Research on Simulation and Optimization of Ship Lock Scheduling Based on Rapid Arrange Algorithm

Abstract

Ship lock is critical infrastructure of inland water transport. Efficiency of ship lockage exerts a direct influence on the economic profits of inland water transport. Based on studying actual lock capacity and lockage process, this paper proposes a simulation-optimization method to maximum the chamber area utilization rate, and study the impact of different scheduling strategies on lock capacity. In order to give the priority to important ships, the comprehensive weight is introduced. An optimization model on lockage scheduling is solved by rapid arrange algorithm, and is embedded into a simulation model of lock scheduling which aims to simulate complex scheduling process. Finally, the China’s Three Gorges ship lock is takingas an example in case study. The results show thatchamber area utilization rate gradually increases with the increasing upper limit of comprehensive weight, and the average waiting time of ship declines significantly by a drop of 51%.