WSDOT intermodal data linkages: freight ITS operational test evaluation final report. Part 1, electronic container seals evaluation
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2002-12-01
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Alternative Title:Washington State Department of Transportation intermodal data linkages
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Edition:Final report
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Abstract:In mid-1999, in response to the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) request for participation in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Intermodal Freight Field Operational Test (FOT) Program, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) entered into a partnership with public and private organizations to test and evaluate ITS solutions for an "Intermodal Data Linkages ITS Operational Test". As the main element of this test, electronic intermodal container seals (E-seals) were tested and evaluated in two scenarios: (1) to support U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) operations concerning in-bond shipments of containerized produce shipments being moved by truck from the Port of Tacoma across the international border into British Colombia, and (2) to support U.S. Customs (USCS) operations in tracking in-bond auto parts shipments via container ships from Japan to the Port of Tacoma, and then being moved by truck from the Port of Tacoma across the international border into British Colombia. SAIC served as the "Independent Evaluator" for this deployment. This report presents a discussion of the SAIC Evaluation Team findings from the deployment experience. The results of this evaluation, along with corresponding conclusions and recommendations, are detailed in this report. Several key conclusions are summarized as follows: The concept of a disposable, low-cost E-Seal technology was confirmed. Considering the system was the first prototype E-seal system tested in an operational environment within the United States, the system performed well. The test validated the E-seal operational concept across two different intermodal freight supply chains. (1) Technology challenges early in the test were successfully overcome. As the FOT began, the original E-seal design faced challenges with broadcast speed being too slow to read moving trucks. Through cooperative efforts between the system integrator and the E-seal vendor, the system was successfully re-engineered to broadcast at a sufficiently increased rate to support roadway speed conditions. (2) The flexibility exhibited by the stakeholders was key to the test's success. USDA and Maersk Sealand modified the initial procedures early in the test to accommodate initial operational problems. Additionally, Westwood Shipping undertook several activities to shield its customers from any disruptions and worked with a new motor carrier (as did USDA and Maersk Sealand) to ensure the test would occur within the time constraints.
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