United States

USTRANSCOM Seaport Assessments

Client: United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM)
Our Role: Geospatial and Logistics Analysis, Planning

Rail delivery of military tanks prior to being loaded onto a cargo ship for deployment.

The United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), through the Surface Deployment & Distribution Command (SDDC), Transportation Engineering Agency (TEA), is responsible for ensuring strategic mobility for the U.S. Army. During national defense emergencies, select port authorities and commercial seaports across the U.S. are repurposed to support critical military deployment operations. To strengthen operational readiness during peacetime — without disrupting commercial activity — USTRANSCOM sought to evaluate seaport infrastructure, logistics, and accessibility at strategic ports using geographic information system (GIS) technology.

GFT assists USTRANSCOM with global seaport assessments and GIS technology implementation. Our efforts focus on three primary services:

Ports for National Defense (PND) Strategic and Alternate CONUS Port Studies.
Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) Seaport Assessments.
Onsite GIS Support.

By combining GIS technology and geospatial analysis, we provide data-driven insights for optimizing port infrastructure development and enhancing national defense capabilities.

Key Features

Seaport Assessments
We provide real-time data management and visualizations to assess berth availability, loading/unloading capacity, storage areas, and infrastructure access. Key tools include:
- Rail analysis tool: Analyzes railroad tracks and routes, considering various factors like train length and staging areas.
- Road route efficiency tool: Focuses on roadways to reduce congestion and improve route optimization.
- Seaport dissemination tool: Extracts attribute data for easier analysis and review.
GIS Technology
We leverage geospatial data to gather and digitize critical data on port infrastructure, access routes, and terminal features. We transform this data into interactive GIS maps for enhanced analysis and decision-making. Our GIS work includes:
- Gathering and analyzing port access and long-term terminal infrastructure.
- Enhancing GIS datasets, tools, and workflows for increased productivity.
Modeling and Simulations
Using Esri® technology and SDDC TEA proprietary software, we run simulations to evaluate seaport capabilities and optimize deployment routes for military cargo. These models help USTRANSCOM select the most suitable ports for rapid deployment, including both domestic and international locations.
Onsite GIS Support
GFT provides onsite support to TEA’s Data and Systems Management Branch, enhancing access to geospatial information and analysis tools and improving data management workflows. Our team supports administering TEA’s enterprise databases and leads efforts to publish, share, and visualize GIS data. We develop custom GIS scripts, models, and geoprocessing tools tailored to TEA’s needs, conduct quality control checks across all enterprise instances, and deliver GIS software product support. Additionally, we design, develop, and maintain GIS portals and web-based GIS applications to provide user-friendly access to spatial data and insights.

Outcomes

Our solutions have strengthened USTRANSCOM’s ability to respond rapidly during emergencies, enhancing the effectiveness of deployment operations. Through advanced GIS analyses and custom simulations, USTRANSCOM now has a comprehensive understanding of port infrastructure and logistics. These data-driven insights support more informed decision-making and help ensure the U.S. Army remains operationally ready at all times.