How to use sensor networks to facilitate smart port operations

摘要

This is the first time the port's generic IoT platform, which implements sensor technology across the its entire 42-km area, has been used for a mission-critical application, and marks the first test of its capabilities. The system gathers data including tide height, tidal stream, salinity, wind speed, wind direction and visibility data through 44 sensors in the port along with prediction models, data from the Netherlands' Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat) and astronomical calculations. Using this data, waiting times in the port can be reduced and berthing, loading, unloading and departure times can be optimised. An example application is predicting the best times to berth and depart for a vessel depending on water conditions balanced with the maximum possible load. A digital dashboard will allow port operations from all involved parties to be viewed at the same time, and the Port of Rotterdam estimates up to one hour could be saved per vessel in berthing time, which can be as much as US$80,000 in savings for vessel operators and enables more vessels to dock each day. The platform currently processes about 1.2M different data points each day for users including the Pilotage Service, Rijkswaterstaat, DMCR and other Port Authority departments. The initiative was announced on 31 January 2018. Speaking at the time, the Port of Rotterdam Authority's Paul Smits said "Speed and efficiency is essential to our business, and requires us to use all of the data available to us.