This study describes a case study on freight intermodal transport using an agent-based model of the friction concept. Over the past few decades, intermodal transportation has undergone notable advances at diverse levels: technological, operational or legal. Nonetheless, intermodality continues to lag behind other transport solutions such as continental road transport, meaning that problems continue to hamper its performance. These problemsare at organisational level, in particular in how the modes of transport and transport agents fit together. Well designed modes have the potential of achieving higher performance levels, because few (or no) losses occur at the interactions amongst them. On the other hand, poorly designed modes are not able to attain high performance levels. Therefore, the assemblage of potentially high performance transport chains depends upon the ability of choosing suitable modes and agents. The case study concerns an intermodal sea-rail-road chain. By sea the goods arrive (or depart) at the port ofSines, from here are conveyed by train to two rail terminals (Lisbon and Entrocamento) and are transported to final customers by road. Using Agent Based Modelling (ABM) the chain fitness level is assessed in relation to losses of performance. Accordingly, recommendations are made to improve thefitness level. The agent based modelling (ABM) technique was revealed to be suitable for modelling fitness because it isolates the nature of interactions. ABM treats a system as a set of individual elements (with some properties, actions and goals) that interact (through a set of rules) within a determined environment (defined by the systems boundaries). Each mode oftransport may be considered as an element that interacts with others in atemporary transport service. For the covering abstract see ITRD E145999
Abstract