| Available tools are insufficient to provide the needed systemwide view for planning freight transportation systems based on the coordinated use of more than one mode of transportation. Many tools are either mode specific or too microscopic in scope. No comprehensive tool exists that considers the performance of the entire system, which is important due to the many interdependencies that exist between the different modes of transportation. Optimizing a particular component of the transportation network could result in sub-optimization of the entire transportation system. Intermodal freight transportation planning tools are needed to optimize future freight transportation systems.; This thesis presents a prototype Virtual Intermodal Transportation System (VITS) that simulates the movement of freight via highways, railways, and waterways on a statewide level. The requirements as well as the processes for building the VITS are researched and identified. Results from hypothetical case studies using the VITS are also discussed. |
