Description:

Abstract:

Intermodal and multimodal facilities are critical nodes in freight transportation networks, enabling the transfer of freight flows between different modes such as truck, rail, and water. This study presents a generalized hub location model for determining the optimal placement of intermodal and multimodal facilities, jointly with the routing optimization of freight flows within a multimodal freight network. The model is applied to the Continental United States freight network using real-world origin–destination demand flows, to demonstrate its ability to inform strategic infrastructure planning. 

Bio:

Vasilis Volakakis is a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Transportation Systems Analysis & Planning program within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University. He holds an Integrated Master's degree in Production Engineering and Management from the Technical University of Crete, located in his hometown of Chania, Greece. His primary research interests include freight transportation, optimization and operations research, aviation, traffic flow theory, and traffic control.