Port of Rotterdam launches IoT platform
Port of Rotterdam Authority launched an Internet of Things (IoT) platform. It's the first application for hydro/meteo that has been put into operation. The system uses an extensive network of sensors to provide accurate and up-to-date water (hydro) and weather (meteo) data particularly for the planning and management of shipping. The port aims to make its operations safer and more efficient.
Port of Rotterdam Authority launched an Internet of Things (IoT) platform. It's the first application for hydro/meteo that has been put into operation. The system uses an extensive network of sensors to provide accurate and up-to-date water (hydro) and weather (meteo) data particularly for the planning and management of shipping. The port aims to make its operations safer and more efficient.
Specifically, the project was announced on 2018, under the collaboration with IBM, Cisco, Esri and Axians, aiming to transform the port’s operational environment using Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in the cloud.
Ronald Paul, the Port Authority’s Chief Operating Officer stated
"It’s a fantastic step in the development of Rotterdam as ‘smartest port’. Just as important, however, is that the cloud platform and the generated real-time information, which includes infrastructure, water and weather condition data, enable us to further improve mission-critical processes in the service to our clients."
As the port is always developing, the Authority stated that the IoT project offers a safe and reliable basis for innovation using the latest technologies, including edge computing, real-time analytics, artificial intelligence, hyper-precise data and blockchain.
Moreover, sensors are incorporated on and in quay walls, dolphins, waterways, roads and traffic signs aiming to provide measured data to communicate with autonomous systems, also connecting with the port's future automation plans.
Additionally, the IoT platform was completed through the hydro/meteo application. It is the first time that the IoT platform was used for mission critical application.
The hydro/meteo system is embodied by height of tide, tidal stream, salinity, wind speed, wind direction and visibility data via a combination of 44 sensors in the port, many prediction models, data from Rijkswaterstaat and astronomical calculations.
To this result, via the application, the waiting time is decreased, as well as the berthing, loading ans unloading and departure times are now optimised.
The technology enables the authority to precisely predict the ideal time for berthing and departure, depending on weather conditions.
The hydro/meteo system has many users, such as the Pilotage Service, Rijkswaterstaat, DCMR and various departments within the Port Authority. It is expected that the number of users will increase further.
That shows that is an easy-to-use platform.
Concluding, the Authority reported that each day, the platform is already processing some 1.2 million data points for models, systems and users.
