Estimating lock congestion

Abstract

We consistently estimate the parameters of 600 and 1200 ft lock congestion functions by exploiting the geographical variation in demand patterns for individual locks along the Upper Mississippi River system of locks and dams. In addition to avoiding endogeneity bias, we control for lock-specific heterogeneity in estimating a fixedeffects regression model that relates lock congestion to lock usage and lock characteristics. Using a panel data set spanning the years 1993-2010, we find significant empirical evidence of the existence of a quadratic lock congestion function for 600 ft technology in the sense of BPR (1964). While 1200 ft technology on the other hand seemly operates under free-flow conditions, the presence of an auxiliary chamber significantly mitigates congestion, with the effect being more pronounced for higher levels of traffic. Unscheduled lock outages and non-commercial traffic attenuate lock congestion.

Pricing and Subsidy Models for Transshipment Sustainability in the Three Gorges Dam Region of China

“…Scholars have investigated the co-scheduling of the Three Gorges-Gezhouba Dams [10] and a single lock scheduling of the Three Gorges Dam [11] to get the optimal algorithms to solve different mathematics models. Reynaerts [12] exploited the geographical variation in the demand patterns for individual locks along the Upper Mississippi River system of locks and dams. A fixed-effects regression model that relates lock congestion to lock usage and lock characteristics was constructed.…”

Using Evolutionary Game Theory to Study Behavioral Strategies of the Government and Carriers Under Different Transshipment Modes

“…Various alternative strategies and improvements have been considered for relieving traffic congestion, and several simulation tools have also been developed to validate such strategies with the help of queuing theories [8], [13]. A fixed effects regression model with regards to lock usage and lock characteristics for alleviating congestion on individual locks along the UMR system was proposed by Reynaerts [14]. A non-parametric model to relieve congestion, taking into account the arrival, waiting and lockage time of vessels at the UMR's locks, was presented by Zhang et al [15].…”