Hinterland Intermodal Freight Flow Optimization for Ports Competition Evidence of West Africa ECOWAS Region ()
ABSTRACT
Major
problem considered in this study was the intermodal routing problem of regional freight transportation in West Africa
ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West Africa States), which can be defined
as the problem of determining the freight flow quantity, the transportation
mode in each transit corridor while satisfying the freight demand at each West
Africa transit country (Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger). The objective was to
minimize in land transportation costs. In order to solve optimally and
represent the problem, this research employed a linear programming model. The
model was solved using Lingo Mathematic Application. The model results showed
that port oriented freight logistics in west Africa ECOWAS region do not flow
along optimal path and such incur longer time and higher logistics cost than is
geographically necessary.
Share and Cite:
Allate, B. (2019) Hinterland Intermodal Freight Flow Optimization for Ports Competition Evidence of West Africa ECOWAS Region.
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
9, 215-229. doi:
10.4236/ojapps.2019.94018.