The displacement and stocking service module of integrated freight terminals: design and implementation of a discrete-event simulation tool

In this paper, the authors introduce the simulative approach as an aid for the management of integrated freight terminals. In order to detail the scope of this work, the definitions of integrated freight transport network and terminals is given in the full paper. The simulation tool presented in this work is based on a discrete-event model. The model has been implemented using the object-oriented programming technique, achieving a discrete-event simulation tool. Such a simulation tool is not site oriented, that is to say that it is suitable for application on different terminal (or sites). The simulator has been validated and then applied to an existing freight terminal. In this paper, the authors present the main issues of the work, including the results related to the application of the simulation tool to the case study.