The model of a subsidiary container stack formation for customs purposes using finite-state machine description language
The paper considers a direct example of the use of mathematical modeling to analyze operations at a seaport container terminal. A subsidiary procedure of formation of a stack of containers subject to some form of customs inspection at a container terminal storage area formation has been chosen the target of research. As far as procedures are concerned, the formation of a stack for customs inspection is a labor-consuming technological process as it involves selective search and withdrawal from a common stack of one or even several containers that make up an indivisible lot to be exported to the customs inspection (searching) zone. The outcome of the research is a mathematical model of searching and withdrawing containers in question from a stack in the terminal storage area by means of deterministic finite-state machines, as well as substantiating the model validity with real prototypes. The application of this mathematical apparatus to the technological process modeling allows one to present a unified logic for controlling the prestacking process in the storage area, as well as to develop a stacking facility automatic control algorithm. The proposed model is a universal one, since the scope of its application can be enhanced, for example, to be applied to analyze operations at the backyard cargo handling complex when handling railway rolling stock.