Information technology has become an essential part of the rapid and accurate transfer and processing of enormous volumes of data processed in international transport firms and port organisations. The proper management of systems, which process this information and communicate it to those who manage port operations, is vital for efficient transport. This explains why container-tracking systems are given high priority among operational computer applications in ports. Investigates the importance of information technology and its role in improving the operational systems in cargo handling. A computer simulation model is developed to compare two different operational systems ± a container terminal equipped with electronic devices versus a terminal without such devices. The importance of information technology in supply-chain management is also discussed.

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Due to the non-homogeneity of timber material, the roughness profile of a board is affected by the wood anatomy, thus making the analysis of timber surface quality quite complicated. Currently, there is no reliable method to analyse timber surface quality independent of the timber species or timber properties. The current standard filtering methods used to determine the surface roughness profile from a measured profile or a primary profile fail to produce reliable results in timber surface analysis.This paper proposes a new approach to overcome this shortcoming and to provide more accurate and reliable timber roughness analysis methods. The proposed methods are compared with the current standard methods using data from 35 samples of Messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua) sanded with seven different grit sizes of abrasive (P60, P80, P100, P120, P150, P180 and P240). The results suggest that the proposed methods are more consistent and accurate in describing sanded timber surface quality.

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