Course syllabus

Course-PM (will be updated with dates for teaching activities)

MMS280 Intermodal transportation lp3 VT24 (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences

Contact details

Mechanics and Maritime Sciences

Examiner and Lecturer: Henrik Ringsberg, [RINGSBER], e-mail: henrik.ringsberg@chalmers.se

Course purpose

The course aims to provide in-depth knowledge and understanding in logistics and transport informatics within intermodal transport of goods. The course is based on a basic knowledge in logistics, cargo handling and the chartering of goods. During the course, the course participants' skills in MS Excel, as well as in calculation of transport costs, will be further developed. The course also to promote critical thinking and reflection on intermodal transport.

Schedule

TimeEdit

Course literature

Course book:

Reis, V. (2019), Intermodal Freight Transportation, Elsevier. (found at Cremona)

Additional reading ( see CANVAS)

Block 1 The transport sector

Lecture 2  

• International Civil Aviation Organization (2016) MANUAL ON THE REGULATION OF INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT (Doc 9626)
• EU commission (2022) Comparative evaluation of transhipment technologies for intermodal transport and their cost.
• European Court of Auditors (ECA) (2023). Special report Intermodal freight transport EU still far from getting freight off the road.

Lecture 3

• European Court of Auditors (2023). Special report Intermodal freight transport EU still far from getting freight off the road.
• Rodrigue, (2020), The geography of transport systems, New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-367-36463-2.

Lecture 4

• Rodrigue, (2020), The geography of transport systems, New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-367-36463-2.
• Black et al., (2000), RECORDIT_Final_Report
• Polak & Heertje, 2000, Analytical transport Economics manageemnt and policy, Edward Elgar Publ. Northampton.

Block 2 Sustainable intermodal transport

Lecture 5

• Rodrigue (2020) chapter 2
• Chapter 1 & 2 (Black et al., 2000_RECORDIT_Final_Report);
• Chapter 3, 5 (EU commission 2022 Comparative evaluation)

Lecture 6

• Chapter 1 & 2 (Black et al., 2000_RECORDIT_Final_Report);

Lecture 7

• Chapter 1 & 2 (Black et al., 2000_RECORDIT_Final_Report);

 

Block 3 Informatics in intermodal transport

Lecture 8

• Lind, M., Michaelides, R., Ward, R. and Watson, R. (2020), Maritime Informatics, Excerpt from chapter 19, 2, 4, 11 Springer, Switzerland.
• Hofman, E. and Rüsch, M. (2017), “Industry 4.0 and the current status as well as future prospects on logistics”, Computers in Industry, Vol. 89, pp. 23-34, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2017.04.002
• Nofer, M., Gomber, P., Hinz, O. and Schiereck, D. (2017), “Blockchain”, Business & Information Systems Engineering  59, pp. 183-187
• Pournader, M., Shi, Y., Seuring, S and Koh., S.C.L. (2019), “Blockchain applications in supply chains, transport and logistics: a systematic review of the literature”, 58 No. 7, pp. 2063-2081, International Journal of Production Research, https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2019.1650976

Course design

The course is organized around lectures, guest lectures, pre-recorded material, and a project assignment including oral presentation at a seminar (mandatory).

Lectures and guest lectures

The course comprises eight lectures which all are based on the course literature and recommended the literature. Attendance during lectures is strictly recommended. The students are strictly recommended to prepare themselves by studying the lecture material before an up-coming lecture. In addition to the lectures, the course includes 2 guest lectures where attendance is mandatory. Lecture slides are available on CANVAS. 

Pre-corded material

As a complement to some of the lectures, the course includes pre-recorded material available on Youtube. Links to the video-recorded lectures will be posted on Canvas. 

Written exam

The course includes a mandatory written exam in the end of the course.

Project assignment

The project assignment is mandatory and takes it starting point in studies of intermodal transport. The purpose of the project assignment is to deepen knowledge and understanding of marginal costs- and environmental impact of intermodal transport. In compliance with the stated aim, the project assignment also aims to deepen knowledge in theory about intermodal transport.

General guidelines

The project assignment:

1. Is conducted in groups of 3 (max) students/ group.

2. Should be reported as a:

a) Project report sent on Canvas as a doc, docx, pdf file

• Including a description (incl. a figure), discussion and motivation (based on conducted simulation calculations) of the selected intermodal transport
• The report should include 500-750 words (approx. 1-2 pages) (excl. titles/ headlines/ references/ tables), and sent in as a word, pdf-file.

b) Excel work-book/ sheet, including simulated calculations of marginal internal, marginal externa costs and air emissions of the selected intermodal transport solution, i.e., calculations made to support the selected intermodal transport solution.

3. Be orally presented during max 15 min at a seminar in the end of the course

Mandatory participation applies for ALL students during the seminar (i.e. if you leave the seminar earlier- you will not pass the seminar).

4. For approx. estimation of:

• Transport distances, Google maps can be used
• CO₂ emissions from sea transport, NTM-calc 4.0 (https://www.transportmeasures.org/ntmcalc/v4/basic/index.html#/ )can be used. For other transport modes CO₂ emissions calculations must be reported.
• For the calculation of CO₂ emissions from road, air, rail transport NTM tables should be used.
• Marginal internal and external costs MMS280_Tables and forms should be used

 

Project assignment requirements:

• The intermodal transport must include two modes of transport, and this at least two transport legs, i.e., Include intermodal transport between at least two transport modes (e.g., sea-rail; sea-road; rail-road; road-air).
• The intermodal transport must be realistic e., a train does not go to an airport, while a lorry/ truck does.
• The intermodal transport must include at least one transport by road or rail with a transport distance of at least 1000 km (to estimate external marginal costs of accidents).
• The intermodal transport solution must include calculation of internal marginal costs, marginal cost of externalitiese., environmental impact, noise, accidents, delay.
• Assessment intermodal transport must be based on simulation calculations of different transport modes made in MS Excel.

 

Project supervision

Supervision of project assignment is offered at one occasion during 15 min (max)/ group

• Prepare yourself prior to the supervision
• Use your group number in booking of supervision

Changes made since the last occasion

The course is offered for the first time in 2024

Learning objectives and syllabus

Having passed the course, the student should be able to:

• Explain intermodality within international and regional transport of goods.
• Describe physical, financial and information flows in intermodal transport of goods.
• Explain application of the three sustainability dimensions and resource use within intermodal transport of goods.
• Describe the relationship between costs and revenues in intermodal transport of goods.
• Show understanding of international/national laws in intermodal transport
• Explain operational processes within intermodal transport of goods
• Apply Excel for calculating freight costs and revenues in intermodal transport of goods
• Carry out and orally present a scientific work.
• Explain the application of transport informatics and its impact on safety, sustainability and efficiency in intermodal transport of goods.

Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen.

Study plan

Examination

The examination consists of the following elements:

• Written exam: (4,5 Hp),
• Project assignment: (3 Hp)

Written exam is graded: TH (i.e. Failed, 3, 4, 5)

Project assignment is graded: U-G. (i.e. Failed (U)-Passed (G)

Please notice:

Non-fulfillment of mandatory requirements (project assignment, exam, participation at guest lectures) in the course will be examined during the re-exam period for the course.