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Processes for evaluating the optimum inter-modal terminal location

In 2001, Australia's annual freight movement load reached 310 billion million tonne-kilometres. By 2020, it is forecast to be 630 billion tonnes-kilometres, an expected rise of slightly over 100 percent of the current level. Due to accelerating freight movement demand in Australia, a rising need for efficient transport infrastructure can be expected. Terminals are a vital part of transport systems which affect the development of whole regions. Terminal location is therefore essential in evaluating the extent to which terminals play a positive role in shaping regional development. Inter-modal freight transportation is defined as a system that carries freight from origin to destination by using two or more transportation modes. Inter-modal terminal location has great bearing on, and is influenced by, infrastructural efficiency. Terminal locations should optimize both the potential impacts of regional development and effects on transport development. Consequently, it is imperative to analyse the interaction of locations and effects in the process of optimizing terminal location. This research aims to define the effects of terminal location on transportation by studying the different inter-modal system of the top Australia ports, and introducing the relationship between these effects and transport strategic modelling. Data on transport modelling elements will be investigated in four case studies, followed by data sensitivity analysis to assess the way in which terminal location affects transportation performance. To examine the effects of terminal location factor on transportation, a number of key elements were selected by the Inter-modal Freight Transport and Regional Development Model and Strategic Modelling: Attractiveness, Location Decisions of Firms, Economic Activity, Shipping/Trip Decision, Destination Choice, Mode Choice, Route Choice, Link Loads, Link Times/Distances/Costs and Accessibility. Environmental issue of a terminal are an additional important consideration in freight movement, when presented as a cost of using the terminal. The outcome of the case studies which make up this research is a statement of the main effects of the studied elements on terminal location and the potentially necessary improvements to the ports studied For example, 20 kilometres seems to be the radius of an inter-modal terminal catchment level and rail service in Victoria is therefore recommended to be increased to take into account environmental issues. This is augmented by two further studies of the In-land Port and Accessibility of the Port of Brisbane. In essence, this thesis is an attempt to make Australian transport and social services planners aware of the effects of factors relating to terminal location in the processes of evaluating the optimum terminal location.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/265466
Date January 2007
CreatorsYang, Jianfeng
PublisherQueensland University of Technology
Source SetsAustraliasian Digital Theses Program
Detected LanguageEnglish
RightsCopyright Jianfeng Yang

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