Past Issues

Studies in Informatics and Control
Vol. 13, No. 4, 2004

Advanced System for Container Management in Multimodal Transport (MNS - Multimodal Network System)

Gabriela Rodica HRIN
Abstract

The multimodal transport is a relative new mode of transport through which the goods are transported between two locations or on a chain of locations using different means of transport / vehicles specific to different transport modes, for cost optimisation reasons. The MNS is a modern, integrated, interactive and intelligent system, being dedicated to the provision of electronic services for multimodal transport of containerized goods at European level and to the monitoring of the container position and integrity. The key aspects considered in MNS development address the planning of the multimodal transport of the goods, the surveying of the multimodal transport, and the management of the containers in multimodal transport using autonomous GPS & GSM devices. The system is an information system that supports all the activities regarding freight mobility and is dedicated to freight providers, freight buyers, brokers, road transport operators, railway transport operators, naval transport operators, air transport operators, assurance agencies, container owners. The system enables the registration of an organization involved in the multimodal transport, as agent, and also enables the registration of the agent's business partners and the organisation's employees which administrate or use the information. The system allows the administration of the goods, containers, vehicles, multimodal transport routes by highlighting the transport chain segments (segments highlight the locations / points through which the transport pass and the places where the transit between two modes of transport is performed). The system provides confidentiality, ensuring the access to the information only for the agents that have previously received the access rights at the multi\Tlodal transport chain in which they are involved. The technologies that have been integrated in system development process are the following: Net, GPS (Global Positioning System), GIS (Geographical Information System), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications).

Keywords

Goods multimodal transport, container monitoring, .transport route planning, transport route surveying, Net technology, GPS, GIS, GSM.

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