New National Freight Transportation Model
CPS, as part of a joint venture, will carry out the update and improvement of the National Freight Transport Model, known as MNT 2.0 Freight. The project aims to provide the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility with an advanced tool for simulation and strategic planning of freight mobility in Spain, capable of accurately reflecting new demand patterns, the existing infrastructure network, and competition among different modes of transportation.
The new model will be based on the VISUM modeling software, on which the system will be maintained and further developed, and will also incorporate information management within a Geographic Information System (GIS) using ArcGIS. The goal is to facilitate both the technical processing of the data and its subsequent use by the Ministry’s teams.
The MNT 2.0 Goods model will introduce improvements over the previous version, MNT 1.0 from 2017. The model will be calibrated and validated using data from 2023 and 2024, and will include forecasts for the years2030, 2040, and 2060, with interpolation mechanisms for any intermediate year. It also incorporates more detailed zoning, compatible with the municipal level and supported by the Ministry’s Big Data mobility studies, which will allow for greater precision in origins and destinations within each province.
With regard to modes of transportation, the model focuses on the interaction between road, rail, and maritime transport. It also improves the representation of the rail network by taking into account track availability and schedules, travel times, and international traffic.
The work is structured around four main activities: model development, which includes zoning, origin-destination matrices, and models for trip generation, distribution, and modal split/allocation; the development of practical application cases to test and validate its performance; the creation of a web platform for viewing, analyzing, and downloading data and results; and a technical training program for Ministry staff on how to use the model and the platform.
