Abstract: The problem of inland river intermodal network design investments within an uncertain demand environment is studied to determine the scale and timing of investment and expansion of inland river ports and waterways on the network. Firstly, the network design investment within deterministic demand (NDIDD) model is established. Then, according to real options theory, the network design investment within uncertain demand (NDIUD) model is proposed. Secondly, the sensitivity analysis-based descent and least squares Monte Carlo simulation algorithms are designed to solve the NDIDD and NDIUD models, respectively. Finally, a case study on the inland river intermodal network of the Yangtze River is conducted to verify the models and algorithms. The results of the case study show that the models can simulate the investment decision process and the algorithms can solve the models effectively.
Keywords: uncertain decision; network design; inland river intermodal network; real options