Inland waterway network mapping of AIS data for freight transportation planning

Abstract

Travel demand models (TDMs) with freight forecasts estimate performance metrics for competing infrastructure investments and potential policy changes. Unfortunately, freight TDMs fail to represent non-truck modes with levels of detail adequate for multi-modal infrastructure and policy evaluation. Recent expansions in the availability of maritime movement data, i.e. Automatic Identification System (AIS), make it possible to expand and improve representation of maritime modes within freight TDMs. AIS may be used to track vessel locations as timestamped latitude–longitude points. For estimation, calibration and validation of freight TDMs, this work identifies vessel trips by applying network mapping (map-matching) heuristics to AIS data. The automated methods are evaluated on a 747-mile inland waterway network, with AIS data representing 88% of vessel activity. Inspection of 3820 AIS trajectories was used to train the heuristic parameters including stop time, duration and location. Validation shows 84⋅0% accuracy in detecting stops at ports and 83⋅5% accuracy in identifying trips crossing locks. The resulting map-matched vessel trips may be applied to generate origin–destination matrices, calculate time impedances, etc. The proposed methods are transferable to waterways or maritime port systems, as AIS continues to grow.

A systematic literature review of technological developments and challenges for inland waterways freight transport in intermodal supply chain management

“…The use of modern information systems and digitalisation of transport services has been increasing in some European countries as noticeable efforts have been achieved (Mihic et al, 2011;Mihić et al, 2012). broadly acknowledged that the extended use of RIS can enhance the competitiveness of IWT (Durajczyk, 2020;Niedzielski et al, 2021;Asborno et al, 2022;Xioa et al, 2022).…”

“…Academic research has broadly recognised that the extended use of RIS can enhance the competitiveness of IWT (Durajczyk, 2020;Niedzielski et al, 2021;Asborno et al, 2022;Xioa et al, 2022).…”