Optimizing ship dam-crossing operations under uncertainty: a fuzzy queuing-based approach

Abstract In this paper, an uncertain multi class customer fuzzy queuing nonlinear programming (UMFQNP) model is proposed to optimize the operation plan of the ship dam-crossing service system of the Three Gorges Project (TGP). A fuzzy queuing formulation for uncertain multi-class customers with batch service is integrated with a dynamic parametric programming approach to handle nonlinearities and interval uncertainty. The model can effectively deal with the heterogeneity and uncertainty of ship customer arrival and service, as well as the discrete interval uncertainty, nonlinear and multi-period characteristics of transport demand, ship transport cost, operation cost of the dam crossing facilities and ship customer's dam-crossing benefit. The long-term operation plan for the optimization of ship dam-crossing service system of TGP is also given. The case study shows that this method can significantly improve the operation efficiency and economic benefits of the ship dam crossing service system of the TGP.