Simulation modelling and analysis of linkage-controlled traffic scheme in Waterway Transport Key Nodes

Abstract

As global shipping undergoes rapid expansion, pivotal waterway transport systems—including significant nodes like the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal, and the Three Gorges-Gezhouba dams—are increasingly emerging as system-wide bottlenecks that limit transportation capabilities. Recognizing the pressing need for efficient traffic organization at these critical junctures, we designed a hybrid simulation model, which integrates Cellular Automaton and Multi-Agent methods, to analyse traffic efficiency and evaluate different ship organization schemes at these key waterway nodes. The Three Gorges-Gezhouba dams serve as a case study, where we crafted and executed four simulation scenarios that accommodate a range of variables such as different traffic organization schemes, traffic flow volumes, and anchorage capacities. Key operational indicators such as the maximum average waiting time of ships at the anchorage, and the period when the anchorage along the waterway reaches saturation, provide insights into the system's operational condition. The simulation outcomes highlight the proposed model's capability to accurately quantify the impact of implementing a linkage-control scheme and underscore the utility of dynamic adjustment of water area ranges under linkage-control for managing various traffic scenarios. Consequently, our research not only enriches high-precision simulation methodologies but also bolsters decision-making processes concerning ship traffic organization at Waterway Transport Key Nodes.