GIFTS (Global Intermodal Freight Transport System)
The main goal of the GIFTS project was to develop a fully Integrated Operational Platform GIP for managing door-to-door freight and logistics chains in an intermodal environment. The idea was to setup a system providing a full service to transport operations accessible to the small- and medium-sized companies. GIFTS was aimed to provide applications for the operational (e.g., track, trace and monitor the door-to-door transport, aid in transport and fleet management), as well as e-commerce functions and insurance of a door- to-door transport chain (including order matching, e-document transfer, e-payment).
To achieve this goal, a core platform has been developed that supports information sharing, based on service orientation and complex event processing. To the core platform, all objects and services that provide information, such as traffic information, GPS locations of transportation resources, water levels, and queues at the harbour gate, are event sources. Subsequently, information aggregators are developed that use low level events to aggregate information like the estimated arrival time of a truck at the harbour and the expected loading time of the container from the resource onto a ship. Planning services were built on top of these information services, to improve transportation plans by exploiting real-time information about resource positions and infrastructure status and by improving the robustness of transportation plans in handling unexpected events. Also, monitoring services were built, which planners and drivers of transportation companies can use to monitor the status of their own and other resources.
GIFTS has been tested by means of a demonstrator platform, used in three different pilot scenarios.
LOGISTAR (Enhanced data management techniques for real time logistics planning and scheduling)
The main goal of the LOGISTAR project was to support effective planning and optimising of transport operations in the supply chain. This should be realised by taking advantage of vertical and horizontal collaboration among different sectors and companies and by increasingly using real time data gathered from the interconnected environment such as Internet of things (IoT) devices, smartphones, on-board units and open data.The key element of this approach was the development of a real-time decision and visualization tool of freight transport using advanced algorithms, big data analytics and artificial intelligence to deliver key information and services to the various agents involved in the supply chain. For this purpose, primarily real-time data, both from the systems of the actors involved in the transport and logistics chain and from the “Internet of Things” (IoT), were received, merged and interpreted within the framework of horizontal and vertical cooperation. Different aspects with impact on the transport performance were considered, such as weather conditions, strike situations, capacity utilisation or road conditions and delays.
The LOGISTAR developments have been tested in three uses cases with different stakeholders of the transport and logistics chain, such as 4/5PL (Logistic Service Providers), Infrastructure managers and FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) manufacturers.
SYNCHRO-NET (Synchro-modal Supply Chain Eco-Net)
The SYNCHRO-NET was designed to demonstrate the integration of the slow steaming concept into synchromodality, guaranteeing cost-effective robust solutions that de-stress the supply chain to reduce emissions and costs for logistics operations while simultaneously increasing reliability and service levels for logistics users. The project was based on the building of demonstrators in order to show the power and the effectiveness of the synchromodal approach proposed by the several tools included in this Eco-Net.
With respect to Logistics Networks, the following outcomes shall be highlighted:
o Real-time multimodal logistics optimisation of container movements from door-to- door, dynamically re-optimising in response to deviations and operational issues;
o Hinterland logistics planning, addressing multiple modes through major ports and terminals, taking into account reverse logistics, container repositioning, driver hours balancing and resource utilisation;
o Real-time smart-steaming- aware dock and berth scheduling algorithms for large ports and terminals;
o Dynamic de-stressing algorithms which balance and smooth activity through main terminals to reduce queues and congestion and increase capacity.
TELLISYS (Intelligent transport system for innovative intermodal freight transport)
TelliSys was the follow-up of the TelliBox project. The main goal was to actively promote the EU’s objective of optimizing the performance of intermodal logistic chains and will provide smooth and cooperative interactions between different modes of transport. More specifically, the scientific aim was to develop an intelligent transport system applicable for road, rail, short sea and inland shipping. The system consists of a modular set of volume-optimised and traceable MegaSwapBoxes (MSB), an adapted trailer and a tractor for the road transport.
The results, that are most relevant for Logistics Networks, are
Extended test runs of the prototypes proved the technical concept and showed advantages regarding utilisation of loading unit volume, energy consumption, GHG emissions and operative costs.