Smart Technologies and Digitalization

Digital twins are one the fastest growing concepts in the container handling industry, especially with the growth of complementary technologies such as IoT and cloud. The virtual 3D replica of a terminal gives you complete visibility of the terminal environment, its equipment, container inventory and much more.

The latest research progress in robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) helps autonomous driving technology become more and more applicable in daily life and industry scenarios. The robotaxi and the autonomous trucking systems are built mainly based on vehicle onboard sensors and computing units. As the operation domain on public roads involves large-scale scenarios regarding locations and objects, an intelligent vehicle must be able to make its decision with its own perception and localisation inputs.

The global supply chain, a dynamic web connecting the farthest reaches of the world, orchestrates the movement of goods with precision and efficiency. Within this complex environment, international ports serve as gateways and nerve centres through which the ecosystem is orchestrated, thereby ensuring the seamless flow of commerce across borders.

The world is in the middle of the electric revolution. The change from fossil fuel-driven machines to electric-driven has affected almost all industries in one way or another. As always with new technology, it brings new and exciting possibilities, but it also comes with the risk of misunderstandings, insecurity, and even fear, as new technology like electrified vehicles and machines replace old well-known diesel-driven alternatives.

In the intricate tapestry of global commerce, where the seamless transit of goods in containers forms the new standard, the role of container breach detection devices emerges as both pivotal and prescient. These devices, far from being mere technical fixtures, serve as a crucial line of defense against illicit activities such as the theft of goods, the smuggling of contraband and the infestation of narcotics.

In the wake of Port Technology International's Container Terminal Automation Conference (CTAC) North America 2023, this Q&A delves into the forefront of port development, specifically focusing on connectivity. Here, we illuminate the seamless integration of Nokia's digitalisation solutions into the evolution of conventional port operations.

In this interview, we explore how the Port of Virginia is actively adopting technology to elevate efficiency, sustainability, and safety.

The concept of redefining the roles of sellers and buyers, producers and consumers, is not new. Marshall McLuhan famously stated that the “medium is the message”, referring to the television industry in the 1960s. His theories on electronic communication highlighted the shift in power between producers and consumers, suggesting that the television audience was the content consumed by advertisers.

Ports stand where different modes of transportation converge. These include maritime shipping, rail transport, road transport and sometimes even air transport. More than ever, the pursuit of excellence and competitiveness requires port operators and other supply chain actors to achieve three key objectives: resiliency, fluidity, visibility.

5G New Radio (NR) technology is emerging as one of the cornerstones in the development of the smart ports of the future, with the ability to support everything from the remote operation of wirelessly connected cranes and automated guided vehicles to the wireless transmission of video streams recorded by multiple cameras. This article presents the findings of Ericsson researchers who have created a Digital Twin powered by cutting-edge GPU computing to accurately dimension and realistically model the performance of a private 5G network in a smart-port environment.

Port terminal operators are using digitalisation to become more flexible and resilient so they can respond to volatile market demands, shifting transport routes, and growing vessel sizes with greater speed, agility, coordination, and collaboration. To succeed, they need digital-ready connectivity platforms that can enable and optimise advanced Port 4.0 use cases such as autonomous operations, wireless data, worker collaboration, computer vision, and environmental monitoring.