Facilitating multimodal logistics and enabling information systems connectivity through wireless vehicular networks

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2009.05.023 Byline: Adrian E. Coronado Mondragon (a), Chandra S. Lalwani (a), Etienne S. Coronado Mondragon (b), Christian E. Coronado Mondragon (c) Keywords: Information and communication technology; Multimodal logistics; Road haulage; Vehicular networks Abstract: The adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) has made it possible to experience high levels of visibility, control and connectivity across the entire supply chain. However, in road transport logistics, wireless ICT applications like cellular networks, Wi-Fi, UMTS, 4G and WiMax have not entirely solved reliability and connectivity problems due to difficulties associated with limited range, scalability and security. This paper examines the feasibility of using a vehicular network technology, dedicated short range communication (DSRC), in a multimodal logistics environment as means of providing enhanced visibility and connectivity using a secure access architecture. The secure access architecture is necessary to provide a high degree of security to the detailed visibility involving road haulage feeding port operations using a centralised port service. Author Affiliation: (a) The University of Hull Logistics Institute, Cottingham Road, Hull, UK (b) Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Universite de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boul. De L'Universite, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada (c) Department de Mathematiques et Genie Industriel, Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Campus de l'Universite de Montreal, 2900, Boul. Edouard-Montpetit, Montreal, QC, Canada