Research on Multi-dimensional Logistics Based on the Internet of Things

Abstract

In this paper, we prompt a new multi-dimensional logistics method based on the Internet of Things (IOT). In- ternet of Things is a good enabling technology for logistics and supply chains which implements seamless, real-time tracking and monitoring goods at the level of items. In this paper, we propose a solution, which adopts RFID/GPS/3G/GIS technologies to implement real-time surveillance of logistics in transit. Based on the proposed solution, we chose the tabacco logistics as an example and developed an actual monitoring system for Logistics & Distribution Center of China, which successfully implements real-time vehicle tracking and cigarette packages monitoring. The outcome indicates that this solution minimizes missing goods and effectively reduces wrong delivery. Internet of things (IOT), an application of the next gener- ation Internet, has received much attention and will be a worldwide competition emphasis because IOT can realize the interconnection between things and things, also between things and people. IOT will improve old industries and pro- mote new ones. The popularization and application of IOT will not only influence the progress of industrialization and informationization (1, 2), but also have far-reaching impact on social economy and human life. The construction of mod- ern logistics service system should be sped up to correspond with the development of informationization. Modern logis- tics should be the new force to promote the development of modern services as it has quicker reaction, integrated func- tion, serialization service, normalized work, systematic target, modern method, networked organization, marketing organi- zation and electronica information. It is of great theoretical value and realistic meaning to study the multi-dimensional synergy of logistic management in IOT environment. In recent years, competition among enterprises gradually evolved into the races between supply chains, the logistics operation presents an appearance of personalized service increasingly due to the changing market demand. Logistics is defined as part of the supply chain process by American Lo- gistics Management Association, which not only incorpo- rates logistics into a collaborative management category be- tween enterprises, but also requires enterprises consider their own logistics operation in a broader area. In addition, as management and information technology are crucial for the winning of enterprise group's competitive strength, the in- formatization construction of collaborative logistics man- agement is particularly important. As an emerging information technology, Internet of Things could achieve interactive information sharing and real-time monitoring of things, which is popular with enter- prises. If Internet of Things could be successfully applied to the construction of tobacco collaborate logistics platform, it will provide the most effective techniques and methods to solve the problems existing in the current tobacco logistics platform. A service description model of IOT based on WSDL is proposed and the core services in tobacco logistics are com- pletely described by this model. Firstly, in view of the actual characteristics of IOT services description, the services con- tents needed to be extended based on the traditional descrip- tion model of web service named WSDL are analyzed, in- cluding the expansion based on the description objects and contents. Furthermore the expansion level and concrete structure of this model are given, and the physical objects of the service have been extended by the description of the role and its attributes involved in the IOT services, and the de- scription contents of service have also been extended by the description of service acquisition method, service running prerequisite, service inputs and outputs, sub procedure and its flow in service, service sustaining and so on. Then the implementation of this model is discussed, choosing OWL for the formal description of this model, and the detailed description of the core services in tobacco logistics is com- pleted by this proposed model. The Internet of things is made up of three layers, percep- tion layer, network layer and application layer. It is an intel- ligent network system that can distinguish, locate, track, monitor and manage things intelligently based on agreed agreement by using infrared sensing equipment, global posi- tioning system, laser scanner and other sensors and RFID (radio frequency identification) technique and video identifi- cation technology. Man and things can communicate intelli- gently through Internet of things. It is a collective application and improvement of modern information technology using