The US has seen a remarkable 6% annual growth in the volume of containerized cargo over the last decade, and by 2010 it is predicted that 90% of the world's cargo will move in containers. The introduction of high-speed hull designs and container ships capable of carrying over 3,000 TUE (twenty-foot equivalent units) containers has substantially increased the productivity of the water line haul. The future of containerized cargo in the US will be shaped by the introduction of megaships, vessels capable of carrying over 8,000 TUE containers. This is particularly important for New Jersey because it will result in increased competition between ports in New York/New Jersey, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Virginia. Indeed, many believe that there will be only one dominant port on the eastern seaboard. Obviously, the port with the best ground operations will have an advantage.

The ground operations at ports are often quite complicated. Enormous numbers of containers must be tracked, vehicles must be routed to particular containers, pick-ups and deliveries must be scheduled, etc.... The Center intends to demonstrate how TIDE technologies can be used to improve the efficiency of these activities and decrease intermodal shipping costs.

First, the Center is developing/adapting technologies (e.g., differential GPS, radio triangulation) for tracking the location of containers, vehicles, and other kinds of equipment.

Second, the Center is developing/adapting appropriate wireless and wire-based communications technologies. Some of these technologies will be used to manage one company's offices, trucks, drivers, and chassis. Others will be used to link individual companies with the terminal operator.

Finally, the Center is developing routing and scheduling technologies that can be used to improve the operations of the ground facilities. Specific attention is being given to straddle carrier operations (i.e., the equipment that is used to move the containers), rail planning (e.g., hitch assignment and blocking), yard planning (e.g., helping drivers navigate around the facility and schedule their arrival and departure), and vessel load planning.