Germany's Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) will fund the establishment and operation of a digital test field in the Port of Kiel.
As part of the D-TECH-BASE project, ro-ro terminals in the port's Ostuferhafen and Schwedenkai will become test fields for new 5G communication and traffic control.
The €1.75m worth project, to last until 30 June 2024, will see the set up of a 5G campus network for fast data transmission, allowing for, among others, tagless optical unit tracking, a trailer tracking system. A fleet management system is also planned, enabling the connection and scheduling of all terminal forklift trucks in real-time.
Smart multimedia screens are also planned, displaying dynamic content, such as traffic guidance information imported from the gate operation system, an existing in-house development of the port.
As part of the work package for intelligent traffic control, more video scanning gates for trucks and trailers will be installed at both harbours. Gates will be erected for rail freight traffic for the first time.
New camera systems with optical character recognition (OCR) will support transport unit data collection. OCR input will be compared with the port's terminal operating system data to minimise distances and reduce mileage-related emissions.
"The complexity of our ro-ro terminals offers ideal conditions for a digital test field in which the future-oriented 5G infrastructure can be established under real conditions," Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director, the Port of Kiel, highlights.
He also underlines, "A blueprint for innovative solutions is being created in Kiel and makes the port particularly interesting as an employer for IT specialists."
Lars Gummels, the port's Head of IT, adds, "The 5G network forms the decisive infrastructural basis for the implementation of further digitalisation measures. Various hardware and software components will build on this to improve terminal communication and traffic control."
At the same time, the Port of Kiel is involved in the Förde 5G project together with the Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel and other partners. Within this initiative, IT systems will be developed on an industrial scale to promote tech-driven gains in tracking, cargo handling, and IT security. Solutions developed within Förde 5G aim at optimising storage, transfer, and retrieval processes.
The Digital Test Fields in Ports funding provides a framework for supporting German sea and inland ports in digitalising their infrastructure and development into data hubs. The programme complements BMVI's IHATEC II funding guideline by laying the infrastructure foundations for research and development projects in the field of new port technologies.
Photo: Port of Kiel/Tom Körber