The Impact of ICT on an Intermodal Transportation System: an Analysis by Petri Nets

Intermodal Transportation Systems (ITS) are logistics networks integrating different transportation services, designed to move goods from origin to destination in a timely manner and using intermodal transportation means. This paper addresses the problem of the modeling and management of ITS at the operational level considering the impact that the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) tools can have on management and control of these systems. An effective ITS model at the operational level should focus on evaluating performance indices describing activities, resources and concurrency, by integrating information and financial flows. To this aim, ITS are regarded as discrete event systems and are modeled in a Petri net framework. We consider as a case study the ferry terminal of Trieste (Italy) that is described and simulated in different operative conditions characterized by different types of ICT solutions and information. The simulation results show that ICT have a huge potential for efficient real time management and operation of ITS, as well as an effective impact on the infrastructures.