Integrated Simulation-Based Optimization of Operational Decisions at Container Terminals

At container terminals, many cargo handling processes are interconnected and occur in parallel. Within short time windows, operational decisions need to be made should consider both efficiency equipment utilization. During operation, sources of disturbance and, thus, uncertainty exist. For these reasons, perfectly coordinated can potentially unravel. This study analyzes simulation-based optimization, an approach that considers by means simulation while optimizing a given objective. The developed procedure simultaneously scales the amount utilized adjusts selection tuning policies. Thus, benefits integrated optimization framework combined new way. Four meta-heuristics—Tree-structured Parzen Estimator, Bayesian Optimization, Simulated Annealing, Random Search—guide process. this aims determine favorable configuration quantity policies for terminals using small number experiments simultaneously, empirically compare chosen meta-heuristics including reproducibility runs. results show is suitable identifying required well-performing Among presented scenarios, no clear ranking between regarding solution quality exists. approximated optima suggest pooling yard trucks block assignment close quay crane preferable.