The biomass supply chain is one of the most critical elements of large-scale bioenergy production and in many cases a key barrier for procuring initial funding for new developments on specific energy crops. Most productions rely on complex transforming chains linked to feed and food markets. The term 'supply chain' covers various aspects from cultivation and harvesting of the biomass, to treatment, transportation, and storage. After energy conversion, the product must be delivered to final consumption, whether it is in the form of electricity, heat, or more tangible products, such as pellets and biofuels. Effective supply chains are of utmost importance for bioenergy production, as biomass tends to possess challenging seasonal production cycles and low mass, energy and bulk densities. Additionally, the demand for final products is often also dispersed, further complicating the supply chain. The goal of this paper is to introduce key components of biomass supply chains, examples of related modeling applications, and if/how they address aspects related to environmental metrics and management. The paper will introduce a concept of integrated supply systems for sustainable biomass trade and the factors influencing the bioenergy supply chain landscape, including models that can be used to investigate the factors. The paper will also cover various aspects of transportation logistics, ranging from alternative modal and multi-modal alternatives to introduction of support tools for transportation analysis. Finally gaps and challenges in supply chain research are identified and used to outline research recommendations for the future direction in this area of study.
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The present study regards the creation of a support model for access control and optimization of cargo loading at ports. It aims to minimize the deficiencies of port accesses and to optimize shipping rates, using an algorithm to create virtual queues and use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. The theoretical approach and some of the data reported in this paper came from a master’s degree research project of one of the authors, through the Civil Engineering Graduate Program at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. The port chosen for implementing the proposed model was the Porto de Vitória, one of the busiest transportation terminals in Brazil. Initially, a survey was carried out locally and the data collected were tabulated to be used in a simulator. The results show the effectiveness of the model based on the use of a simulation system (Arena®). The applied model helps to avoid traffic jams in the port area and also allows the automation of port access.
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