Transportation and Logistics Modeling

Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transportation

What to expect from the course By the end of the course you will be able to

use ProModel as a simulation tool to help in: Providing a good solution to common problems in

distribution and logistics such as: number of vehicles required, type of vehicles required, capacity, location of facilities, dispatching rule…..etc

Modeling of transportation and logistics for future planning.

Examples of applications A US based company wants to plan for the

number of vehicles required and the capacity of them.

The company has two production locations : Oklahoma, and Seattle. Each has a production capacity of 500 Tons weekly.

The company targets four customer markets: San Francisco, Boston, Tampa, Minneapolis, and Phoenix

Examples of applications The company can build warehouse in 9

locations :Albuquerque, Boise, Chicago, New Orleans, Dallas, Saint Louis, Detroit, Salt Lake City, and Raleigh.

Previous data on the order pattern is known. The problem:

Where to build warehouses? How large? How many vehicle is required?

Solution Methods Several ways of analyzing the problem

Try and error Easy Expensive Carries a lot of risks

Analytical Precise optimal solution Difficult and requires skillful people Not every case can be solved

Simulation Trade off (easier than the analytical methods, but does

not guarantee an optimal solution) Heavily depends on the data analysis

Modeling Modeling is abstraction of reality. Often Models deliberately emphasize one part

of reality at the expense of other parts. Whereas models are mathematical, logical, or

some other structured representation of reality, simulation is the specific application of models to arrive at some outcome.

Simulation is imitation.

Modeling Modeling and simulation science, is a

mathematical representation of something—a person, a building, a vehicle, a tree—any object. A model also can be a representation of a process—a weather pattern, traffic flow, air flowing over a wing.

Models are created from a mass of data, equations and computations that mimic the actions of things represented.

Models usually include a graphical display that translates all this number crunching into an animation that you can see on a computer screen or by means of some other visual device. 

Simulation Live simulations 

Typically involve humans and/or equipment and activity in a setting where they would operate for real.

Time is continuous, as in the real world. Testing a car battery using an electrical tester.

Virtual simulations  Typically involve humans and/or equipment in a

computer-controlled setting. Time is in discrete steps, allowing users to

concentrate on the important stuff, so to speak. A flight simulator falls into this category.

Simulation Constructive simulations 

Typically do not involve humans or equipment as participants.

Rather than by time, they are driven more by the proper sequencing of events. The anticipated path of a hurricane might be "constructed" through application of temperatures, pressures, wind currents and other weather factors. 

Science-based simulations are typically constructive in nature.

Tentative Schedule

Short Description Details Duration

Book

1 Introduction to simulation Ice breakingCourse planWhat to expect in the course

1 wk Ch 1

2 Basic of statistics Descriptive statisticsFrequency Distributions

2 wk Ch 2,3

3 Data collection and analysis Introduction to distributions :Discrete distributions: Binomial, PoissonContinuous Distributions: Normal, Weibull, ExponentialUsing statistical fit software

1 wk Ch 6Lab 6

4 Flow charting and model building

UML modeling and/or outline process map

1 wk Ch 7

5 Introduction to simulation Definition of entities, resources, locations….etc

1 wk Ch 7Lab 7

6Basic model Building a basic model for a bank, a

barber, or a similar model2 wk Ch 7

Lab 7

7 Logistics model A model simulating an entire supply chain

2 wk Case study

8 Distribution model A model simulating a distribution system including air, sea, and land transportation

2 wk Case study

9 Simulation output analysis Basic of hypothesis testingVerification and validation

2 wk Ch 9

Attendance Attendance is mandatory After three time unexcused absence, you will

receive a warning. After the fourth time, you will be denied access to

the final exam. Accepted absence excuses:

Sickness: A report sign by the Academy doctor Sports event: Formal union letter

Sports champions should provide the lecturer with their formal training/ championship schedule no later than the third week.

You are allowed in into the lecture hall for up to 10 minutes past the start of the lecture. No exception.

Sections Attendance is mandatory Section attendance and assignments hold 10% of

your grades Assignments are due in one week from the

announcement day. No late assignments are allowed, no exception. Please bring your laptop Email is the primarily communication method

adopted in the course. Please provide us with a valid email within the first 2 weeks and check the email on a regular basis.

When sending an email, include AAST in the header, and include all the necessary information in the body.

Exams There are three exams: 7th week exam: 30% of your grades The TA will solve the exam the following week and

will provide you with your answer sheet. The schedule will be announced by the 5th week 12th week exam: 20% of your grade, could be a

project depending on the class progress Final exam : 40% comprehensive exam The official grading system will be used. The lecturer preserves the right to normalize the

result if there is a bias provided that the student shows an adequate participation in the course.

Questions/comments

khaledseif@hotmail.com

karim.mohamed@aast.edu