Multiobjective optimization of sea-rail intermodal transport routes from Yibin Port to Europe based on NSGA-II algorithm

Abstract

Intelligent transportation and computer optimization technologies are advancing rapidly. Digital and intelligent upgrades are now key drivers of modern sustainable logistics and multimodal transport network optimization. Evolutionary algorithms are a major intelligent logistics technology. They are widely used to solve complex route decision-making problems. These algorithms overcome the limitations of traditional manual scheduling and single-objective empirical optimization in freight transport planning. The optimization of sea-rail intermodal transport corridors has become increasingly critical for connecting inland ports with international markets while addressing sustainability concerns. This paper presents a comprehensive study on multi-objective optimization of sea-rail intermodal routes from Yibin Port (upper Yangtze River) to European destinations. We employ the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II), a classic intelligent multi-objective optimization algorithm in computer science, to simultaneously optimize three conflicting objectives: transportation cost, transit time, and carbon emissions. The theoretical framework is grounded in multi-objective optimization theory and network flow optimization principles. Through extensive experimental validation using 10 years of operational data (2016-2026) from Yibin Port, we generate a Pareto front containing nine optimal solutions representing different trade-offs among the three objectives. Comparative analysis with five alternative algorithms (GA, PSO, ACO, Hybrid GA-PSO, LSTM+XGBoost) demonstrates the superior performance of NSGA-II in terms of solution quality and computational efficiency. Sensitivity analysis reveals that transportation cost is the most critical factor for large manufacturers, while time efficiency becomes paramount for high-value product exporters. The findings provide actionable insights for enterprises and port managers in strategic decision-making regarding multimodal transport network optimization, particularly in the context of sustainable logistics development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and compliance with international carbon policies such as the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).