Research

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MarTREC conducts research in three areas:

Maritime and Multimodal Logistics Management

Multimodal supply chains have evolved into complex systems due to globalization and decentralization. These systems depend on the configuration of their primary components (suppliers, warehouses, service centers, staging areas, ports of debarkation, and transportation modes). The location, transportation mode selection, and supply chain partner identification constituting these components are strategic decisions with major cost implications that have a fundamental impact on freight flow patterns of national and regional transportation systems. These decisions must create robust, reliable, and resilient supply chains while not compromising financial goals.

MarTREC research in Maritime and Multimodal Logistics Management will advance current understanding and facilitate improved operations within the nation’s multimodal supply chain networks. Advancements in the knowledge surrounding modal shift opportunities, resource allocation, facility location, vulnerability assessment, and real-time decision making in multimodal supply chain management will be disseminated to practitioner and academic transportation communities. 

Maritime and Multimodal Infrastructure Preservation

Multimodal transportation systems are critical infrastructure components that are essential to promoting and preserving the nation’s economic health and general societal welfare. It is generally understood that the present operational status and condition of many critical transportation infrastructure systems are considered unsatisfactory even under normal service level demands. Rapidly growing commerce places a heavy burden on the aging infrastructure of the multimodal system, which already struggles with capacity issues.

MarTREC’s research on Maritime and Multimodal Infrastructure Preservation will advance state-of-the-art resilient multimodal transportation infrastructure preservation, repair, design, and construction. Enhanced monitoring system architectures, components, sensors, and the associated capabilities of each will be disseminated to practitioner and academic transportation communities to help with the goal of technology transfer. In addition, advanced material design specifications and procedures and analytical and information technologies relevant to infrastructure health monitoring will be developed and disseminated.

Disaster Response and Transportation Planning for Coastal and River Valley Communities

Transportation systems under emergency conditions including evacuation, response, and recovery require planning, design, management, operation, and preservation of transportation systems to economically, efficiently, and safely respond to changing conditions and demands that may occur. Under emergency conditions, the amount and timing of the travel demand often quickly and overwhelmingly exceeds the ability of the transportation system to serve it. To improve system response to disruptive events, data analytics, decision support tools, and emergency transportation plans are needed to increase transportation system resilience in terms of economic value, societal benefit, and customer satisfaction as time elapses during disruption response period.

MarTREC’s research conducted in Disaster Response and Transportation Planning for Coastal and River Valley Communities will enable the resilience, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of multimodal transportation systems during disaster response or other major events. Advancements in the knowledge surrounding system resilience, evacuation, emergency logistics, and contingency transportation solutions will be advanced and disseminated to practitioner and academic transportation communities.