An integrated procedure to estimate demand flows of maritime container transport at international scale

The paper proposes an integrated procedure for the estimation of containerised OD flows at international scale. The procedure combines two different systems of models: (1) a meso‐aggregated system of models for estimation of OD flows by means of a specification‐calibration‐validation process and (2) a macro‐aggregated system of models for estimation of OD flows by means of a re‐calibration process. The procedure has been tested in order to estimate the values of containerised OD flows of a geographical area composed of countries facing the Mediterranean basin at year 2006. The integrated procedure could represent a valid support for market operators and analysts, who need estimates of demand variables in order to mitigate risks of over‐ or under‐investment, and for researchers developing freight models, because it offers the possibility to combine the potentialities of specification‐calibration‐validation and re‐calibration processes in freight demand modelling.