MobilityEnvironmentalLogistics

Automatic seal reading

Project that monitors a terminal entrance with the aim of automatically extracting real-time readings of security seals using a fixed camera.

Parties involved

Promotors

Associates

Collaborators

Sustainable Development Goals

ODS

(Sustainable Development Goals)

ODS 1 ODS 1 ODS 1

Background

The traffic of maritime containers at the Port of Barcelona exceeded 3.3 million TEUs in 2019 and grew by 30.4% by July 2021 compared to the previous year. Container movement is organized via trains and trucks, using a tracking system that includes an access control, partially automated through OCR technology, to verify security seals according to ISO PAS 17712 standards. Although some ports have automated this process, the majority still requires manual intervention to ensure container security, presenting a significant challenge in seal management and control.

Description

BCN Port Innovation, Hutchison BEST, and AllRead have launched a pilot project to monitor one of the entrances to the Port of Barcelona terminal. The goal is to automatically extract real-time readings of security seals using a fixed camera installed at Gate 5 of the Hutchison BEST terminal.

Specifically, the project focuses on:

  • Developing new Deep Neural Network technologies applied to the automatic control of security seals.
  • Designing, developing, and integrating a prototype of the system.
  • Conducting validation studies in a real operational environment of the system.

Conclusions

  • Evaluation of 60 transits.

  • Although there is room for improvement, the technology performs satisfactorily for this use case.

  • Many excluded transits are due to the inherent limitations of this pilot. Cases such as containers stopping outside the camera frame or rotated seals are significant and would need to be addressed differently.

  • If different container sizes are to be considered, at least two cameras/lenses would be required.

  • Even with major improvements in software latency, ensuring that the camera captures high-quality images of seals in motion is challenging.

Impact

ECONOMY

Improved operational efficiency: Currently, operators perform the seal verification process manually, which takes more time and is prone to human error. This can cause delays in the entry and exit process at terminals.

90% increase in operational cost efficiency: Over €1,250,000 in annual savings with the use of software compared to the manual process. (Calculation basis available in the annexed final report.)

PEOPLE

Improved worker health and safety: The manual control process is slow and hazardous, exposing workers to risks as they operate between trucks and cargo exceeding 30 tons.

ENVIRONMENT

77,000 kg of CO₂ eq. emissions avoided per year: Thanks to reduced truck idling times while entering the terminal. At BEST, approximately 1 million seals are managed per year, with the manual validation process taking around 30 seconds per seal.