AMCAI (Application of Modern Concepts in the Automated Information Management in the Harbours by Using IT-Solutions) is a two-year project sponsored by the Commission of the European Communities running in 1995-1997. The goal of the AMCAI project is to create a cooperation network of scientists and experts that should concentrate their efforts on problems of the Riga Harbour Container Terminal (RHCT) concerning improvement of the logistic system.

t is very important to increase the efficiency of the logistic processes because prosperity of the harbour is very significant for economics of Latvia. The AMCAI network gives a possibility to combine different scientific research fields to a whole project allowing every participant to bring knowledge from his field of expertise. As a result, the participants will publish a book summarizing all gained experience and knowledge.

PARTICIPANTS’ CONTRIBUTION

Carrying out the AMCAI project gives a great benefit to both eastern and western partners. The western participants can benefit from the high level of theoretic scientific research in the Eastern Europe. The eastern partners should benefit from the western experience in applying results of fundamental science and modern technology in practice.

The state of science in the field of logistic systems is high in Western Europe but it still needs further researches. In the past, most researches were focused on enterprises logistic processes. Recently researches of large entire logistic systems were performed. Now it is appropriate to research the problems of transportation and regional infrastructure combining it with the knowledge of industry, especially that of modern information technology. One of the most popular information technologies is simulation that is already being used in process design and optimization of production.

The AMCAI participants were chosen because of their outstanding knowledge and experience. Participants from Charles University of Prague, Riga Technical University and Otto-von-Guericke University have exellent experience in information technology and simulation. TNO can provide high level of expertise and have international scientific networking experience. LIS specialists are skilled in information systems design. LMS perfectly knows information problems of the Riga harbour and has experience in design of electronic data interchange systems. FhG IFF is the leading logistic research institution and has experience of running projects of that kind.

RESULTS

The results of the AMCAI project should contribute to an effective design of the processes in the Riga harbour. The use of them in the Riga goods centre development can contribute to economic development of the Riga region. Then the generalized results can be made applicable to other goods centres. The significance of this AMCAI project lies especially on the applied science. As a result, methods, tools and experience on the following themes will be gained:

• analysis of logistic processes
• analysis of information flows
• design of optimal data structures
• simulation and visualization of harbour processes.

As another result, the experience and knowledge of all participants will increase. Valuable scientific results as papers and dissertations will be gained as well. For example, 5 Ph.D. theses will be prepared in Riga. The complete project work with all results are published in a book with the title "Managing and Controlling Growing Harbour Terminals". The contents can be find at the link below.

more AMCAI-Book

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