Motivation

In recent years, unforeseen events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction accident on the Rhine Valley Railway near Rastatt, and arson attacks in North Rhine-Westphalia have shown that transport chains are increasingly affected by disruptions. The resilience of intermodal transport chains, which depends on the interaction of various stakeholders, is therefore under growing pressure. Terminals play a central role in this context: as key nodes of intermodal transport chains, they form the pivotal hubs for transshipment between different modes of transport. Freight forwarders and intermodal operators must reschedule transports flexibly and cooperate closely to ensure reliable deliveries. The ability to adapt operations quickly and efficiently to unforeseen events is crucial for maintaining the overall supply chain. In view of growing challenges, it is becoming increasingly important to design intermodal transport chains that are future-proof and adaptable in order to safeguard their resilience and the sustainability of global logistics networks in the long term.

Goal

The aim of this master’s thesis is to systematically review and analyze current research on the resilience of intermodal terminals, with a particular focus on quantitative planning and optimization approaches. To this end, a bibliographic and content-based literature analysis will be conducted to identify publication patterns, thematic focuses, and methodological approaches. Based on these findings, the study seeks to highlight research trends and gaps and to derive potential directions for future investigations.

Relevant Literatures

• Kitchenham, B.A. and S. Charters (2007) Guidelines for performing systematic literature reviews in software engineering, Technical Report EBSE-2007-01, School of Computer Science and Mathematics, Keele University.
• Nikola Bešinović (2020) Resilience in railway transport systems: a literature review and research agenda, Transport Reviews, 40:4, 457-478, DOI: 10.1080/01441647.2020.1728419
• Delbart, T., Molenbruch, Y., Braekers, K., & an Caris (2021). Uncertainty in Intermodal and Synchromodal Transport: Review and Future Research Directions. Sustainability, 13(7), 3980. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073980
• Mattsson, L. & Jenelius, E. (2015). Vulnerability and resilience of transport systems – A discussion of recent research. Transportation Research Part A: Policy And Practice, 81, 16–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2015.06.002
• Aldrighetti, R., Calzavara, M., Martignago, M., Zennaro, I., Battini, D., & Ivanov, D. (2024). A methodological framework for the design of efficient resilience in supply networks. International Journal of Production Research, 62(1-2), 271–290. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2023.2285424

Conditions

If you are interested in writing your thesis on this topic, please send your current transcript of records to Ren Kajiyama. In a personal meeting, the modalities and specific focus of the thesis can be discussed according to your individual interests and preferences.