ePIcenter Innovation bridge: New innovation challenge in Algeciras on queue detection and waiting time prediction at terminals
Description
The Port of Algeciras is the national leader by total cargo traffic and the second in the country by number of containers shipped. In 2019, total container traffic was 3,186,911 units (boxes), equivalent to 5.125MTEUs. Of which, 326,681 containers were for import and 382,469 for export. In addition, heavy traffic associated with RoRo/RoPax traffic, which amounted to 367,790 vehicles (88% destination/origin Tangier-Med), must be added.
This is why, due to the high flow of heavy vehicles (1.000 trucks/day) that access everyday to the port to receipt/delivery, embark on maritime services to Ceuta or Tangier-Med or even access the border inspection point (PIF) or the Heavy Traffic Terminal (TTP, there are time slots in which there are accumulations of trucks in the access roads to the terminals, generating congestion problems in the accesses to the terminals with high waiting times, reducing the quality of the service.
Given this scenario, both for the APBA and for the rest of logistics' agents, mainly carriers, it would be very useful to have a tool that, (1) allows real-time information and situational awareness about the gates of the container terminals, TTP, PIF or loading and unloading areas, and (2) based on historical records and other data sources, allows to obtain a prediction of the distribution of truck arrivals throughout the day and the estimated waiting times in the short-medium term, facilitating decision making when planning and positioning in the queue, allowing to improve its operational efficiency.
What is the objective?
Based on the use of data from video cameras, the objective is to get real-time information as regards to the current status of the terminal’s access points and the traffic flow within the port facilities as well as to get some accurate predictions on dwell/waiting times for the different time slots along the day, which will allow both the APBA and the other agents of the logistics chain to improve their operational efficiency, reducing waiting times and optimizing the flow of the cargo. Thus, facilitating decision-making about when to pickup/deliver a specif cargo unit in the terminal facilities.
What are we trying to answer?
What is the waiting time for access to the port terminals?; How will truck arrivals be distributed throughout the day?; When will traffic peaks occur?; At what times of the day will waiting times decrease?; What is the recommended time slot for access?
More information can be found on Innovation Challenge Algeciras
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