System and method for optimizing ramp operations of a hub based on a dual-stream resource optimization

A system configured for optimizing ramp operations in a hub facility, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a memory operably coupled to the at least one processor and storing processor-readable code that, when executed by the at least one processor, is configured to perform operations including:
• identifying inbound and outbound trains scheduled to arrive at or depart from a hub over a planning horizon of an optimized operating schedule based on a dual-stream optimization model including a consolidated time-space network and a deconsolidated time-space network of the optimized operating schedule;
• generating a set of candidate track-train assignment sequences involving the inbound and outbound trains and production tracks of the hub facility, wherein each candidate track-train assignment sequence in the set of candidate track-train assignment sequences defines a sequence of track-train assignments for a respective production track of the production tracks over the planning horizon, wherein a track-train assignments includes an assignment of one of the inbound and outbound trains to a particular production track for processing;
• eliminating infeasible candidate track-train assignment sequences from the set of candidate track-train assignment sequences;
• determining a cost, based on one or more effort matrices, associated with each remaining candidate track-train assignment sequence in the set of candidate track-train assignment sequences over the planning horizon;
• selecting an optimized track-train assignment sequence from the set of candidate track-train assignment sequences based on the determined cost;
• and
• automatically sending, during execution of the optimized operating schedule, a control signal to a controller to cause execution of the optimized track-train assignment sequence.

A computer-based tool for optimizing ramp operations in a hub facility, the computer-based tool including non-transitory computer readable media having stored thereon computer code which, when executed by a processor, causes a computing device to perform operations comprising:

• identifying inbound and outbound trains scheduled to arrive at or depart from a hub over a planning horizon of an optimized operating schedule based on a dual-stream optimization model including a consolidated time-space network and a deconsolidated time-space network of the optimized operating schedule;
• generating a set of candidate track-train assignment sequences involving the inbound and outbound trains and production tracks of the hub facility, wherein each candidate track-train assignment sequence in the set of candidate track-train assignment sequences defines a sequence of track-train assignments for a respective production track of the production tracks over the planning horizon, wherein a track-train assignments includes an assignment of one of the inbound and outbound trains to a particular production track for processing;
• eliminating infeasible candidate track-train assignment sequences from the set of candidate track-train assignment sequences;
• determining a cost, based on one or more effort matrices, associated with each remaining candidate track-train assignment sequence in the set of candidate track-train assignment sequences over the planning horizon;
• selecting an optimized track-train assignment sequence from the set of candidate track-train assignment sequences based on the determined cost;
• and
• automatically sending, during execution of the optimized operating schedule, a control signal to a controller to cause execution of the optimized track-train assignment sequence.