Abstract

Excessive delays at ports-of-entry (POEs) into the U.S. not only inconvenience passengers but also disrupt supply chains downstream of the POE, which can cause severe economic damage. Accordingly, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is tasked with facilitating vehicular and pedestrian traffic so as to minimize crossing times without compromising security inspections. The team is developing a modeling methodology and a suite of detailed simulation models of POEs, dubbed POE Simulation System (POESS), that compute performance metrics for studies of hypothetical “what-if” scenarios. This project supports future planning of POE evolution (typically expansion and handling traffic surges) as well as studying in detail hypothetical POE “what-if” issues such as disruptions in the form of traffic obstructions due to accidents, attacks or natural disasters. The project creates 3D and 2D simulation models layered over a realistic geographic map of the POE and its vicinity with animated traffic that facilitates ease of use and understanding by users and observers. Each simulation model will serve as a decision support system (DSS) that analyzes data and presents simulation statistics so that CBP analysts and port directors may optimize POE planning and operational decisions.

Presentations and Publications

Presentation | 2017 PI Meeting

Poster | 2017 BTI Institute Showcase

Paper | Modeling and Simulation of Port-of-Entry Systems