The Port of Los Angeles has launched ‘Horizon’, a long-term cargo volume predictive tool as part of its Port Optimizer Control Tower data system as it looks to improve visibility of containerised trade following a year of record imports.
The new module offers cargo owners, terminal operators, truckers and other supply chain stakeholders the capability to gauge movement of containers — imports, exports and empties — at the Port up to six months in advance.
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said he was proud to break ground with the “new forecasting tool”, which he described as the “first of its kind”.
“The Horizon predictive technology is yet another service that we can offer Port stakeholders to better plan and allocate resources, especially amid this historic cargo surge,” Seroka said.
Developed in partnership with Wabtec, the Horizon predictive technology uses an algorithm based on historical and trending volume data collected by the Port Optimizer, the cloud-based secure digital portal of maritime shipping data created by the Port in 2017 to facilitate more efficient cargo flow through its terminals.
It takes into account changing conditions at the Port, the algorithm constantly updates cargo volumes, allowing the Horizon to improve forecasting over time and issue six-month-ahead volume updates every month.
Nalin Jain, Wabtec’s President of Digital Electronics, also commented, “Data is a critical resource in moving goods across the supply chain and into the hands of consumers.
“This is one more step in our journey to connect railroads, chassis providers, truckers, warehouse operators, and others across the supply chain with the insights they need to seamlessly move cargo in and out of ports.”
The Control Tower was launched in February 2021 to help Port stakeholders better predict and plan cargo flows.
Currently, the Control Tower serves as a one-stop virtual dashboard with multiple data points, including real-time views of truck turn times and other truck capacity management information.
