Selection of efficient types of inland intermodal terminals: Fid-Bau Portal

Selection of efficient types of inland intermodal terminals

Tadić, Snežana / Krstić, Mladen / Brnjac, Nikolina

Abstract In order to meet the increasingly complex requirements in the fields of logistics and transport, intensive development and application of intermodal transport is necessary, whereby the planning and development of efficient intermodal terminals (IT) as one of the key intermodal transport sub-systems is crucial. Accordingly, this paper deals with the definition of types of inland IT combining different structural elements and the selection of efficient terminal types (TT). For solving this problem, a novel approach for defining the types of inland IT and a hybrid model for evaluating their efficiency are developed in this paper. The model combines the fuzzy EDAS (Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution) method of multi-criteria decision-making, used for defining the input weight limits based on the requirements of the stakeholders, and the AR DEA (Assurance Region Data Envelopment Analysis) non-parametric method, used for evaluating the efficiency of the types of inland IT. The applicability of the proposed model is demonstrated by solving the problem of selecting the efficient TTs in the group of “small” inland ITs, based on the analysis of real ITs in Europe. For the most efficient TT, the “small” inland road-rail hub terminal, mainly performing basic, supplementary and accompanying functions, is selected. The selected TT represent the benchmark for the other ITs that have the potential to develop into them and become the important elements in the development of the transport networks, regionalization of the ports and geographic expansion of their hinterlands, which are the key initiators of the regions' macro-economic development.