CHAO Xiuli;GU Jifa;HU Pingxian
Journal of Systems Science and Complexity. 1997, 10(3): 237-252.
In this paper we apply networks of queues in the design and analysis of aseaport system. There are two types of ports, the deep water port and shallow waterport. The steamships arrive via the Pacific ocean according to a random process, andcan only enter the deep water port (due to the size of the ships). The finite capacity of the port, often results in long delays which is undsirable. To reduce this congestion problem, ports authorities are considering constructing a platform (or dock) in a deepwater area on which some steamships can be first downloaded, and then the goods onthe platform are delivered and downloaded on the shallow water port by many small-sizeboats. This sytstem is modeled as a network of queues with finite buffers and blocking. We develop approximation methodology for analyzing queue delays, and apply it, in thedesign and optimization of the port systems. The algorithm is proved to be efficient, and its effectiveness is shown by both numerical results and simulation analysis.