Introducing a new support model for access control of road cargo vehicles at Brazilian ports through Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFID)

Abstract The present study regards the creation of a support model for access control and optimization of cargo loading at ports. It aims to minimize the deficiencies of port accesses and to optimize shipping rates, using an algorithm to create virtual queues and use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. The theoretical approach and some of the data reported in this paper came from a master’s degree research project of one of the authors, through the Civil Engineering Graduate Program at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. The port chosen for implementing the proposed model was the Porto de Vitória, one of the busiest transportation terminals in Brazil. Initially, a survey was carried out locally and the data collected were tabulated to be used in a simulator. The results show the effectiveness of the model based on the use of a simulation system (Arena®). The applied model helps to avoid traffic jams in the port area and also allows the automation of port access.