International Physical Internet Conference

Series

International Physical Internet Conference

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https://hdl.handle.net/1853/72223

Series Type

Event Series

Description

The International Physical Internet Conference aims to provide an open forum for researchers, industry representatives, government officials and citizens to together explore, discuss, introduce leading edge concepts, methodologies, recent projects, technological advancements,start-up initiatives, for current and future Physical Internet implementation.Conference topics include Logistics Nodes, Logistics Networks, System of Logistic Networks, Access and Adoption, Governance.

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Organizational Unit

Physical Internet Center

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Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 41

Modular and Mobile Design of Hyperconnected Parcel Logistics Hub

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-06) Babalou, Sevda ; Bao, Wencang ; Montreuil, Benoit ; McGinnis, Leon F. ; Buckley, Shannon ; Barenji, Ali

This paper employs modularity and mobility (M2) for designing recently introduced hyperconnected logistics hubs (HLH) for the Physical Internet, where parcels are encapsulated in modular tote-sized containers arriving in mobile racks, and these totes are consolidated by switching totes in shuffling cells to mobile racks with other totes with shared next destinations. The paper introduces the M2 framework and its modular standard-sized cells, racks and tote containers. Building on the overall HLH concept, the proposed M2 hub design is a major step forward with its on-the-fly transformability through operations to adapt to the dynamically changing sizes, mixes, characteristics, and flow of modular containers entering the hub and being consolidated and shipped within a short dwell time target. The paper uses a detailed case study to demonstrate the induced adaptability, adjustability, agility, efficiency, resilience, and scalability, and then it reports on an exploratory simulation experiment contrasting the performance of M2designs
Smart IoT solutions for ports paving the way towards PI nodes

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-06) Klukas, Achim ; Lorenz, Maximiliane ; Stewing, Franz-Josef ; Joubert, Christophe

Ports play an important role in global supply chains. The use of IoT is considered a key feature for port operators to improve the efficiency of port operations, to be able to better manage (container goods) traffic, to empower their workforces increasing throughput and to decrease carbon emissions while making traffic safer. In addition, smart IoT solutions support automation and intelligent transport control to realize the physical Internet. The R&D project I²PANEMA helps ports to become (a network of) smart ports by exploring and demonstrating the applicability of IoT technologies. With this approach, I²PANEMA aims to make ports more efficient and sustainable by introducing IoT based measures such as Active Noise Control systems and keeping pollution (like noise, dust) under control while promoting multimodal transport as part of the physical internet. Case studies from the project show the possibilities for developing ports in Physical Internet Nodes.
Port Digitalization Through an Activities Scenario Model as a First Step for a Digital Twin of Port

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-06) Garnier, Charles ; Simon, Erwan ; Costa, Joao Pita ; Pitsikas, Leonidas ; Lacalle, Ignacio ; Palau, Carlos E.

Building on the momentum of the digitalisation of the maritime industry, the digital twin is arriving to the European ports and terminals to optimize operations and reduce costs. The technical term digital twin appears after 2010 [1] as a dynamical model which, given the current state of an observed system, is capable of a partial digital reconstruction of such a system. It got widely adopted throughout the years, especially in the context of IoT technologies and the industry 4.0 [2], as well as in healthcare to appropriately address the personalised medicine paradigm [3]. In the recent years there was a natural adoption of the approach by port authorities and container terminals [4], with the engagement of the main European ports in collaboration with the technology giants to explore several dimensions of it in this new context [5]. Though, the problems addressed by the port are much different than those in the digitalisation of a factory and, thus, need to be faced differently [6]. Data driven digital twins are still not in a general industrial practice due to the lack of AI know-how and possibly lack of relevant IoT data to reconstruct the underlying physical processes. The current marketplace for generic Digital Twin technology is not yet very mature, with key providers positioning between Bosh, IBM, Siemens, and General Electric. Most products are centred around internal businesses of the corresponding companies related to mostly IoT or manufacturing. The engineering paradigm of the Digital Twin arrives with: (i) online sensors becoming cheaper and ubiquitous; (ii) improved usefulness of Big Data analytics, processed for patterns and monitored for signals; (iii) the vast remote computing resources in the Cloud making them inexpensive and more accessible [7]. This allows businesses to reorganize organisational processes and workflows towards an improved cost-effectiveness deriving from the eminent digitalisation of the industry. Modern ports face problems revolving around the issues of efficiency, environmental and financial sustainability. The difficulties they are facing are common with those of other nodes in the logistics chain and have to do (usually) with underutilization of resources: while there are empty warehouses and idle machinery at one given moment, at another moment there are demand peaks they cannot accommodate. One of the other challenges the ports are facing nowadays is that of the social integration. Major European cities have been developed from ancient times around ports as this eased the logistics of their time. However, in our era two issues are arising: i) high volumes of cargo entering and exiting the ports from the hinterland side, thus adding to traffic in cities, ii) usage of fossil fuels for energy production and / or machinery operations adding to atmospheric and sound pollution. An additional issue connecting the two previously mentioned problems is fluctuating employment in times of fluctuating supply and demand, which is not limited only to port workers, but also to activities related to the port industry. A great number of small and medium sized ports are not sufficiently equipped to utilize data already available or easily obtainable to face previously mentioned challenges. Examples of such data are i) vessel calls data which can assist in preparations and scheduling of energy peak demands, ii) usage of environmental sensors which can assist in normalizing emissions through better scheduling of activities, iii) usage of city traffic data which can assist in normalizing port traffic generation and iv) in the future exploitation of IoT enabled sensors in networked containers that can assist in better prioritization of port activities. PIXEL platform allows to build a useful “what-if” scenario of the port activities which can be seen as an important contribution to the Digital Twin of the port paradigm. Thanks to an opensource tools called the Port Activity Scenario (PAS) based on vessel calls and use of handling equipment specifications and supply chain, PIXEL has allowed to establish an operational description of the port activities related to cargo handling. This description is composed of a set of data-model listing all the considered activities’ time series. These PAS outputs are then use as inputs for energy model or for the quantification of pollutants emissions. PAS model has been build considering needs and constraints of small and medium ports; thus becoming adaptable in terms of data availability, i.e.,working with a minimum set of data providing results of corresponding level of confidence.
Towards PI Implementation: Interoperability and robustness of PI layers functionality illustrated through multi-context implementation

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-06) Zavitsas, Konstantinos ; Kouloumbis, Makis

This paper analyses the robust interconnectivity and functionality of the four core PI layers, as established through work undertaken for the recently completed EU funded project ICONET: ‘New ICT Infrastructure & Reference Architecture to Support Operations in Future PI Logistics Networks’ focusing on intra-European transport (TEN-T)1 . The ICONET PI layers functionality and interoperability has been developed to fit multiple unique contexts, that represent significant components and functionalities of the PI. Utilising the Living Labs of the ICONET project, they account for: micro-level operations within PI hubs such as the Port of Antwerp, single-entity long-haul logistics PI functionality, multiple-entity e-commerce operations in urban areas, and Warehouse-as-a-Service offerings. This paper presents the functionality of each of the core PI layers that utilise the fundamental PI principles and illustrates their custom implementation into various T&L contexts. The performance of the layers’ functionality is quantified using context specific KPIs developed in collaboration with Living Lab partners and tested in through a PI simulation environment. The findings illustrate benefits both in terms of utilisation of new PI capabilities, as well as towards improved fill rates and modal shift having an impact on transport cost, reduction of emissions, and operational efficiency.
Dynamic Containerized Consolidation in Physical Internet Enabled Parcel Logistics

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-06) Kaboudvand, Sara ; Montreuil, Benoit

Many studies in the parcel logistics literature have accredited the hub-based network structures for better freight consolidation and economies of scale. A downside to this practice, however, is that sorting a large number of parcels at (intermediate) hubs requires a significant investment in real estate, human, and machine resources. Furthermore, the time spent in the hubs for waiting and processing increases the parcels' total in-transit time. Such re-sorting can be bypassed by smartly encapsulating parcels that share common service features and a subsequent destination. In this study, we rely on the capabilities of a Physical Internet enabled logistic network to introduce several decision protocols for dynamic containerized consolidation as pertinent to fast-paced parcel logistic environments. We use agent-based simulation to provide empirical results and elaborate on the benefits of containerized consolidation, specifically in saving handling efforts at hubs.
Generating clusters for urban logistics in hyperconnected networks

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-06) Hettle, Cyrus ; Faugere, Louis ; Kwon, Simon ; Gupta, Swati ; Montreuil, Benoit

In the hyperconnected logistics model, a city is represented as a continuous mesh of small regions called unit zones. The clustering problem is to partition the set of unit zones into larger local cells and urban areas, and is critical in defining network operations. We give a mixed integer programming-based method for solving the clustering problem, which combines aspects of graph partitioning and min-cost flow problems. Our model aims to minimize expected operating cost, accounting for s expenses throughout the network, while incentivizing clusters that are resilient, geographically compact, and have balanced demand. To generate meaningful warm-starts for our MIP and achieve computational speedups, we adapt a graph partitioning method called striping. Solutions for the clustering problem can be integrated with methods for other problems in hyperconnected network design, significantly improving their tractability. Our techniques work effectively in tandem with methods for choosing hub candidate locations and routing flow. We show the effectiveness of our methods in redesigning SF Express’s hyperconnected network in Shenzhen.
GPICS a framework to create a digital twin for the Physical Internet

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-06) Cipres, David ; Capella, Alberto ; Polo, Lorena ; Ramon, Jose L. Lopez

The GPICS (Generic Physical Internet Case Study) framework has been developed within the ICONET (New ICT infrastructure and reference architecture to support Operations in future PI Logistics NETworks) project. It is a methodology for designing and evaluating supply networks through PI. GPICS is a conceptual framework that is generated as an abstraction of different Living Lab cases and generic industrial scenarios. It is formed based on six interrelated dimensions. GPICS modelling is designed to allow the composition of a generic PI network through reusable modelling components and rules, via appropriate configuration, these components can represent different types of supply chain flows. The six interrelated dimensions range from the necessary modelling components and base configuration rules (Modelling Kit) to the scenario definition/parameterization capabilities (based on operational rules, business models and vertical and horizontal collaboration strategies between the different roles in the supply chain), including Master Data Sets, that concern and are relevant for a Geographical Area within the EU. As mentioned above, the GPICS also includes a set of benchmark KPIs for the assessment of different PI scenarios, based on a different combination of the configuration capabilities of these scenarios. The network is represented by using a virtual simulation model. A multi-agent simulation model is used to create a digital twin of the supply network, utilizing GPICS main components and integrated with ICONET’s PI services. The virtual model contains a general representation of the main nodes and their interconnections. It creates a representation of the main flows of freights in a PI network. It can include transports from different companies, with different restrictions. The simulation model developed is a tool that helps companies to visualize how the movement of products over a PI network can be, including flows from other companies. The virtual models are used to quantify the impact of the different services. Economic (transport and handling costs), operational (reducing lead time) and environmental (CO2 emissions) indicators have been obtained in different living labs. The description of two use cases developed in the project is included.
Framework and Research Roadmap for a Next-Generation Hyperconnected Logistics Hub

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-06) Montreuil, Benoit ; McGinnis, Leon F. ; Buckley, Shannon ; Babalou, Sevda ; Bao, Wencang ; Beranji, Ali

Today, parcel logistics hubs, where packages come in from many origins and are sorted to their many destinations, are both capital and labor intensive, with capacity that is largely determined by investments in conveyors. In this paper, in the context of Physical Internet growth, we propose a next-generation hyperconnected parcel hub concept that leverages parcel containerized consolidation, does not use conveyors, is robot-centric, with minimal requirement for human operators. Hub capacity can be readily adjusted to accommodate changing logistics patterns. The hub concept is described along with a demonstration case study, the fundamental hub design and operational decisions are identified, and a research roadmap is defined.
Framework Artifact for the Road-Based Physical Internet based on Internet Protocols

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-06) Kaup, Steffen ; Ludwig, André ; Franczyk, Bogdan

The Physical Internet (PI, π) raises high expectations for efficiency gains in transport and logistics. The PI represents the network of logistics networks for physical objects in analogy to the Data Internet (DI). Road based traffic represents one of these logistics networks. Here, many empty runs and underutilized trips still take place (International Transport Forum, 2019). Hence, there is a lot of potential in the road-based Physical Internet (RBPI), which will have an impact on transport and logistics strategies, but also on vehicle design. On the DI, logistics strategies are implemented in protocols. In order to transfer such concepts to the RBPI, relevant protocols of the DI had been analyzed and transferred to the world of physical objects. However, not all functionalities can be transferred one-to-one, e.g. a data packet in the DI can simply be re-generated by a hub in case of damage or loss. To compensate for the challenges, a framework artifact has been designed with appropriate transformation customizations based on design science principles (vom Brocke, 2007). From this, resulting requirements for future vehicles were derived. This paper makes a contribution to the implementation of the RBPI in order to fit road based vehicles to the future world of transport and logistics.
Production-Intralogistics Synchronization in Physical Internet-enabled Manufacturing Systems

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-06) Li, Mingxing ; Huang, George Q.

The widespread adoption of Physical Internet (PI) technologies has promoted data and information sharing, real-time communication, and networking in the industry, which transforming the operations are managed and performed in many fields such as manufacturing. For example, the production operations and intralogistics operations in a shop floor are inherently coupled and entangled by physical flow (raw materials, components, sub-assemblies, or work-in-progresses). In traditional management mode, the production and intralogistics processes are managed separately by different departments without considering global benefits because the information cannot be timely collected and shared among the department to make informed decisions. Nowadays, advanced Industry 4.0 technologies such as Industrial Internet-of-Things (IIoT), digital twin, and cloud computing are gradually adopted by manufacturers to upgrade their factories. The sheer amount of data are real-timely collected, transmitted, and analyzed so that the information barriers among different department of a single factory are removed. Therefore, it is possible to manage the production and intralogistics processes in a synchronized manner by leveraging the strengths of real-time data, to improve the overall production efficiency and resource utilization.