ABSTRACT

Artificial intelligence and data analytics capabilities have enabled the introduction of automation, such as robotics and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), across different sectors of the production spectrum which successively has profound implications for operational efficiency and productivity. However, the environmental sustainability implications of such innovations have not been yet extensively addressed in the extant literature. This study evaluates the use of AGVs in container terminals by investigating the environmental sustainability gains that arise from the adoption of artificial intelligence and automation for shoreside operations at freight ports. Through a comprehensive literature review, we reveal this research gap across the use of artificial intelligence and decision support systems, as well as optimisation models. A real-world container terminal is used, as a case study in a simulation environment, on Europe’s fastest-growing container port (Piraeus), to quantify the environmental benefits related to routing scenarios via different types of AGVs. Our study contributes to the cross-section of operations management and artificial intelligence literature by articulating design principles to inform effective digital technology interventions at non-automated port terminals, both at operational and management levels.

摘要

人工智能和数据分析能力使自动化技术（如机器人技术和自动导引车 (AGV)）能够在生产范围的不同领域引入，这对运营效率和生产力产生了深远的影响。然而，此类创新对环境可持续性的影响尚未在现有文献中得到广泛讨论。本研究通过调查在货运港口采用人工智能和自动化进行岸边作业所带来的环境可持续性收益，评估了 AGV 在集装箱码头的使用。通过全面的文献回顾，我们揭示了在使用人工智能和决策支持系统以及优化模型方面的研究差距。在欧洲发展最快的集装箱港口（比雷埃夫斯）上，使用真实世界的集装箱码头作为模拟环境中的案例研究，通过不同类型的 AGV 量化与路由场景相关的环境效益。我们的研究通过阐明设计原则，在运营和管理层面为非自动化港口码头的有效数字技术干预提供信息，为运营管理和人工智能文献的横截面做出了贡献。