Underground logistics distribution systems seem to be a sustainable solutio for environmental, congestion and space problems. In Holland many underground projects spring up like mushrooms, starting a definition phase to test the feasibility of the first underground designs. At local level some cities seek for opportunities to distribute by means of underground freight transport. At regional level junctions between underground transport lines are exsamined to connect companies. At (inter)national level the interconnection of high-speed freight railroads with underground transport pipes between Schiphol and Aalsmeer should be in practice in 2002. In order to determine the feasibility of these transport systems, logistic simulation is a supportive method for designing questions. The layout of the underground infrastructure, the location of terminals, the use of underground floor space, the number of electric vehicles and the handling capacities are logistic issues which have to be determined integrally. In order to gain a structured insight into the lgoistic dependencies, we define three modelling levels of control: at vehicle level (mico), in order to control the traffic movements of the vehicles in the handling areas and tubes; at transport order level (meso), in order to control the transport orders, the assignment of shipments and vehicles, and the empty vehicle stock management; and at interconnection level (macro), in order to achieve good connectivity with the transport schedules of the externmal transport modalities.Based on several empirical case studies, the development of generic building blocks has already such an underground functionality that effects of layout, handling capacities and available underground floor space can be represented.
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