Discrete Event Simulation as Decision Tool for Sustainable Development in Smart Cities

This paper proposes a Discrete Event Simulation (DES) model for improving the efficiency of ports with a particular attention to the environmental impact on the surrounding human settlements. The considered system is first described using the Unified Modelling Language, and then is modelled, simulated, and validated in a simulation environment. The proposed approach is applied to a case study for the port of Bari, in the Southern Italy. The results highlight how the facility processes are affected by some variables, like traffic congestions and trucks managing policies. In particular, a new policy for the material loading stations is shown to yield a 12% growth of handled material and a 28% emissions reduction with respect to the current logistic organization, with the same number of inbound trucks per day.