Feasibility of implementing Direct Short Range Communication (DSRC) technology for the management of road transport logistics feeding port operations

进入21世纪，物流已成为一个前沿而复杂的领域。物流处理一切涉及计划、组织和管理提供商品或服务的活动[1]。导致物流业出现和复杂的主要因素包括：全球化、外判、代工制造、产品生命周期缩短、多渠道分销，以及需要足够的回程渠道。复杂的物流安排可由陆路、海运和空运等不同运输方式组合而成。例如，港口作业是一项复杂的安排，其中公路运输可以被视为海上运输的支线。在这方面，英国处于有利地位，可以产生和利用与港口业务物流相关的协同效应，特别是短途海上航线。根据欧盟委员会(2007)的说法，今天邻国之间的海上航线(短途海上)提供高质量的定期服务，可以与其他运输方式结合起来，提供有效的替代方案[2]。今天，在物流中，基于互联网的应用程序的使用，以及RFID、蜂窝网络、GPS设备、Wi-Fi和3G等技术的使用，使人们能够体验到前所未有的能见度、控制性和连接性。在道路运输中，基于WiMax、蜂窝基础设施、蓝牙和Wi-Fi的应用已被采用，以提供一定的连接。例如，通过使用蜂窝基础设施来访问互联网网络，特定车辆中的嵌入式移动电话可以通过使用网络运营商的GPRS访问网络。然而，目前的信息和通信技术仍然存在一些限制。例如，一个主要问题是，可用的服务必须在蜂窝网络、Wi-Fi、3G、4G和WiMax等不同技术之间跳跃，导致可靠性和连通性问题，更不用说与有限的覆盖范围、可扩展性和安全性相关的问题。因此，由于使用不同的信息和通信技术，为管理道路运输物流而设计的解决方案有很高的性能降级风险。根据2007年商用车辆远程信息处理大会[5]，影响该部门的一些与ICT相关的问题包括：-数据和安全层确保所有业务关键数据不会被破坏或损坏的基础设施-在有限范围和可靠性下取代商业远程信息处理的集成应用-对于所有车队管理者消除昂贵的漫游和管理的多载波协议-通过与导致路线和交通解决方案的车载GPS跟踪系统的集成来提高供应链的可见性和生产率-创建无缝供应链，其中的规划和补给活动将完全自动化-成为促进无缝互操作性的真正的互联技术-提供包括启用位置的服务、通信能力、安全和安保解决方案、路线信息和详细的管理报告-帮助车队经理遵守反空转规则。为了解决上述问题，并且为了能够在不出现困扰当前使用技术的问题的情况下运行道路运输物流，已经认真考虑了一种有望更可靠的无线解决方案：直接短程通信(DSRC)，该解决方案仍在开发中，并有待大规模部署的标准化。DSRC承诺克服与使用不同技术相关的限制，如安全性、IP移动性故障和缺乏无缝切换。到目前为止，这项技术还在开发中。

In the 21st century, logistics has emerged as a leading and complex field. Logistics deal with everything involving planning, organising and managing activities that provides goods or services [1]. Main factors that have contributed to the emergence and complexity of logistics include: globalisation, outsourcing, contract manufacturing, shortened product life cycles, multi-channel distribution and the need for adequate return channels.Complex logistics arrangements can result from the combination of different sorts of transportation like road, sea and air. For example, port operations are a complex arrangement in where road transportation can be seen as a feeder to sea transport. In regard of this, the UK is in a privileged position to generate and exploit the synergies associated to the logistics of port operations, in particular short sea routes. According to the European Commission (2007) sea routes (short sea) between neighbouring countries today offer high quality regular services that can be combined with other transport modes to provide efficient alternatives [2].Today, in logistics the use of internet-based applications such as web services, and technologies such as RFID, cellular networks, GPS-enabled devices, Wi-Fi and 3G among others have made possible to experience levels of visibility, control and connectivity never experienced before. In road transportation, applications based on WiMax, cellular infrastructure, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi have been adopted to provide certain connectivity. For example, by using the cellular infrastructure to reach the Internet network an embedded mobile phone in a given vehicle can get access to the network by using GPRS from a network operator . However, still there are several limitations associated to current ICT technologies. For example, one main problem is that available services have to hop between different technologies like cellular networks, Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G and WiMax, resulting in reliability and connectivity problems, not to mention problems associated to limited range, scalability and security. Therefore, by using heterogeneous ICTs there is a high risk of experiencing performance downgrade to the solutions designed to manage road transport logistics.Road transportation logistics have specific needs in terms of ICT. According to the 2007 Commercial Vehicle Telematics Conference [5] some ICT-related issues affecting the sector include:- An infrastructure where data and security layers ensure that all business critical data is not destroyed or corrupted- Integrated application in replacement of commercial telematics with limited range and reliability- For all fleet managers the elimination of expensive roaming and administered multicarrier agreements- Increase visibility and productivity of a supply chain through integration with on-board GPS tracking systems leading to routing and traffic solutions- The creation of a seamless supply chain where planning and replenishment activities will be completely automated- Become a true interlinking technology that facilitate seamless interoperability- Provide in-vehicle integration comprising location enabled services, communication capabilities, safety and security solutions, routing information and detailed management reporting- Help fleet managers adhere to anti-idling rulesTo address the issues listed above and in order to be able to run road transport logistics without the problems that have plagued current technologies in use, serious consideration has been given to one wireless solution which promises to be more reliable and which is still under development and subject to standardisation for massive deployment: Direct Short Range Communication (DSRC). DSRC promises to overcome the limitations associated to the use of heterogeneous technologies such as security, breakdown in IP mobility and lack of seamless handover. Up to now, this technology is still in development.