Systems engineering approach to model and analyze the performance of containerized shipping and its interdependencies with the United States critical infrastructure

The objective of this dissertation is to use systems engineering principles and practices to conduct original research, develop a new model, and perform simulation of the model to analyze a containerized shipping port and its interdependencies with the United States critical infrastructure. The methodology applied in the dissertation embodies a unique application of the systems engineering process. The top level system-of-systems includes a container shipping port system, the United States critical infrastructure system, the physical interdependencies between the two systems, inputs, outputs, and external effects. A unique detailed system diagram is developed. The model of containerized shipping, developed from the acquired data from the Port of Houston, estimates the system performance under effects due to terrorist activity, weather events, limited electrical power, reduced labor availability, and highway interruptions. A systems engineering trade-off model depicts the dependency of the U.S. critical infrastructure on the commodities provided by containerized shipping.; The results of the dissertation show that containerized shipping is dependent on the availability of the transportation infrastructure. The shipping channel is an element of the transportation infrastructure and is vulnerable to an event such terrorism, weather, and accidents causing its closure. A shipping channel closure of thirty days could result in the queue of ships increasing such that it takes weeks to recover. Also, in the event that the container port unloading docks are not available due to infrastructure segments unavailability the number of ships waiting in the queue may continue to increase after the shipping channel is re-opened until the infrastructure is restored. The availability of the highway system which provides for intermodal truck access affects the performance of containerized shipping.; The results of the dissertation show that the United States Critical Infrastructure is dependent on the commodities provided by containerized shipping. Of the sixteen commodities which were compared in a systems engineering trade-off analysis, computers and telecommunications equipment rank as the most important to the infrastructure. Pharmaceuticals preparations and industrial supplies rank next in importance. The criteria used for the evaluation include the number of infrastructure segments in which the commodity is used, the monthly imported dollar amount (millions of dollars), and the future estimated import dollar growth determined by linear regression.; Knowledge of the containerized shipping interdependencies with the critical infrastructure results in increased understanding of the vulnerabilities of the United States infrastructure. Once these vulnerabilities are determined, steps can be taken to reduce the risk and potential impact due to undesirable events. Protection of containerized shipping and the U.S. critical infrastructure is vital to the economic well-being and security of the country.