Container handling using multi-agent architecture. (13th August 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kefi, Meriam; Ghedira, Khaled; Korbaa, Ouajdi; Yim, Pascal
• Is Part Of: International journal of intelligent information and database systems. Volume 3:Number 3(2009)
• Page Start: 338
• Page End: 360
• Publication Date: 2009-08-13
• Subjects: transportation -- container terminals -- container stacking -- multi-agent systems -- MAS -- agent-based systems -- heuristics -- modelling -- simulation; Database management -- Computer programs -- Periodicals; Information retrieval -- Computer programs -- Periodicals; Information storage and retrieval systems -- Computer programs -- Periodicals; Artificial intelligence -- Periodicals; Expert systems (Computer science) -- Periodicals; Intelligent agents (Computer software) -- Periodicals; 006.33
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-5858

Abstract

Container terminals are essential intermodal interfaces in the global transportation network. Efficient container handling at terminals is important in reducing transportation costs and keeping shipping schedules. This paper discusses a multi-agent model to simulate, solve and optimise the amount of storage space for handling container departures within a fluvial or maritime port. The multi-agent model is developed to minimise the expected total number of shifts or relocations while respecting spatio-temporal constraints. Experimental and numerical runs are given and illustrated. These runs carry out the proposed multi-agent model with comparison to the associated centralised version, basing on non-informed search algorithm and informed search algorithm. They show that the multi-agent model reduces rather the number of expected relocation movements especially when basing on informed search algorithm. We have also compare performances of our model with those of the B&B method and the heuristic-based method proposed in related works.