As a strong response to meet the new needs that have emerged in the organisations that interact and ultimately comprise the logistics nodes, a large number of projects have addressed the way forward for these infrastructures in the future.
The focus has mainly been on opportunities for collaboration, management and governance and new business models, all involving a wide range of actors, both public and private.
Committed to improving the resources and asset management in logistics nodes, CLUSTERS 2.0 developed several IT tools and applications, and, focused on the progress and improvement of intermodality, a new modular loading unit for horizontal train-truck transhipment.
In the framework of Ports of the Future, several projects have tried to assess the key aspects needed to define a roadmap or to develop/exemplify solutions and responses necessary to achieve this transformation. COREALIS worked on identifying the challenges, enablers and barriers of the Port of the Future and, along the
same lines, DOCKStheFUTURE defined the concept of 2030 Ports, covering most of the 10 environmental priorities of European ports identified by ESPO for the year 2021. PIXEL went a step further in defining the ports of the future and, using a wide range of technologies and concepts, generated different solutions for more efficient use of resources in ports, achieving environmental, operational and cost improvements.
To achieve greater transparency and better interoperability of ports, INTE-TRANSIT considered digitalisation as a critical point, making use of new information and communication technologies to manage containers, yard equipment and personnel within the facilities.
Focusing on environmental issues, ECOHUBS put its efforts on the development of green hubs, but also provided models and tools to foster cooperation and communication between green hubs' stakeholders, including multimodal terminal stakeholders. SMARTSET also addressed this area through the exemplification of best practices and the construction of a terminal-focused regulatory framework to help achieve European emission reduction targets.
Aimed at improving the competitiveness of the port-hinterland system by reducing operational and administrative inefficiencies, FUTURMED devised a system for real-time freight and passenger management and digitised communications both within and between ports.
On the other hand, SMART-PORT specifically sought to improve the competitiveness of Southern European container ports by identifying their strengths and weaknesses, showcasing the strategic plans of other European ports and developing plans to follow in order to become a smart port and position itself in the market.
Another important point as a preliminary step to the digitalisation and environmental improvement of the logistics nodes is the design of their facilities. In this sense, to improve the construction of intermodal terminals, INTERMODEL EU developed a methodology and ICT tools for advanced simulation of intermodal railway logistics platforms models to support tasks related to both design and planning phases.
Open network of hyper connected logistics clusters towards Physical Internet (CLUSTERS 2.0)
One of the objectives of CLUSTERS 2.0 is to develop a network which optimizes and promotes intermodality within European nodes. It is expected to observe a great reduction in costs as well as in energy use and emissions while increasing intermodality and productivity.
This project aims to help to reach the EU objectives on modal shift for all transportation and making optimal use of an Open Network of Logistics Clusters and hubs.
There were multiple outcomes generated in this project. The ones relevant for the logistics nodes itself are:
Capacity with a pOsitive enviRonmEntal and societAL footprInt: portS in the future era (COREALIS)
COREALIS project aims to define the future era of the European ports proposing a strategic, innovative framework. It will be supported by disruptive technologies, including IoT, data analytics, next generation traffic management and 5G in order to face the future capacity, traffic, efficiency and environmental challenges.
These innovations are focused to major ports so as mega-vessels, but they can also get to affect medium sized ports.
The main outcomes regarding Logistics Nodes are:
Developing the methodology for a coordinated approach to the clustering, monitoring and evaluation of results of actions under the Ports of the Future topic (DOCKStheFUTURE)
This project aims to define the 2030 ports concept, covering topics such as dredging, emission reduction, energy transition, electrification, smart grids, port-city interface and the use of renewable energy management.
Projects like DOCKStheFUTURE seeking to improve European ports do also favour international trade and the role of maritime transport in global supply chains.
Between the relevant outcomes, should be stood out:
Port IoT for Environmental Leverage (PIXEL)
The PIXEL project aims to go a step further in the definition of Ports of the Future. Making great use of the available technology, the project targets many topics such as collaboration, intermodality, efficient use of resources, economic growth and environmental impacts.
The project is in line with the Horizon 2020 calls claiming a higher utilization of capacity, so as the importance of hubs as a key role for a more competitive, reliable and safer freight transport.
The project generated several outcomes, but those
focused on logistics nodes are more Information Hub, a Dashboard for decision making,
Infrastructure Recommendations and Operational tools (models of processes,
algorithms to effectively improve their operations). (PIXEL (n.d.). https://pixel-ports.eu)
Integrated and Interoperable Maritime Transit Management System (INTE-TRANSIT)
INTE-TRANSIT is a project which main focus are the Mediterranean ports. It aims to improve its organization, cooperation and personal training for all the relevant stakeholders.
This will lead to more efficient ports, better interoperability and a relevant improvement of the flow of goods, cargo traceability, visibility and transparency.
The outcomes are:
(TRIMIS (2013, January 1). Integrated and Interoperable Maritime Transit Management System. https://trimis.ec.europa.eu/project/integrated-and-interoperable-maritime-transit-management-system)
Environmentally COherent measures and interventions to debottleneck HUBS of the multimodal network favoured by seamless flow of goods (ECOHUBS)
ECOHUBS is a project focused on green hubs so as its cooperation, collaboration and carbon footprint. Between the important outcomes for the hubs are:
Sustainable MARketdriven Terminal Solutions for Efficient freight Transport (SMARTSET)
SMARTSET focuses on the efficiency and sustainability of freight terminals in Europe. This project will help to achieve the European 20-20-20 targets for reducing emissions and energy usage.
The core outcome of this project involving the terminals
is the development of three business models for cooperation. Regulations and
incentives to favour terminals are also elaborated.
(TRIMIS (2013, May 1). Sustainable MARketdriven Terminal Solutions for Efficient freight Transport. <https://trimis.ec.europa.eu/project/sustainable-marketdriven-terminal-solutions-efficient-freight-transport>)
Freight and passengers sUpporting infomobiliTy systems for a sUstainable impRovEment of the competitiveness of port-hinterland systems of the MED area (FUTUREMED)
FUTUREMED is a project that aims to improve the competitiveness of port systems. For that, the project will define and implement sustainable middle- and long-term development strategies focused in removing current barriers for accesibility, promoting integration, intermodality, infomobility and efficiency.
The main outcomes of the project regarding Logistics Nodes are:
(Fundación Valenciaport (2020, May 6). FUTUREMED - FREIGHT AND PASSENGER SUPPORTING INFOMOBILITY SYSTEMS FOR A SUSTAINABLE IMPROVEMENT OF THE COMPETITIVENESS OF PORT-HINTERLAND SYSTEMS OF THE MED AREA. <https:/ /www.fundacion.valenciaport.com/en/project/futuremed-freight-and-passenger-supporting-infomobility- systems-for-a-sustainable-improvement-of-the-competitiveness-of-port-hinterland-systems-of-the-med-area-2/>)
Action Plan towards the Smart port concept in the Mediterranean Area (SMART-PORT)
SMART-PORT addresses the Southern European containers ports challenges of reducing traffic congestion, bring the socio-economic gap with other UE ports closer, so as improving its competitiveness in the operational, energy & environmental aspects.
This project helps the Mediterranean ports to consolidate as the main entrance door to the great European centres of consumption.
The achieved results are:
Simulation using Building Information Modelling Methodology of Multimodal, Multipurpose and Multiproduct Freight Railway Terminals Infrastructures (INTERMODEL EU)
INTERMODEL EU focuses on the intermodal railway terminals. With the help of ICT tools for advanced simulation, it will support tasks related to both design and planning phases.
A remarkable result of this projects is the Integration Platform, which gives terminal stakeholders an option to improve decision-making considering multimodal terminals. It takes into account 3 perspectives: operational, economic and environmental.
The added value is the ability to gather knowledge of
different expertise areas in a common environment. Questions are jointly
discussed, and improved, so quantitative predictions are given based on the
developed holistic and integrative approach. (CORDIS - European
Commission (n.d.). https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/690658)