to assess which elements help drivers to cross the roundabout, and which have bad influences during guide (distractor signals). To evaluate the drivers’ perception the authors propose an index, based on frequency and length period observation, to assess stimulus generated by road: starting from Neisser Index, they propose an experimental index based on the complex structure of driver’s vision. A mobile eye tracker has been used both to define which elements drivers use during roundabout crossing and to measure the time period perception of each road and traffic element. Eleven older drivers are tested on a suburban roundabout: also eleven young people were tested to compare the results. Results confirm that elderly drivers are concentrated only on traffic flow arriving from the right arm of the roundabout and the vehicle in front: other elements on the roundabout have no influence on drivers’ behaviours.

Effect of prolonged sitting on body-seat contact pressures among quay crane operators: A pilot study

BACKGROUND Quay crane operators are specialized in moving containers to and from vessels while adopting constrained sitting postures for prolonged periods (4-6 consecutive hours) in a very challenging environment. Thus, they are exposed to discomfort or pain that may result in deterioration of their performance with consequent reduction of operational safety levels. Such discomfort can be indirectly and partially assessed by measuring contact pressure at the body-seat interface. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility, usefulness, and effectiveness of monitoring the variations in seat-body interface pressure during a regular work shift of 4 hours performed in a simulated environment. METHODS Eight professional operators performed a four-hour shift in a realistic control station set inside a quay crane simulator. Seat-body contact pressures were measured at 10 Hz using two pressure-sensitive mats placed on the seat pan and the backrest. Raw pressure data were processed to extract pressure vs. time curves related to the whole seat surface and, for the seat pan only, values associated with four anatomical regions (i.e. left and right thighs and buttocks). RESULTS During the work shift, the mean backrest pressure was low and fairly constant. Seat pan pressure increased by 10%, rising from 7.4 (1.5) to 8.2 (2.3) kPa over the simulated shift. Detailed analysis of the four sub-regions revealed that as the trial progressed the mean contact pressure on buttocks decreased (-6% at the end of the trial) while thigh pressures increased (by 10 and 20% for right and left sides, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Although further studies with larger samples are needed, long-term monitoring of the body-seat contact pressures of crane operators in a simulated environment appears to be a useful tool to identify specific postural strategies to reduce discomfort originated by prolonged sitting posture.

Analysis of Discomfort During a 4-Hour Shift in Quay Crane Operators Objectively Assessed Through In-Chair Movements

This study aims to investigate the existence of possible changes in postural strategies adopted by quay crane operators during a 4-h shift performed in a simulated environment. In particular, the analysis is carried out by analyzing the trend of in-chair-movement (ICM) as indicator of discomfort and fatigue. Using a pressure sensitive mat placed on the seat pan, average and peak body-seat pressure and trunk center-of-pressure (COP) time series were acquired and processed to calculate ICMs with two methods based on pressure changes and one which considers the COP shifts. The results show a well-defined linear trend for ICM, which was detected by all the tested approaches, with significant increases occurring after 45–60 min from the beginning of the shift. However, the method which employs COP data appears potentially more adequate to accurately identify ICM due to its relative insensitivity to external factors associated with individual’s anthropometry and body composition and presence of external vibrations. Future developments of the study will be focused on establishing the suitability of the method as non-invasive early predictor of fatigue.

The performance of an urban road system using Data Envelope Analysis

Improving the efficiency of transport networks by enhancing road system performance lays the foundations for the positive change process within a city, achieving good accessibility to the area and optimizing vehicle flows, both in terms of cost management and attenuation of environmental impacts. The performance of an urban road system can be defined according to different thematic areas such as traffic flow, accessibility, maintenance and safety, for which the scientific literature proposes different measurement indicators. However variations in performance are influenced by interventions which differ from one another, such as infrastructure, management, regulation or legislation, etc. Therefore sometimes it is not easy to understand which areas to act on and what type of action to pursue to improve road network performance. Of particular interest are the tools based on the use of synthetic macro-indicators that are representative of the individual thematic areas and are able to describe the behavior of the entire network as a function of its characteristic elements. These instruments are of major significance when they assess performance not so much in absolute terms but in relative terms, i.e., in relation to other urban areas comparable to the one being examined. Therefore, the objective of the proposed paper is to compare performances of different urban networks, using a nonparametric linear programming technique such as Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), in order to provide technical support to the policy maker in the choice of actions to be implemented to make the systems efficient urban roads.