Multi-Modal Cross-Border Route Selector
Scenario
A small logistics provider wants a quick way to determine the best shipping route for cargo traveling across borders using different transportation modes (e.g., only air, only sea, only land, or combinations like sea-air, land-sea, air-land, and so on).
You need to create a tool that accepts shipment details and returns optimal routing suggestions ( a small set of ranked options) based on estimated costs, transit times, and feasibility when crossing borders.
Key Tasks
1. Multi-Modal Route Data Simulation
Prepare or simulate a small database of possible routes and modes:
Examples:
Air: Airport A → Airport B (cost, transit time)
Sea: Port C → Port D (cost, transit time)
Land: City X → City Y (cost, transit time)
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Each segment should note which countries or border crossings are involved.
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Include a simple capacity or size limit per mode if you like (optional).
2. Shipment Inputs
Allow user to input shipment details such as -
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Origin (city/airport/port)
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Destination (city/airport/port)
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Cargo details (weight, volume, or just one simplified parameter)
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Priority (e.g., do they prefer lowest cost or fastest transit?)
3. Route Assembly & Logic
Determine the possible multi-modal routes between the origin and the destination, and calculate the cost and the transit time required.
E.g., City X → (Land) → Airport A → (Air) → Airport B → (Land) → City Y
For each potential route, calculate:
Total estimated cost (sum of segment costs, converted to a prominent currency)
Total transit time involved including all the transfers from the origin to the destination.
Filter out the impossible routes (e.g., cargo too large for a small aircraft segment).
4. Ranking & Output
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Show at least two or three top route options ranked on the basis of their cost and estimated transit time.
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Let the user choose if they want the fastest vs. cheapest route or see a combined ranking
5. User Interface
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A simple form to input shipment data (including, but not limited to origin, destination, cargo specs, priority).
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A results page listing route options (mode sequences, cost, time).
Stretch Goals (Optional)
Carbon Footprint: Provide an approximate COâ‚‚ emission estimate per route, letting users see an “eco-friendly” option.
Real-Time Updates: Simulate a small “delay” event or cost change in one of the modes and recalculate routes.
Mode-Specific Constraints: Weight limits for air vs. sea vs. land.
Perishability: Select the mode depending on the perishability of the goods (e.g., if cargo is perishable, air might be mandatory to ensure that the cargo reaches before it gets perished)
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Evaluation Criteria
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Completion of Objectives & Functionality
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Business Viability & Real-World Applicability
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Quality and Realism of Data Simulation
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User Interface (UI) & User Experience (UX) Design
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Innovation & Technical Complexity