Client / User: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL AND SPORT GENERAL SECRETARIAT FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

Start / End Date: October 2012 –September 2015

Description

Track and trace possibilities of cargoes and handling vehicles has been long used and their appliance is constantly been expanded following the decrease in equipment costs and services abundance. Such solutions vary from Fleet management solutions which offer track and tracing solutions on vehicles equipped with GPS-enabled devices to Inventory management solutions providing full visibility on item level which is equipped with identification devices (e.g. RFID) and various other sensors.

The proposal addresses efficiency and optimization in container terminal operational and the use of available resources taking into account the environmental aspect of those operations. It does so by investigating the joint use and exploitation of available ICT systems currently applied in the sector. ICT systems like Terminal Operating Systems – TOS and Fleet Management solutions are currently being deployed in different solutions and their joint use in not established.

The main objectives of the project are:
– the optimisation of the port terminal operations within the yard (e.g. movements of Container Handling Equipment) by efficiently integrating Terminal Operating Systems-TOS with ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) e.g. fleet management. Various on-going discussions are considering this approach to help further optimize yard operations.
enabling environmental intelligence in container handling procedures by taking into account energy saving potentials (e.g. environmental-friendly assignment of container movements to CHE, distribution of gate in/out related activities to reduce or avoid congestions.
– Demonstration of the above in a highly challenging environment (Port of Ningbo) where relative impact can be evaluated and assessed.
– Enhancement of the cooperation in the field of appliance of ICT for port operations (and especially container terminal operations) between China and Greece as these two countries have both shared long tradition on the sector and are also currently establishing further strategic cooperation.

To that direction, knowledge gained through participation in several EU-funded research activities can be further elaborated while at the same time market opportunities for ICT companies in Greece (working on the sector) can be evaluated and exploited.

TREDIT’s role

– Project Management
– Requirements collection and prioritization
– Design and development of a Gate Appointment System
– Design and development/integration of a TOS connection to Fleet Management System with the aim to improve and manage CHE (Container Handling Equipment e.g. straddle carrier) in an environmental-friendly way
– Pilot application in Port of Ningbo (China)
– Participation in dissemination activities