GE Transportation Announces New Software Products for Intermodal Terminal Operations at the Intermodal Association of North America’s 31st Annual Intermodal Expo

The following breakthrough technologies are featured in booth 1032 at the Intermodal Expo:

OASIS Driver Mobile App brings smartphone technology to drayage truck drivers to reduce gate processing time and improve terminal efficiency
OASIS Stack Train Optimization technology helps increase fuel efficiency of intermodal trains
OASIS Gate Kiosk web-based, touch screen application automates driver check-in and check-out to reduce time at the gate
OASIS LINUX platform brings improved performance and cost savings

November 18, 2013 02:05 PM Eastern Standard Time

31st Annual Intermodal Expo

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Transportation’s Optimization Solutions, a leading provider of transportation management software and analytics to the railroad industry, is demonstrating several extensions to its OASIS intermodal terminal operating software system. These new technologies aimed at reducing terminal operating costs and improve terminal throughput will be featured during the 31st Annual Intermodal Expo through November 19.

GE Transportation’s OASIS System is a leading intermodal rail terminal operating system (TOS) software used by terminal operators to manage, plan and optimize terminal operations. Installed at over 100 terminals across North America, the OASIS System allows operators to enhance yard and gate efficiency, reduce operating costs, increase yard and equipment utilization, boost throughput to handle increased capacity, and minimize errors and improve customer service.

OASIS Driver Mobile App

GE Transportation has also developed a native mobile app for Android and iOS smartphones that integrates drayage company drivers to the OASIS terminal operating system. This capability allows drivers to perform advance check-in and check-out, confirm unit locations, complete service requests, and receive parking location updates all from a mobile phone.

Large intermodal rail facilities are challenged by high truck volume and often simply serve the trucks in the order they arrive at a crane, which is not optimal. Efficiencies can be gained by calling the trucks to the crane to match the stacking order of the containers rather than shuffling boxes to serve the trucks on a first come first served basis. This enables the trucker with transactions to reduce their need to contact the terminal, helping terminals capture billable events and processes. Items like checking whether a waybill is in place before a trucker arrives at the gate can be managed through the mobile software application.

Stack Train Aerodynamic Optimization Tool

Fuel loss due to aerodynamic inefficiency is estimated as one gallon per mile. OASIS is developing a new “Stack Train Aerodynamic Optimization” capability that uses complex algorithms to manage the container matching and loading process on intermodal trains. The business outcome for railroads will be improved aerodynamic efficiency on intermodal trains and reduced fuel costs.

Train planning software has traditionally optimized planning from a vertical perspective; matching containers based on height and weight restrictions and prioritizing loading position based on commercial considerations. The Stack Train Aerodynamic Optimization adds additional rules that account for the train “horizontally” and optimize the loading plan to avoid gaps that increase drag and fuel consumption.

GE’s Global Research Center in New York had a key role in the development of the advanced algorithms to optimize intermodal train aerodynamics. In addition, the GE Global Software Center for industrial software and analytics in San Ramon, Calif., provides capabilities, platforms, and services to speed the pace of software innovation and commercialization of new technologies.

Gate Kiosk

OASIS now provides a Gate Kiosk as a fully integrated hardware and software solution. Gate Kiosk provides drivers with automated ingate and outgate access through an easy-to-use touch-screen interface and step-by-step prompts reducing time at the gate and increasing the productivity of terminal personnel. A gate arm is activated at the completion of the transaction to allow driver access and egress.

OASIS Linux Platform

OASIS is now available on a Linux platform. Current customers will be offered a Linux option that provides them more flexibility for server choice and better failover capability.

On Monday, November 18, GE Transportation’s Ed McQuillan, product management leader for OASIS intermodal solutions, is part of a four-member panel, Tracking on the Road – The Final Frontier, and will provide insights on new intermodal technologies.

About GE Transportation’s Optimization Solutions

GE Transportation Optimization Solutions is a leading provider of transportation management software and analytics to the railroad industry. GE Transportation Optimization Solutions offers integrated rail transportation solutions for enterprise-wide data integration and sharing. GE Transportation Optimization Solutions solve the world’s toughest rail transportation challenges by leveraging in-depth knowledge of rail operations, intermodal terminal operating systems, and multi-modal transportation management to provide Software as a Service and licensed solutions to railroads and industrial shippers. GE Transportation Optimization Solutions software is used to manage rail and intermodal operations, signal and communication assets, railcar repair billing and inventory, and multi-modal visibility, planning, and execution for industrial shippers and logistics service providers.

About GE Transportation

GE Transportation, a unit of GE (NYSE: GE), solves the world’s toughest transportation challenges. GE Transportation builds equipment that moves the rail, mining and marine industries. Our fuel-efficient and lower-emissions freight and passenger locomotives, diesel engines for rail, marine and stationary power applications, signaling and software solutions, drive systems for mining trucks, and value-added services help customers grow. GE Transportation is headquartered in Chicago, IL, and employs approximately 13,000 employees worldwide.

For more information visit the company's website at www.getransportation.com.