A fuzzy application on a development planning model for a container terminal

Abstract

Conventional container terminal development planning methodology lacks the human modes of reasoning that uses approximate, imprecise, linguistic, and subjective values. Fuzzy methods could be applied to the current method to improve such shortcoming. This study applies fuzzy methods to a container terminal development planning model which has been improved by incorporating container handling system selection (chs) and determination of terminal other area (toa) to the current container park area (cpa), freight station area (cfs), berth-day requirement (bdr), and ship cost at terminal (sct). Membership functions have been derived for all the planning variables and planning process flowcharts showing fuzzy operations and defuzzification stages have been drawn. A simulated planning exercise has been performed on chs and cpa and the results obtained indicate that the application has been successful. The potential of coupling the method with an expert system has also been highlighted.