UTC 2022 Funding - Cycle 2 Research Projects

Project Number: CY2-TTI-03
Project Title: Measuring the Resilience of Texas and Louisiana Ports Within the Context of the National Marine Transportation System
Performing Institution: Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Principal Investigator: C. James Kruse and Brianne Glover
Proposed Start and End Date: 10/01/2024 to 09/30/2025
Project Description: This project will develop methods to assess the connectivity and resilience of Gulf Coast ports, focusing on port-to-port cargo movements. Understanding port criticality is essential for prioritizing infrastructure maintenance and improvements, especially in the context of limited funding. Building on previous research by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC), this study will utilize Automated Identification System (AIS) data and the PageRank algorithm, which ranks port importance based on network connectivity rather than conventional metrics like tonnage.

In addition to the PageRank method, the study will explore other analytical tools, such as flow-based minimum cut and connectivity algorithms, to provide a more comprehensive assessment of the Marine Transportation System (MTS). Simplifying assumptions from ERDC’s work—such as using ship volume as a proxy for tonnage and accounting for international ports lacking AIS data—will enhance the accuracy and efficiency of the analysis.

The study will characterize the MTS using the most recent AIS data and perform an in-depth analysis of port criticality, with a specific focus on the seaports of Texas and Louisiana, as they fall within the Southern Plains Transportation Center’s scope. The results will guide decisions on port maintenance, resilience, and major infrastructure improvements, contributing to a more robust and disaster-resilient port network.
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