Drones deliver enhanced port security and safety
Europe’s ports are critical hubs of commerce, fishing and travel. Some 400 million passengers embark and disembark at European ports every year, while 74 % of goods entering or leaving Europe go by sea. Any interruptions, failures or security threats can have serious economic consequences. Extensive surveillance is therefore critical to ensuring smooth operations, the safety of workers and civilians, as well as adequate pollution control.
Strengthening the resilience of ports
The EU-funded PASSport project sought to strengthen the resilience of Europe’s ports with a comprehensive online surveillance platform, with a fleet of semi-autonomous drones. The platform was designed to collect data from these drones, and other sensors, and perform real-time analyses on any potential threat. This data would then be easily accessible to port authorities, harbour masters and border control authorities. The project team began by analysing different safety and security needs at ports, and came up with five scenarios. “The idea was that the platform could be tailored to address these specific needs,” explains PASSport project coordinator Marco Nisi from Sistematica in Italy. These needs were: pollution monitoring; support for e-navigation, protecting critical buildings and infrastructure; protection against non-cooperative small crafts approaching ports; and underwater threats.
Validating safety and security monitoring
These identified scenarios were then explored in greater detail and validated at five locations. During these validations, the semi-automated drones, exploiting Galileo and Copernicus satellite support, were trialled for safe and efficient guidance and control. In Kolobrzeg, Poland for example, the focus of the sensors was on monitoring pollution, including any potential oil spills and cargo spills. Commercial ships up to 200 m in length, along with a large number of pleasure craft, use the facility. The team focused on using the platform to improve traffic navigation and safety at the Port of Valencia in Spain, the fifth busiest seaport in Europe. And in Hamburg, Germany, the focus was on critical building and infrastructure protection. The maritime community is increasingly concerned about intentional attacks such as jamming and spoofing. At Le Havre in France, the project team focused on protecting the port against non-cooperative small craft approaching the area, while at Ravenna in Italy, the potential of underwater threats was assessed. Here, underwater drones were used to detect any abnormalities.
Data integration and process management
The platform was positively received at all five sites, where port authorities commended the initiative on its user-friendliness. “We worked hard on making the user interface easy to understand,” says Nisi. “All the port authority has to do is wait to receive images and data on their computer.” The project team was also careful to build the platform in such a way that it is complementary to any existing technologies and systems. “Any sensor or drone can simply be managed as a plug-in,” adds Nisi. “The focus here was on integration and process management, rather than developing new sensory technology.” The project team hopes to move the platform closer towards commercialisation. “The aim is to find a way of evolving the project consortium into a different kind of structure, and to see who is interested in bringing this forward,” concludes Nisi.
Keywords
PASSport, port, drones, commerce, fishing, Galileo, Copernicus
